Length: 21.5 km (13.4m) - various shortcuts are available
Toughness: 7 / 10
Transport: Take the 9:47 train from London Victoria arriving in Eynsford at 10:41. Return trains at xx:35 with last train at 17:35 !!
The walk starts along a country lane through the secluded Austin Lodge valley, climbing to the isolated settlement of Romney Street. It continues on an undulating section to a ridge with fine views of the Darent valley, from where you descend into Otford, passing its scale model of the Solar System. The village has many interesting old buildings and the full route takes you past the ruins of Otford Palace, a rival to Hampton Court in Tudor times.
There are two possible routes back to Eynsford. The longer takes a similarly undulating route along the western side of the Darent valley, weaving in and out of the Otford to Eynsford walk (1–23) on its way to Lullingstone Park, an attractive landscape of chalk grassland and ancient woodland with an internationally important collection of veteran trees. This route also goes past Eagle Heights, one of the UK's largest Bird of Prey centres; admission (2022) is £12.95 but you might be able to see something of the afternoon flying display from the public footpath.
The shorter return route mostly follows the Darent Valley Path, passing The Mount Vineyard in the attractive Kent village of Shoreham and extensive lavender fields at Castle Farm. An attractive riverside stretch then leads to Lullingstone Castle (01322-862114), a historic manor house which can be visited (but with limited opening hours). Its grounds contain an unusual parish church (open to the public at all times) and a World Garden with plants from around the globe, open Thu–Sun from April to October; admission (2022) is £9.
2 comments:
I did another Eynsford walk recently (Farningham Rd to Eysnford I think, in Feb), and the tea room in Eynsford had a sign up saying it was closed indefinitely. There was a group of people standing in front of it talking to a local. They were saying the owner has sadly had some personal issues and they don't know when/if it will open again.
The cafe is Lullingstone is open, but would be a detour on this walk. And obviously, the pubs are open in Eynsford.
N=5, W=sky_cleared_sun_came_out, Five arrived by car, waited for the 10:41 which arrived on time but no one on the train except a group of Capital Walkers who seemed to be doing a similar walk. Rather muddy and slippery in places in the morning especially up to the Percy Pilcher Memorial (1896 hang glider pilot) and all decided to do the shorter option. The Kings Arms in Shoreham was welcoming with not many other customers and a good lunch was served promptly. We took the shorter route back to Eynsford and then drove to Otford to pick up one of our group who decided to walk to Sally's Cake Emporium for afternoon tea.
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