Walk 3: Shoreham to Eynsford Walk between two well-served railway stations through the glorious Darent valley, following the course of a trout river through water meadows and past historic buildings

How long? 2.5hrs/4.2 miles THE WALK IN SHORT Public transport: Thameslink Points 1-2: Leave Shoreham station and walk and Southeastern trains run a under bridge down Station Rd to village regular service to Shoreham Point 2-3: War memorial, take river path. Cross and Eynsford (on the London bridge, look for path continuing on right Blackfriars to line). Point 3-5: Cross a series of fields and through a Arriva ’s 403 bus from row of poplars heading north Bluewater to Tunbridge Wells is Point 6-7: From visitors’ hourly. centre walk by river or along edge of field to Parking: if you want to make it a ‘there and back’ walk park on Point 7-8: Take path opposite castle uphill to Station Rd, Shoreham copse Start of walk: Shoreham railway Point 8-9: Walk past copse then take path on station or war memorial right between golf course and field. Walk up Thames steep bank Steep slopes? Tiny one (20m) in Bromley Lullingstone park, so not really Point 9-10: Follow path as it bends left (west), Eynsford Kid friendly? Loads to interest above golf course and grassland children but 4.2 miles will be a Point 10-11: Turn right at path junction and bit long for some make for lonely tree, north east across fields. Shoreham Pass tree then follow path down to Roman villa Walk and local highlights Point 11-12: Follow lane under viaduct to Sevenoaks Delightful 15th-century village Eynsford village pubs and ford or, for the houses; the Water House; station, cross the bridge over the river and Shoreham Aircraft Museum, follow a lane past a farm cottage to the main ▲ with tea shop attached; road. Turn left on main road and walk a few N ½ a mile sparkling wine specialist Mount metres to the station Vineyard (open on Sundays); Castle Farm shop and lavender rom Shoreham’s war Not long after this is Lullingstone left; on the right is a large field and fields, Lullingstone visitors’ memorial (point 2), turn right visitors centre (6) where there’s you’ll be able to see the lonesome centre and Lullingstone Castle on the river path. Continue a decent cafe. Join the footpath tree we’ll eventually reach. At a with Tom Hart Dyke’s World for 150-odd metres, noting running next to the river. If it’s too T-junction (10), take the path on Garden. Lullingstone Roman the cute gardens backing muddy, walk parallel on the path the right and go slightly uphill. Villa (superb), Eagle Heights Fonto the river, then go left to cross a on the edge of the field just above After a few hundred metres the Bird of Prey centre (also bridge over the river while admiring the river. Trout and even pike can path bears right, past the lonely superb). Plenty of pubs at a lovely house in front of you be seen in the river. tree. The views up here are great. either end. surrounded by water (3). Turn right After 600 metres you emerge Follow the path down between Covered on Ordnance Survey after the bridge (at the bottom of from the trees where the river hedgerows. You’ll come out next to Explorer 147 map Mill Lane) and take the path by the gushes into the lake. Here is the , with its river with a steep bank on its left. 15th-century Lullingstone Castle superb mosaics (11). More info on at localkentwalks. Very muddy in winter. (7), a favourite haunt of Henry VIII To walk straight to Eynsford wordpress.com and shoreham- Soon you will emerge into fields. among others. It is also the site of and its two pubs (see below) and village.co.uk Follow the path, now a few metres Tom Hart Dyke’s World Garden, grassy river verge by an old ford back from the river, which soon behind which is a remarkable (in which cars often get stuck) go begins to meander away to the east. story, including being held hostage straight down the country lane for You will cross two fields, a small in the Colombian jungle. Next to 10 minutes, under the fantastic one then a much larger one. When the castle is St Botolph’s Church Victorian railway viaduct. To go to you emerge at the corner of a third which has Norman elements and the station, cross the bridge over field, follow the path diagonally medieval windows. the Darent river next to the villa’s across it (4) to a farm track and row Take the path uphill going car park. Follow the lane past a of poplars. Go straight through a away from the castle. On reaching farmhouse, for 500 metres up to the gap in a hedgerow and cross another the copse at the top turn right main road, the A225. Unfortunately large field. Now you meet Castle alongside Lullingstone golf course you then have to walk 400 metres Farm Road (5). Go over the road and (8). Continue up a steep bank (9) (to the left) to the awkwardly sited join the path towards Lullingstone then the path turns left along a Eynsford station, along this road. or pop into the excellent Hop Farm low, long hill heading west. The Adam McCulloch Cereal field by Lull’stone Castle (point 7) shop at Castle Farm. golf course is now below you to the [email protected]

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