THE WALKS
Leaving Ridley the way cuts across fields (Walk 26)
WEST KENT AND THE WEALD
With the Darent Gap seen off to the right, the way descends to a lane above Shoreham (Walk 1)
From the Darent Valley which slices through the North Downs, to the low-lying pastures edging Romney Marsh, the countryside south of the M20 rewards the walker with a magnificently diverse set of landscapes. Only a small part of the North Downs is included, but the Kentish half of the Greensand Ridge is here in its entirety, as is the vast sweep of the Weald with its historic villages, orchards, hop gardens and vineyards, and numerous scenes of timeless beauty.
WALK 1
Lullingstone Park to Shoreham
| Start/Finish | Lullingstone Park Visitor Centre (TQ 526 638) |
| Distance | 6 miles/9.5km |
| Maps | OS Explorer 147 and 162 |
| Refreshments | Cafeteria at Lullingstone Park Visitor Centre; pubs in Shoreham |
| Access | Via Castle Road cutting southwest off A225 ½ mile/800 metres south of Eynsford railway bridge. Nearest railway stations: Eynsford and Shoreham. |
| Parking | Pay & display at the visitor centre |
Formerly a medieval deer park, Lullingstone Park provides a focus of outdoor recreation on the west flank of the Darent Valley between Shoreham and Eynsford. In addition to the ubiquitous golf course, there are woodland walks and views from open meadows, while the visitor centre on the Darent’s bank serves the public with refreshments, toilets, interpretive leaflets, walking guides and plenty of information on the area’s natural history.
Apart from the pleasures of the North Downs, there are many other features to this walk. First, a riverside stroll with views across a man-made lake to the Tudor manor house of Lullingstone Castle, then an opportunity to make a short diversion to inspect the remains of a Roman villa. There are handsome farmhouses and flint-walled cottages, an imposing mansion set in neat lawns, and a rather striking viaduct marching across the valley. Near the end of the walk, Shoreham has lots of interest and attractive scenes at almost every turn.
From the visitor centre entrance take the very pleasant streamside path among trees, with the Darent on your right. Beyond the stream can be seen an extensive lake that extends as far as the red-brick mansion of Lullingstone Castle.
Lullingstone Castle is a Tudor mansion with a red brick Queen Anne facade set within 120 acres of countryside. Home to the same family since 1497, it has a 15-acre lake and the UK’s first World Garden of Plants created by plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke. The house and gardens are open to the public on set days between April and September. For information see www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk.
The Queen Anne facade of Lullingstone Castle conceals a Tudor mansion
Walk through a parking area and onto a lane by the castle’s gatehouse entrance. Keep on this lane for almost ½ mile/800 metres, but immediately before reaching Lullingstone Roman Villa, turn left on a footpath rising among trees.
Lullingstone Roman Villa dates from about AD100, but was enlarged over some 300 years of occupation to house what was probably an important Roman official. There were baths and underfloor heating, a Christian chapel, and superb mosaic floors on public display now via English Heritage (www.english-heritage.org.uk).
Above the trees the way continues to climb, and near the head of the slope a path breaks off to the right. Ignoring this, continue ahead alongside trees, then veer left through the trees to cross the open brow of a hill with long views over the Darent Valley. Now the path slopes downhill, passes between scrub trees into a dip, then rises on the other side. When it forks keep ahead on the right branch, soon coming to an open meadow which you cross along its right-hand edge. On the far side the path divides again. Take the left branch (the other is a bridleway) which takes you through a long strip of woodland with a golf course on the left. At a crossing track continue directly ahead through another section of woodland, but when you emerge from this at a paved way on the golf course, turn right towards a car park and the clubhouse.
About 150 metres before reaching the car park, note a large wooden signpost. At this point turn left on what is part of a circular walk. Aim for a marker post and continue into Upper Beechen Wood where a broad path takes you down a slope, at the foot of which you cross a fairway – beware flying golf balls! Continue up the grass slope opposite, but very soon veer left on a path rising through more woodland. At the top of the slope come to crosstracks and maintain direction to a ladder stile and a gate. An enclosed path now leads ahead to a field, which you cross to Redmans Lane at TQ 510 637.
Turn left, and after about 100 metres bear right on a concrete driveway leading to two bungalows. At the end of the second garden boundary the path enters a large field. Keep to the right-hand edge, and at the far corner cross a stile into a sloping meadow, with fine views to the steep scarp slope of the Downs. Hills of woodland and meadow fold into neat valleys ahead.
Descend alongside a fence to the bottom left-hand corner where you come onto a lane opposite a cottage at TQ 515 628. Bear left, following the lane through an avenue of mature trees, then turn right at a T-junction. There’s an interesting memorial stone up a few steps on the right. Continue up the lane to another junction. Ignore the left turn for Shoreham and stay on the right fork for a short distance. On coming to a cottage on the left, turn onto a track immediately left of the driveway. This track runs above and to the right of a sunken pathway, veering to the right and rising steadily. When it forks at the entrance to Meenfield Wood continue directly ahead, with steep meadows sweeping down to Shoreham on your left.
The way takes you above a large memorial cross cut into the chalk slope, with a dedication to the men of Shoreham who lost their lives in the 1914–18 war. From here there is a splendid view over the village and the Darent Valley. Continue ahead as far as a crossing path where you descend to the village, passing the Shoreham Aircraft Museum where teas are served (open weekends from May to September www.shoreham-aircraft-museum.co.uk). Turn right along High Street, then left into Church Street.
Shoreham is an attractive village with a number of tile-hung or flint-walled cottages, and a picturesque bridge over the Darent, a stream that adds much to Shoreham’s charm. There’s a railway station on the London (Victoria or Blackfriars) to Ashford line, and a bus service from Sevenoaks. At the railway station the Shoreham Society has developed an interesting Countryside Centre.
Seen from the walk, the Darent flows at the bottom of Shoreham gardens
Wander down Church Street past the weatherboarded Kings Arms with its unusual ostler’s box, then cross the Darent and bear left by the war memorial. Approaching the entrance to The Water House (where Samuel Palmer the artist once lived) veer left on a surfaced