Length: 8.8 miles (14.1 km) 5/10
I've posted an Eynsford circular this week in the last couple of years but let's do this short but packed version with an Otford start for a change, with more time to see the sights. In particular, after being closed for a long time, Lullingstone Roman Villa seems to have reopened and is open till five. We also pass Eynsford Castle (also open till five) which we usually skip in winter and deserves a look.
Travel: 1025 from Victoria arriving at Otford at 1102 OR 1029 from Charing Cross (Waterloo East 1032, London Bridge 1038) gets to Otford at 1107 which should fit well with lunch in Shoreham. You could get the 1016 from Blackfriars (slow but stops at lots of places in south London and Bromley South 1053) and catch us up. Returns from Eynsford are at 05 and 35 – change at Swanley or Bromley South for faster trains into central London. Buy a return to Otford.
Lunch: plenty of choice in Shoreham – the options are described in detail on the main walk page.
Tea: there's the Lullingstone Café in the Country Park Visitor Centre (01322-865995; open to 5pm for a tea stop. Otherwise, there are four pubs in Eynsford. One of the pnes opposite the castle looked like it had a nice garden on recent inspection, I think it was the Five Bells (tel 01322 863 135). The Malt Shovel is nearer the station.
Shortening the walk: You could finish the walk in Shoreham, and you can cut 1.2km off the end of the walk by following the short cut at [*] in the Walk Directions, missing out Eynsford Castle.
L=1.23
#2026-06-03T10:25
6 comments:
What is r=the mileage from Otford to Shoreham?
Hello MG, Shoreham is about 4 miles / 6.5 km
Having checked the English Heritage website, the Roman villa is only viewable through a "viewing window" while conservation work continues. Free entry with suggested £3 donation. I'll amend the walk intro page
Charing Cross train cancelled - get Victoria train!
After the train confusion, a surprising 10 gathered on Otford station including a few from the original train, who used the pouring rain to justify waiting some time for the rest of us to arrive. We set off in continuing damp, with one walker soon peeling off to take the Darent Valley Path. We met her again at lunch in the Samuel Palmer, where the barman had taken pity and put the fire on. About half the group took advantage of the shelter to lunch in the pub, and some others joined us for drinks with two keen beans pressing on.
With little sign of the rain stopping, some decided to get the 1402 train so there was a bit of an exodus, with four of us staying for another drink soon joined by walker #11 who had decided based on the forecast get a lunchtime train to Shoreham.
The five of us eventually set off again, quickly losing the Darent Valley walker once more. Soon the sun came out! The lunchtime starter dallied at Lullingstone Park studying swallows (and being the only person to spot any of the promised orchids); the rest of us stopped off at the Five Bells for a pleasant drink in the sunny garden before heading home. #Rain-all-morning-then-late-aftenoon-sun.
The oxeye daisies that are the great glory of this walk at this time of year were absolutely at their best, by the way - vast white carpets of them on the slopes above Lullingstone and in the field to the left on the steep climb onto the downs between Shoreham and the Lullingstone woods. Quite an amazing sight.
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