Bowles Outdoor Centre
Eridge Green, Kent/Sussex border
Bowles is a charity-run outdoor centre at Eridge Green, just over the Sussex border from Tunbridge Wells, best known for its own sandstone outcrop with more than 230 climbing routes. Alongside school and group courses it opens to the public for climbing, ski and snowboard lessons on its two dry slopes, kayak sessions in its indoor pool and children's birthday parties.
Highlights
- Natural sandstone crag with more than 230 routes up to 10m high
- Two ski slopes with winter courses, private lessons and practice sessions
- Kayak rolling sessions in a heated indoor pool
- Birthday parties and school holiday activity days for children
Good to know
- Independent climbers must bring their own gear and follow the sandstone code of practice
- Climbing by torchlight is not allowed
- Ski sessions should be booked online in advance; boot and ski or board hire is included
- Eridge station is a short walk away
Getting there
Bowles Outdoor Centre, Sandhill Lane, Eridge Green, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 9LW
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Smiles Sensory and Family Farm
Smiles is a small, volunteer-run farm on nearly four acres outside Eridge, set up as a sensory farm for people with learning difficulties and mental health needs and now open to families too. Visits are private and paced to suit each guest, with goats to walk, rabbits and guinea pigs to cuddle and marshmallows over an open fire.
Birchden Wood
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