This 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.
For the afternoon leg follow the Shoreham directions (there is also a shorter route that passes through Shoreham). You can continue on to Eynsford with all route options.
Scroll down the walk directions page for a useful interactive map showing the various options.
Trains: Get the Thameslink 0946 Sevenoaks train from London Blackfriars, arriving 1041. Alternatively, the 0955 Ashford Intl train from Victoria, changing at Swanley arr 1023 for the above train at 1036.
Shoreham has a frequent service variously ending in Victoria, Blackfriars or London Bridge.
Buy a return to Shoreham (which is further down the line from Eynsford), or to Eynsford if doing one of the other options.
Lunch: Otford, after about 8½ km. The walk route joins the High Street opposite the Bull (01959-523198) or a traditional village pub overlooking the pond, the Woodman (01959-522195).
Tea: Shoreham has some pubs & tea rooms, as does Eynsford
3 comments:
11 off the train, 1 early starter caught up with, so #12 altogether on this #beautifully-sunny-and-surprisingly-warm day in the Darenth Valley. Very little mud made for pleasant walking up to Romney Street and Mount Farm, shortly after which we were rewarded with a magnificent view of Otford and Sevenoaks in, I am convinced, clearer skies than pre-covid. I know a lot of holiday makers were disappointed by their cancelled flights, but it's an ill wind that blows no-one any good.
Lunch was taken variously at the Bull in Otford or on benches overlooking England's only listed pond, several local cafes providing sandwiches for those who had originally thought it too cold for a picnic lunch. Then, by common consent all (?) took the longer route up the west side of the valley, passing Uranus on the way. (Otford has a large scale model of the solar system scattered around the village and its surroundings - Pluto is about a mile away.) Two newborn lambs and their mother were spotted before tackling the ascent (well, some of us did) to Polhill Bank with, again, great views, before strolling on to Shoreham. A few called it a day here, but it was a beautiful afternoon so others took either the high or low road to Eynsford, those taking the low stopping to admire St Botolph's church in the grounds of Lullingstone Castle, free admission being the main draw.
I forgot the Nature Notes: as well as white wood anemones, there were plentiful displays of yellow celandines and, in sheltered spots, sheets of bluebells. A kestrel was spotted above Otford, earning its soubriquet of "windhover." A few early butterflies (brimstones) were seen near Shoreham.
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