Length: 20.3km (12.6 miles) East Malling to West Malling.
Shorter options: 18km (11.2 miles) for East Malling Circular. 19.5km (12.2 miles) for the Maidstone ending. A Short Circular Walk from West Malling of 11.75 km (7.3 miles) is also available. Toughness: 3/10.
9.55 Ashford International service from Victoria (10.12 Bromley South) arriving East Malling 10.51.
Buy a day return to East Malling (unless you want the option to continue to Maidstone - see ** below - in which case buy a ay return to Maidstone East (also valid from East Malling and seems to be the same price)
Trains back from West Malling are at xx.22 (LB, W'Loo, CX) and xx.38 (Victoria). From East Malling at xx.35 (Victoria). From Maidstone East xx.13 (LB, W'Loo, CX) and xx.27 (Victoria)
I was planning to post a Bedfordshire walk this weekend but, with the weather looking a bit unsettled, this walk south east of London with flexible options seems more suitable. It's been described as a pretty walk in classic Kentish apple orchard country, with some charming villages. The proposal is to do the route from East Malling to West Malling
Options to shorten the walk are:
- You could do the Short Circular Walk to West Malling, stopping at the first pub in Red Hill for lunch.
- After lunch at West Farleigh, instead of continuing to West Malling, you could follow the Circular Walk back to East Malling, or you could follow the ** main walk into Maidstone at this point. You don't need to decide till West Fairleigh - but note you need a different train ticket for the Maidstone ending.
The suggested lunch pub is the third pub along the route, the Tickled Trout (01622-814717) in West Farleigh, after 10.25 km. (The first pub, after 5.5 km is the North Pole (01622-812721) on Red Hill, and the second is The Railway (01622-812911) near Wateringbury station). They're all likely to be busy today so I'd advise booking ahead if you want a pub lunch. For end of walk refreshment, there's a pub in East Malling. West Malling and Maidstone seem to have more tea options.
As these walks don't have a leader, remember to download your copy of the directions from the L=swc.337 page.
2 comments:
Methinks republicans should avoid the alternative ending in East Malling. There can't be that many pubs called the King & Queen and the one in this village will doubtless be having some sort of royalist celebration.
#4 on this lovely walk with bluebells, apple blossom and wild garlic in flower and mostly only light rain. One dined at the Tickled Trout where a soggy barbecue was in progress. One walker finished at Maidstone, two at West Malling (in time to catch some of the heavier rain), and one was last seen on the outskirts of Teston, onward route unknown.
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