Length: 15 km (9.4 miles) 5/10
A short walk (and a short journey from London) making a good, brisk winter walk, with several ups and downs. There is plenty of choice for lunch in Shoreham. As the orginal route entails a very short afternoon return route to Otford, I'm suggesting a slightly longer finish reversing walk 1.23 Otford to Eynsford. This is described in the walk directions and the GPX link at the end of this post.
After the top of the first hill we will need to make a diversion because of tree felling operations. Links to directions and GPX for this are also in the links at the end of this post.
Trains: 0955 from Victoria (Bromley South 1012) arriving Otford 1031. You could get the 0943 from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 0947, London Bridge 0953) if you want to risk a tight 4-minute change in Sevenoaks for the 1022 to Otford. Return trains to Victoria at 25 and 55, Charing Cross at 38 and Blackfriars and other Thameslink stations (slower) at 29 and 59.
Lunch: plenty of choice in Shoreham – the options are described in detail on the main walk page.
(The “quirky” Rising Sun in Cotman's Ash mentioned in the walk notes is sadly now closed on Mondays to Wednesdays).
Tea: The Hospices of Hope Otford Tea Room and Gift Shop (tel 01959 524 322), 11a High Street, Otford generally gets good reviews from the Saturday Walkers. Stronger fare is available at the historic Bull (tel 01959 523 198).
Shortening the walk: Most obviously, you could finish the walk in Shoreham after 9 km/5.6 miles. Or you could take the original book 1 route back to Otford (a mile less than the recommended route). There are a number of places where you could take a shorter route to Shoreham or back to Otford.
Walk directions, including the diversion route, are here. For a map and GPX of the route including the suggested longer return route, #/test/sandy/swc-43-otford-circular-temp-diversion.gpx but use this link for the GPX of the shorter original return route from Shoreham to Otford if you want to take it.
T=1.43
2 comments:
I believe there were #20 at the start joined later by 1 who had missed his train (due to delayed train) so #21 altogether. It was lovely-sunnny-weather for nearly the whole day. Quite an energetic walk today, with many ups and downs, which meant we had lovely views of the surrounding countryside. Most had picnic lunch in the church in Shoreham, whilst a few had lunch in the Samuel Palmer. Three of us (reduced in Otford to 2) continued on after a drink in this pub. 2 then had a delicious tea with cakes in The Hospices of Hope tea room, and were joined by 2 others. Then 2 carried on to Otford station and enjoyed a long train journey all the way home in North London. A really great walk showcasing the lovely Kent countryside. Thank you Sandy.
Most of the picknickers descended on the Samuel Palmer - presumably just after brachnline had left - and continued though the afternoon with the pub lunchers, all I think doing the extended walk up to Meenfield Wood and down again. We wondered if it would make more sense to continue to Pilot's Wood instead of returning to the valley at the first opportunity, but followed the posted route. Two detoured to Pluto, but we soon reassembled. Nearly all went to the Hospices of Hope with its impressive cakes, just missing the elusive branchline and friend once again. #blue-sky-and-sun-clouding-over-later
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