Edenbridge is a small rural market town in west Kent, close
to the Surrey border, and is located at the bridging point
of the River Eden which flows eastwards until it joins the
River Medway at Penshurst. It is the gateway to the Eden Valley,
which  can
be broadly split into three bands.
The chalk grassland of the Kent Downs in the north forms a
ridge running west to east across Surrey and Kent. There are
old orchards, ancient hedgerows and woodlands.
Dropping down into the plain, the River Eden starts in Surrey
and then meanders along the valley, a predominantly low lying
region dominated by heavy clay soils, but with thin bands
of limestone, beds of sandstone and sandy head deposits. It
is gently undulating with occasional steep-sided stream valleys,
ridges and plateaux. Small towns and villages are scattered
amongst a patchwork of woodland, permanent grassland, hedgerows
and wetlands on the heavy clay soils. The land use is predominantly
agricultural.
Rising up again, south of Penshurst, is the High Weald, dominated
by sandstone and clays, forming a landscape of high forested
ridges and valleys. The area boasts the highest proportion
of ancient woodland in the country and is, essentially, still
a medieval landscape. Intermingled with the woods is a close
patchwork of small fields, hedges and sunken lanes. Follow
a sunken lane and you will be treading in the steps of Saxon
drovers and their pigs. It also includes the Ashdown Forest,
one of the most important and extensive areas of heathland
in south eastern England.
Edenbridge is situated on the B2026, south of the M25 at Junction
6. From the A25 at Oxted, follow the B269 and then the B2026.
The larger towns of Oxted, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge
Wells and East Grinstead can be easily reached, and there
are good road links into the rest of Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
The town is served by two railway lines - Edenbridge Town
station is on the London to Uckfield line, whilst Edenbridge
station (about 1 mile to the north of the town centre) is
on the Redhill to Tonbridge line.
Local bus services link the town with several nearby villages
and Tunbridge Wells.
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