Knockholt to Otford

12.9km (8 miles)

Toughness: 7 out of 10 short but energetic walk, taking in the pretty village of Shoreham

Travel and tickets: Knockholt is in Zone 6.  On the return journey buy a single ticket from Otford to Swanley (Swanley is covered by 60+ Oystercard) or, if you have a Zone1-6 travelcard, you should buy a single from Otford to St. Mary Cray.    Otherwise a day return to Sevenoaks will suffice. 

 Train times:  Take the 10.01 from Charing Cross; 10.10 London Bridge; 10.19 Lewisham.  Arrives Knockholt 10.50

Return trains from Otford are at xx01; xx15; xx31; xx.45

 Walk Description:  This walk approaches the familiar walking territory around Shoreham and Otford in Kent from an unfamiliar angle, passing at first over wooded hills, then climbing up and over a steep ridge to get down to Shoreham.

In the afternoon the route goes into a lovely hilly area of woodland and fields, passing through the lovely hidden valley of Magpie Bottom, a nature reserve, with fine downland flowers and butterflies in the summer.

 Lunch and tea:  Shoreham, 5.3km (3.3 miles) into the walk, has three possible lunch pubs. Serving more standard pub fare (and also being on the walk route) is the Kings Arms (01959 523100), with the more upmarket Samuel Palmer (01959 525442) just up the road. Both have some outside seating, but for a more tranquil garden the Crown (01959 522903) is recommended, reached by a small diversion off the walk route and also serving standard pub fare.

The village also has the Shoreham Aircraft Museum (01959 524416), open 10am-4pm on weekends year round, which has a tea room set in a pleasant garden, while the Mount Vineyard (01959 524008) in the heart of the village has a restaurant (booking advised) serving pizza.

 In Otford:  Hospices of Hope charity shop has a tea room at its rear, which is open till 4pm on Saturdays. 

Almost opposite the Hospices of Hope there is also Sally's Cake Emporium, open to 4pm Tuesday to Sunday.

 Otford also has two pubs, the first one you pass being the more basic Woodman by the roundabout, with the Bull, a cosy chain pub, 150 metres beyond the roundabout on the left.

 For walk directions click here, for GPX click here and for a map of the route click here. T=swc.37