After the Bewl Water Marathon: Royal Tunbridge Wells and The Pantiles

The Route: Bewl Water → Royal Tunbridge Wells → Bewl Water Logistics: An 8-mile drive or taxi ride; there is no direct public transport link, so a car or pre-booked taxi is the practical option. Marathon Month: September Duration: Day trip

Bewl Water ──(8 miles by car/taxi)──> Royal Tunbridge Wells ──(return)──> Bewl Water

After two undulating, sometimes muddy laps of Bewl Water, a day of flat pavement and easy food in Tunbridge Wells is a genuine change of pace. September in Tunbridge Wells: the town runs its normal weekend schedule, with The Pantiles' cafés and shops all open regardless of the exact weather that hit the marathon itself.

The Pantiles

The Pantiles, a colonnaded 17th-century parade at the heart of Tunbridge Wells, is the town's most distinctive feature, a flat, level walk lined with independent cafés, restaurants and shops. The Chalybeate Spring, at one end of the parade, gave the town its original spa-town identity and can still be sampled from its dispenser during limited opening hours. The wider town centre, a short walk from The Pantiles, adds further shopping and dining options without demanding much of legs still recovering from the marathon.

Where to eat: The Pantiles itself has a concentrated cluster of cafés and restaurants suited to an easy lunch or dinner, with outdoor seating along the colonnade when the weather allows.

Getting Back

The return drive or taxi to Bewl Water retraces the same 8-mile route.