Last Alteration: Tuesday 13 November 2007
Harrison's Rocks
Harrison's Rocks
Birchden Wood, Groombridge, East Sussex
Harrison's Rocks is a sandstone outcrop in Birchden Wood, and has been a popular climbing area since in the 1950s. It is owned by Sport England and managed by the British Mountaineering Council.
How to get here:
»
Road: B2110 - Via Royal Tunbridge Wells (A26), follow the A264 west towards East Grinstead, then take the B2110 towards Groombridge. At Groombridge, turn left at the mini-roundabout onto Station Road, and continue across the railway bridge and bear right onto Eridge Road. Birchden Wood is a couple of hundred yards on the right. Parking: Birchden Wood car park (£1.00) +
Access: publicStatus: recognisableClimbing Rocks
Photograph taken: 18 Jun 2006 by Chuck Foster
Castrovalva (3)
Filmed: 4 Sep 1981
Tegan and Nyssa see the Doctor climbing up towards Castrovalva.
Photograph taken: 18 Jun 2006 by Chuck Foster
Castrovalva (3)
Filmed: 4 Sep 1981
The Doctor climbs up the cliff.
Photograph taken: 18 Jun 2006 by Chuck Foster
Castrovalva (2)
Filmed: 4 Sep 1981
Tegan and Nyssa pause, having reached the cliffs beneath Castrovalva.
Photograph taken: 18 Jun 2006 by Chuck Foster
Castrovalva (3)
Filmed: 4 Sep 1981
Tegan and Nyssa see the hunting party returning with the Zero Cabinet.
Photograph taken: 18 Jun 2006 by Chuck Foster
Castrovalva (2)
Filmed: 4 Sep 1981
Tegan and Nyssa look up at the cliffs they are attempting to climb.
Additional Notes:
»
Over the last twenty-five years or so the paths have become more worn and vegetation has grown up around the rocks; however, the rocks themselves still retain much of how they looked back when filming took place for Castrovalva.
Rock formations that weren't found
The Mind Robber (2)
Rocks
The Mind Robber (2)
Rocks
Castrovalva (2)
Rocks
Additional Notes:
»
The shots for Castrovalva are still quite clear to spot; the ones from The Mind Robber eluded us, however! If anyone has any better luck in finding those, or where Tegan and Nyssa are actually climbing, please let us know!
Other nearby locations:
»
Withyham Cricket Club (Black Orchid). Road (3.3 miles, 8m): Head north on Eridge Road and onto Station Road; at the mini-roundabout joining the main B2110, turn left and follow the road through Groombridge, continuing until you reach the Dorset Arms pub - the entrance to Buckhurst Park and the cricket club is here. Parking: roads alongside Dorset Arms.
»
Sussex Police Training Centre (Crowborough) (Castrovalva). Road (7.3 miles, 15m): Head north on Eridge Road and onto Station Road; at the mini-roundabout
joining the main B2110, turn left and follow the road through Groombridge,
continuing until you reach the junction with the B2188 towards Lye Green.
Continue until the end of the road, then turn left onto the
B2026;
the police training centre on the site is on the right. Parking: unknown. 
There are a number of car parks off the road for the forest.
»
Crowborough Training Camp (The Curse of Fenric). Road (6.5 miles, 26m): Turn right out of the car park and head towards Eridge. When you reach
the station, turn right onto the A26 towards Crowborough.
The training camp is on the south side of Crowborough, opposite
Sweethaws Lane (near the golf course). Unknown.
Additional locations as the crow flies:
»
Buckhurst Park (Woods) (Castrovalva): 1.85 miles.
»
Buckhurst House (Black Orchid): 2.02 miles.
»
Yew Tree Farm (The Curse of Fenric): 13.97 miles.
»
Roses Farm (The Curse of Fenric): 14.06 miles.
»
St Lawrence's Church (The Curse of Fenric): 14.38 miles.
General Details
»
The site is popular and active (as can be seen in the photos!), so you should take care not to cause disturb or disrupt climbers when visiting.
Further links about the location
»
The Climb Guide to Harrison's Rocks
»
The British Mountaineering Council
»
Related Stories
»
Castrovalva [4 Sep 1981]: The Doctor climbs up towards Castrovalva.
»
The Mind Robber [9 Jun 1968]
All photographs are the copyright of the photographer and may not be utilised on any other website or media without permission.
All screen captures are the copyright of the BBC and appear here only to illustrate locations for comparison with how they looked at the time of filming and the present day; no attempt is made to supercede this or any other copyright.
