Length: 8.8 miles (14.1 km) 5/10
Postponed from the last train strike week - this walk in the Darent valley should suit a lateish start despite the short day. It's short but sweet with three villages, two hills, several possible pubs and historic buildings.
Travel: 1031 from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 1034, London Bridge 1040) gets to Otford at 1109 which should fit well with lunch in Shoreham. You could get the 1016 from Blackfriars (slow but stops at lots of places in south London and Bromley South 1053) and catch us up. Returns from Eynsford are at 05 and 35 – change at Bromley South for faster trains into central London. Buy a return to Otford.
Lunch: plenty of choice in Shoreham – the options are described in detail on the main walk page.
Tea: we might get to the Lullingstone Caf̩ in the Country Park Visitor Centre (01322-865995; open to 3pm weekdays in winter) in time for a tea stop. Otherwise, at least two of the pubs in Eynsford should be open - the Plough (tel 01322 862 281) and the Castle Hotel (tel 01322 863 162). The Five Bells (tel 01322 863 135) might be open Рconflicting info on the internet when I looked.
Shortening the walk: You could start the walk in Shoreham, missing out the potentially muddiest section. If you want to do that and try to meet the group, I suggest either getting the 1146 from Blackfriars or 1155 from Victoria to Ashford. If the latter, change on to the above train from Blackfriars at Bromley South at 1223.
You can cut 1.2km off the end of the walk by following the short cut at [*] in the Walk Directions.
For walk directions, map and GPX click here
T=1.23
4 comments:
With a Freedom Pass (and railcard) can buy a return Swanley-Otford for £3.80 return.
Will be joining walk
Planning to join you. It's been a while! I have done this walk a few times. Weather forecast looks OK
Catriona
There were 17 of us on the posted train, 4 more were waiting for us at Otford station. Another intercepted us having parked at Shoreham and 2 were lurking in the Crown at lunchtime after starting earlier, so that makes a stupendous #24 on a mostly #bright-and-mild winter's day. Apparently there was a lunchtime squall but I must have been picnicking in the church porch at the time.
It has to be said the morning was pretty squelchy underfoot. The afternoon route was mostly firm going though, including Beechen Wood. Several people took advantage of a "senior citizens' 2-course lunch offer" at the King's Arms, others picnicked at various locations in Shoreham. The pub lunchers were left to their puddings as the rest of us made our way to the Lullingstone Cafe by more than one route, reaching it comfortably in time for most to have a tea stop with delicious coffee and walnut cake provided by my co-Wednesday poster.
Some of us took the short-cut route to get the 1535 train, meeting some of the pubgoers on the platform who gave a very positive report of their dining experience. Others took a longer route to Eynsford and at least one finished earlier. It was nice to catch up with so many after the Christmas break, even if I didn't cross paths with everyone.
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