Wednesday walk: Otford to Eynsford: orchids, two castles, birds of prey and a Roman villa

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