Book 1, Walk 43 - Otford Circular via Romney Street
Length: 12.0km (7.5 miles)
Toughness: 5 plus out of 10 a good incline at walk-start, then it's easier going
Car drivers: there is a large car park immediately outside the railway station.
For those of you comfortable using public transport in these Covid times, your recommended train is:
London Victoria: 10-25 hrs South-Eastern Canterbury West service Bromley South 10-42 hrs
Arrive Otford: 10-59 hrs
Return direct trains back to Victoria at 26 and 56 mins past the hour. Also trains, changing at Bromley South, at 29 and 59 mins past the hour
A nice short walk today, but one with an energetic start as you climb out of Otford up into the woods. Thereafter, the going for the remainder of the day is easy going, through pleasant countryside.
The original lunch pub mid-way into this walk at Romney Street closed down many moons ago, so lunch is deferred until you have seventy five percent of the walk under your belt - in the village of Shoreham. Here you have a choice of four pubs, all very acceptable, and most if not all should be open for your custom today. I usually stop at the Kings Arms, which serves good, honest pub grub. The two tea rooms in the village may be closed today.
After lunch you return to Otford via the Darent Valley path through a golf course then over fields back into the village. You have a choice of tea stops and a number of pubs in Otford for post-walk refreshments before you head along a path to the side of the Church of St Bartholomew which takes you to Otford railway station, for your return journey back to London - or to be reacquainted with your car in the station car park.
T=1.43
Walk Directions are here: L=1.43
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Eleven travelled by a number of different trains to meet up at Otford station, with one other joining us outside Shoreham, having walked from his home, making n=12 for today's exercise in Kent. After the first uphill mile we lost one of our number to more interesting company - we hope she enjoyed the rest of her day.
It was w=lovely-and-sunny-in-the-morning-clouding-over-later in temperatures ideal for this short{ish) walk of uphill and down dale. In my walk post I had forgotten to mention the ups and downs after Romney Street, and was correctly reprimanded for this omission by those expecting a more leisurely approach to Shoreham. In the village, 6 of us dined at the King's Arms whilst our sandwichers retired to the attractive churchyard and grounds of the nearby church. Speaking of retirement, the pub was offering a seniors two-course lunch for under nine pounds, and it was very good too, in quality and portion size. Being good sports, we shared the puddings with our two youngsters yet to qualify for their Freedom passes.
After lunch at least 6 took the high route back to Otford (the reverse of the morning leg of our Otford to Eynsford walk). With lunch now deferred until Shoreham on the main walk, following the closure of the Romney Street pub, the high route makes for a better balanced walk, with a ninety minute afternoon leg as opposed to the forty minute return to Otford via the golf course. So I will add the high route to the Directions, as an option.
Back in Otford, 3 of us were just in time to take tea at the Pond View Cafe (previously known as Willow Tea Rooms) and how very nice: tea in pots and a selection of cream teas et al. We resisted the scones and cakes, having indulged in those lunchtime puds, and after our drinks we headed for the station, with light rain now beginning to fall.
Good trains today, good exercise without having to go too long, lovely views of Kent's countryside, weather ideal for today's walk, and a good value lunch for us oldies, so a good day away from the office - but then, everyone seems to be away from the office these days ......
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