Length: 21.5 km (13.4 miles) 7/10 but several shorter options
I am posting this walk partly for orchid-spotting purposes and there should be prolific wild flowers in the first half of the walk on the east side of the Darent valley. There are numerous other attractions including picturesque villages, a vineyard, lavender fields and if you walk fast enough to make the entry times, a birds of prey centre and a Roman villa. There is a shorter afternoon option staying in the valley which goes past Lullingstone Castle (cutting out 2.7 km).
Travel: the quickest option is the 0955 from Victoria, changing at Bromley South on to the 1023 to Sevenoaks, arriving Eynsford at 1041. This second train is a Thameslink stopping service so you could pick it up from St Pancras (0937), Blackfriars (0946), Denmark Hill (0958) or numerous other stops. Returns at 05 and 35 - there will be options to change on to quicker trains on the way back too.
Lunch: the suggested place to stop for lunch is Otford, after 8½ km. The route joins the High Street opposite The Bull (01959-523198); the alternative is a traditional village pub overlooking the pond, The Woodman (01959-522195). If you do a shorter route, there are several options in Shoreham.
Tea: in Eynsford, the suggested place is The Plough (01322-862281) which has a fine riverside location. A short detour along the main road will reveal the Malt Shovel Inn (01322-862164), the Five Bells (01322-863135) and the Castle Hotel (01322-863162).
On the shorter route a convenient place for a mid-afternoon break is the Lullingstone Café in the Country Park Visitor Centre (01322-865995; open to 5pm summer).
Short walk options: there are a number of variations on the walk page including the shorter afternoon mentioned above. But as the walk passes through Otford and close to Shoreham, both of which have stations, it would be possible to finish at either of these. You could also miss out Otford by going directly from Romney Street to Shoreham on the route of the Otford Circular walk (CW1–43) and continuing with the afternoon route from there (14km).
For walk directions, map and GPX click here
T=SWC.59
3 comments:
#14 walkers today in #occasional-sun-with-one-shower. The orchids did not disappoint with at least 4 kinds spotted and a big field of fragrant orchids just before the descent into Otford. It provoked an interesting discussion about "what's so special about orchids". Lots of other wild flowers and we also saw a group of goats on the slopes below Pilots Wood - maybe introduced to keep the scrub down?
Most picknicked in the park beside the tennis courts in Otford, with three going into the Bull for lunch (sorry I forgot to ask how it was). I can't fully account for what everyone did after lunch but there were quite a few Shoreham finishers, at least one took the valley route and four of us soldiered on to Eynsford.
Near the end we met a group of about 30 pilgrims walking from London to Eynsford, which one of us said seemed "more enthusiastic than typical walkers"; indeed they met us with friendly greetings and smiles. We passed on refreshments in Eynsford - the Plough looked closed and the Malt Shovel definitely was - and took the 1635 train.
As the only person to take the "valley" route, I stopped at the Hop/ Lavender Farm to stock up on supplies and then went on to the tea stop. I also met the group of "Pilgrims", who were singing whilst walking to Aylesford. I soldiered on to Eynsford, just missing the main group, arriving at the station at 16.45 and joined by one other walker shortly after, in time to catch the 17.05 train.
Oh yes, Aylesford Priory, I must have misheard - they had a fair way still to go then!
Post a Comment