jamikins

Dont go on Sunday - we were there earlier this year and everything was closed on the Sunday with the exception of one coffee shop.

oh2doula

http://www.nu-venture.co.uk/295_297_JUNE2011.pdf

I want to make sure I have this right -

Take train from Victoria round trip to Tunbridge Wells approx $30 pp.
Take bus 297 FROM Tunbridge Wells station into Cranbrook. LAST bus leaving Cranbrook - even on Saturday is Cranbrook, HSBC Bank at 1655 1853 2016.
I take this bus BACK to Tunbridge Wells train station to return to Victoria station.

Cranbrook, Angley School 1652 1850 2013 are another option???

I am not used to read timetables and just want to be sure I am reading it correctly....

Gordon_R

Good you asked someone to check - you are not reading this timetable correctly. The times you quote are from Cranbrook to Ashford (page 6), but as I understand it you want to return <i>from</i> Cranbrook back to Tunbridge Wells to catch the train back to London. In this case the last bus from Cranbrook (HSBC bank) leaves at 1739 on Saturdays (see page 3) and 1742 (Mo-Fr, see page 2).

I'd be a bit wary about the punctuality of local buses in the country areas (speaking from experience). To avoid getting stranded it might pay you to have the phone number of a local taxi company who could pick you up should you miss the last bus or it fails to materialise.

oh2doula

Gordon_R THANK YOU!! I see it now - I need to look at the LAST stop listed at the top!!! good idea for the taxi - I am planning to get to the bus WAY before the last bus runs!!! I was just trying to read the thing - which obviously I did do correctly - I appreciate your help!!

oh2doula

did NOT do correctly

oh2doula

Im looking at the timetable again and trying to figure out what time we should arrive in Cranbrook - planning to take train from Charing Cross at 9:45 - arrive at Tunbridge Wells at 10:39 - the bus should take 30 or so minutes - but not finding time bus leaves Tunbridge Station - i did find it will be bus stop C

Do I need to look at page 8 http://www.nu-venture.co.uk/295_297_JUNE2011.pdf
with a bus leaving Tunbridge Wells for Cranbrook at 10:51?? Making arrival around 11:30???

sofarsogood

Page 8

Depart Tunbridge Wells 10:50

Arrive Cranbrook HSBC Bank 11:51

Gordon_R

You really need to practice reading public transport timetables or you will come unstuck. Bus and train timetables always have the same layout. First pick the appropriate page for th day you plan to travel (typically weekdays, Saturday's and Sundays/Public Holidays have different timetables. Each timetable page has to be read from from top to bottom. You find your departing station row, then the time on that row you that you would like to depart. Then read DOWN that column until you find the destination row (and arrival time). Always watch out for codes or footnotes applicable to your chosen train - these explain any special arrangements you need to take note of. It's simple once you've got used to it.

And yes, it really is a 15 mile journey in 1 hour - that gives you some idea of the speed of rural bus services (and why those of us that live in the English countryside rely absolutely on our cars!)

sofarsogood

Consider taking a taxi if there's a group of you, probably won't be much more expensive. You can always get the bus back.

And as Gordon says swot up your on timetable reading skills!

annhig

And yes, it really is a 15 mile journey in 1 hour - that gives you some idea of the speed of rural bus services (and why those of us that live in the English countryside rely absolutely on our cars!)>>

I think I can beat that - the bus that goes from outside my house to Truro [a journey of about 7 miles that takes 20 mins in the car] takes 45 minutes to reach the same place. However it does take a very circuitous route - literally going round the houses in one village where it does an entire circuit before moving on.

so the T/Wells - Cranbrook bus may not take the most direct route - but none the worse for that!

tarquin

If you have time to explore Tunbridge Wells, go RIGHT when you exit the station on Mount Pleasant (the upper side of the station where you will alight.) Walk down the High Street, through Chapel Lane and across into the Pantiles. T. Wells is a very nice little town.

oh2doula

Thanks again everyone - YES I am practising my navigation skills and my neice has been assigned this job - she is much better at it!!

chartley

My ancestors also came from this area of Kent, and some of them even lived in Cranbrook for a while. I have therefore travelled round the various villages looking for where they lived and where they married or are buried.

I think we have got too hung up on the technicalities of getting to Cranbrook from London by public transport, and failed to consider if this will enable you to explore the area fully.

What are you going to do when you get to Cranbrook? Do you know if your ancestors lived in the village itself, or in the parish, which covers a much wider area? Do you have an address of a precise place where they lived? Do you know how long they lived in Cranbrook, and if they also lived in other local villages?

I note also that you haven't told us when your ancestors were in Cranbrook. This makes a big difference to whether you can trace exactly where they lived using the census, land tax records and tithe apportionments.

You will be lucky to find any physical evidence of your family in the church graveyard. Memorials soon become illegible or are removed, and most people are not recorded in stone.

If you go to Cranbrook by public transport, you will have to walk round the village, trying to find your way, and this will not be easy if there are 5 of you. In your circumstances, I think a car would be a better option, so that you could combine driving for longer distances and walking locally. Both have their benefits, and the combination would not make you reliant on infrequent buses and the possibility of missed connections.

oh2doula

What kind of scenery can we expect from London to Cranbrook???

oh2doula

With our train ticket are the times open? As long as we dont miss the last train back to London are we good OR do we have to make to back at a certain time??

annhig

What kind of scenery can we expect from London to Cranbrook???>>

the first half of the journey will be through south London, which is not a delight for the senses.

after that as you get out into the countryside, it should get better, but in the winter it could be quite dull.

as for your train tickets, it depends what sort you've got. a day return is normally valid on all returning trains but you will have to check.

oh2doula

Thanks annhig -

oh2doula

Possible change of plans - Staplehurst is a little closer to Cranbrook - THINKING about taking the train from Charing Cross - cheaper than from Victoria and then taking a bus from Staplehurst into Cranbook - practising my timetable skills could someone tell me if I am reading this correctly - would it be worth it to go into Staplehurst?? I was thinking its a bit closer...
http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/uploadedf...912_240712.pdf
A bus will be leaving from Staplehurst rail station continually.

And for returning from Cranbrook to Staplehurst using THIS one
http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/uploadedf...912_240712.pdf
Cranbrook, War Memorial 1350 1450 1550 1650 1812 1855
Cranbrook, opp. Alldays 1351 1451 1551 1651 1813 1856

arriving at Staplehurst at 0648 .... hoping ... means its back to the every few minutes again and NOT that only at 648.

I do appreciate all the help!!!

janisj

You've linked the Staplhurst > Cranbrook schedule twice. Nothing for the other direction. . .

janisj

Instead of the pdf files, here is the link

http://www.arrivabus.co.uk/serviceIn....aspx?id=12382

Buses don't leave continually . . . They leave Staplehurst at 42 minutes past the hour from 0842 until the afternoon commute rush.

The returns from Cranbrook are @ 50 mins past the hour