Sevenoaks to Eynsford
It says something for the group loyalty and camaraderie that 14 people met at Sevenoaks on a cold, grey snowy Sunday morning and set off for a walk which they ENJOYED
Walking in the snow has a certain fascination , the country would have been great if we could have seen anything and the mud was memorable . But company was excellent and we did see the largest, life size model of the solar system and a Roman villa so all was not lost The pub was excellent and some of us (including the ypoung waiter) were introduced to 2 Soups on You Tube. How hip is that!
The consensus opinion was that it was a good thing to resist the temptation to turn in bed and go back to sleep Sunday morning and to put one's boots on
Train: Out Victoria 8.51, direct, 8.55 change at Petts Wood, both arrive at Sevenoaks at 9.55. (8.35 from Clapham J)
Return from Eynsford Station, via Sevenoaks. Probably best to negotiate deal on tickets, using Freedom Pass and Senior rail card if possible, at Victoria!
Please check for Sunday Rail closures
Car: also possible, park at Sevenoaks as all will return by train through Sevenoaks.
am Mostly the Darent Valley path, very well signposted, from Sevenoaks to Otford via Bradbourne Lakes Park and Sevenoaks Wildlife Reserve to Otford where we walk through the Otford Millenium Solar Park Then on to Shoreham, still following the Darent Valley path (Darent Valley being the inspiration for Samuel Palmer’s watercolours in the C18th).
pm Leaving Shoreham and continuing on the Darent Valley path, to Lullingstone Castle and Lullingstone Roman Villa, then up the hill to view panorama above Eynsford, where we leave the path and walk up to the station and thence by rail to Sevenoaks Station.
The Crown in Shoreham. We need to pre-order; the menu will be circulated asap. Boots to be covered, dogs only in the side dining room.
Apart from a couple of climbs in the afternoon, the walk itself is pretty flat, through some lovely countryside.. The main point of our walk is to experience the Darent Valley, Samuel Palmer lived in Shoreham. The Otford (Millenium Project) Solar Park (walk round all planets in 1 ¾ hours) is the largest scale model possible on our planet, of our solar system. Lullingstone Castle is private but Lullingstone Roman Villa (English Heritage) and a great farm shop, The Hop Shop, are both open on Sundays.