Section 5 of 8, Wealdway
Friar's Gate to Etchingwood
11 miles (17.7 km). About 4 hours, moderate.
Start: TQ 490 335. Finish: TQ 498 217. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Diversion in place on this route. On section 1 (Gravesend to Vigo Village), not this one. The details are on its page.
Up and down
About 349 m of climbing and 426 m of descent; highest point 223 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Friar's Gate.
- Car park
- Church Hill, 980 m from the start. Directions TQ 494 326
No bus stop or station within a kilometre of the start. Nearest: the bus stop at The Dorset Arms, 2.3 km away (Directions); Eridge station, 5.3 km away (Directions).
Getting back
The section finishes at Etchingwood.
No bus stop or station within a kilometre of the finish. Nearest: the bus stop at Framfield School, 1.2 km away (Directions); Buxted station, 1.6 km away (Directions).
Planning the Wealdway
- Planning the whole trail: explorekent.org.
- The guidebook the trail recommends: Guide to the Wealdway (Kent Ramblers).
What to expect
Underfoot: earth, rock and mud 23%, gravel and tracks 20%, paved or flagged 19%, grass 17%; the rest (22%) isn't recorded.
About 11% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 7 stiles, 1 kissing gate, 19 gates, 3 flights of steps.
Steepest climb: about 72 m in a kilometre (1 in 14), starting 0.6 miles in.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pub
- The Pig And Butcher, Five Ash Down: 7.7 miles in, about 200 m off the way.
- Café
- Oast Farm Cafe, Five Ash Down: 8 miles in.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
Walked it? Log it
Something wrong or missing?
Tell us what to change about this section: a wrong distance, a moved start, a path that's closed.