River Darent Hike- Castles and Lavender Fields of Kent

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We’ve all been fairly sedentary lately, so let us start out easy, shall we?
This 8 mile/13km hike is mostly flat and on good paths. Despite being just outside the M25, this part of Kent seems much further away from the city. The River Darent has been an important waterway in this area for millenia, as evidenced by the Roman villa and three castles spanning from the Normans to the Tudors that we’ll get a chance to see. We will also pass by a lavender farm- if they haven’t harvested yet, we’ll get a visual treat of the countryside painted in shades of fragrant purple flowers.

This is a linear walk- we will meet at Otford train station and end further down the trainline at Eynsford station, so it is easy to get back to your car if you choose to drive.

The day before the walk, I will send out an email with my contact info and any other information you might need. Please note- the meeting time may vary slightly due to the uncertainty of the train schedule more than a week in advance.

Grade: Beginner/intermediate 13km/8 miles. Approx 4 hrs hiking time on easy paths and park tracks. Some rolling hills but nothing too strenuous. Walk finishes approx 16:30

Meeting Point: Due to Covid, we can not travel together and organise group train tickets at this time. Meet me outside of Otford station at 10am. I’ll be dressed for hiking and wearing a day-glo yellow shirt.
There is a train that leaves Victoria at 9:25 that will get you there in good time. There is also the town car park nearby if you choose to drive.

If you choose to take the train, buy a return ticket to Otford- this will cover both legs of your journey.

Cost £10 organiser fee payable on RSVP. We have temporarily raised the price of walks to be able to accommodate smaller groups. As soon as it is safe to take larger groups, we will re-asses our pricing. For this hike, I will be taking a maximum of 15.

What to bring: PPE, Lunch, snacks, water, suitable clothing and hiking footwear. We will not be stopping at a shop or a pub so have everything you need for the day! Click here-https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FLjSAczjgbZ26OKE4Iy_zX2IFqkybdXCmK9AkVfqI1w/edit?usp=sharing

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