The Old Way - (12 or 16 miles)

Old ways are the best 😀

Follow the footsteps of the first Neolithic farmers introducing the first semblance of a civilization to this outlier of an island. Old Way, Harrow Way, Pilgrims' Way, North Downs Way: this track of many guises has ferried untold knowledge, hopes and ambition both hither and thither for millennia.

The Way is joined at the delightful village of Charing, sporting many Tudor houses with timber frames and overhanging stories. Henry VIII so enjoyed his stay at the village's Archbishops' Palace he seized it as his own, then forgot about the place as narcissists do. The remnants remain.

Picturesque Lenham offers a choice of wayside hostelries for Chaucer-like travellers. Its Grade 1 listed church was begun in the 12th-C, while propped against the wall waits a Doctor Who's unused headstone, seemingly as Time Lords do.

Not to be outdone, at Harrietsham, of marble and chevron stem stands "one of the finest Norman fonts in the country".

The 12 miles walk ends at HOLLINGBOURNE.

Or continue along the Way to BEARSTED via the Black Horse at Thurnham if time allows to wait for the train home. For this part be sure to bring a 🔦 torch

TRAVEL
1. Take the 9.55 train from London Victoria to CHARING. Walk starts from Charing station at 11.25. Village stop at lunchtime.

For the 12 miles walk expect to catch the 17.17 from Hollingbourne
For the 16 miles the 19.21 from Bearsted is booked

An off peak day return ticket purchased on the day to CHARING is £16.50 with a Network card or Groupsave.

The organizer will be standing from 9.30 am in front of the main WH Smith at London Victoria to act as a focal point for people to gather.

How to join?

• The walk is entirely free of charge;
• You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses;
• Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part);
• Understand how to stay safe outdoors, as you will be responsible for yourself. See our quick safety tips:
  https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/

Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section!

IMPORTANT
Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organized by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes.
Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is no business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader".
Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen.
Despite this, we take extreme precautions and all trips we plan are very safe, fun, highly educational and popular. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone :-)
By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer.

Here are our tips on staying safe during outdoor trips:
https://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/

TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, INSURANCE
Although we provide detailed suggestions, each participant is expected to arrange their own travel and (if required) accommodation - this gives everyone the freedom and choice to join from wherever they want and stay wherever they want. Anyone interested in travel or outdoor insurance should also arrange this on their own. As mentioned above we always take extreme precautions, but some people may still feel safer if covered.
We advise not to buy tickets until the day. People getting tickets from the same station are encouraged to meet early on the day to benefit from discounts such as GroupSave.