After lunch the walk goes through the landscaped parkland of Cobham Park with its restored neo-classical monument, the Darnley Mausoleum. It then enters Ranscombe Farm Nature Reserve, which claims to be one of Britain's most important sites for wildflowers. You can choose from three possible routes through its woods, fields and meadows before turning back through the Plotlands (community woodland) towards Meopham. The return route also includes stretches alongside a large new vineyard and through a small country park, Camer Park."
Trains: Get the 1004 Southeastern train from London Victoria, arriving Meopham at 1043. Return trains are xx16 and xx35.
Lunch: There is a choice of three pubs along the main street through Cobham, after around 5 milesor 8¼ km from Meopham. In the order in which you pass them they are the Dickensian Leather Bottle (01474-814327), the Darnley Arms (01474-814218) and the Ship Inn (01474-814326). The last outing favoured the Greene King, Ship Inn, a usually reliable chain.
Tea: Camer Park café is nominally open daily to 4pm “weather permitting” or the traditional Railway Tavern near Meopham station.
T=swc.173
2 comments:
Oh no! The 1004 has been cancelled
The SWC Walks Inspector had been dithering about checking a walk but the morning sunshine tempted him to drive to Cobham and intercept the group in Jeskyns. Unaware of the cancelled train, he nevertheless managed to find four who'd got to Victoria in time to catch an earlier (delayed) train to Meopham. Later two more joined us in the Ship Inn; their train was an hour later than the one posted but they sensibly started from Sole Street so weren't too far behind. The food at the Ship was good value, especially so in my case when I inadvertently ordered one of their lunch specials and was awarded a free pint to go with it.
After a few recent mudfests this walk was declared quite acceptable; just a few squelchy stretches in the woods which were easily skirted. However, it would be a shame if it got lumbered with the tag of "a good winter walk" as there are things to enjoy in other seasons: bluebell woods in spring, wildflower meadows in summer and apple-picking from the community orchard in autumn.
If we generously include the walks inspector (who did most of the afternoon leg) there were n=7 on a w=partly-sunny day. Two of the group decided to try the alternative ending to Rochester despite being unsure if the pedestrian bridge across the Medway had reopened; I think the others had decided to try to get to Sole Street in time for the 4.30.
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