Apple Orchards & Medieval Kent 🍎🏰 | Free Hike 23 km (14.4 mi)

📈 Grade: 🥾🥾🥾 Level 3/5 (Moderate)
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🧠 How it will feel
Regular hikers: Comfortable
Casual walkers: Moderately challenging
Newcomers: Challenging due to the distance
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Join us for a mini adventure through Kent’s beautiful apple country, following sections of the Wealdway and Greensand Way through traditional orchards, meadows, woodland, quiet country lanes and gravel tracks. With seasonal colours developing and apples potentially still hanging on the trees, it is a wonderful time to explore the Kent countryside.

Starting and finishing at Borough Green & Wrotham, we’ll make a short visit to Old Soar Manor, a rare surviving section of a medieval stone manor house built around 1290. Originally the private residence of the influential Culpeper family, it included living quarters, a chapel, storage cellars and a medieval latrine.

Around lunchtime, we’ll stop at Shipbourne village, where the large village green provides an ideal place for a picnic. There will also be the option to visit the local pub for refreshments and toilet facilities.

After lunch, we’ll continue to Ightham Mote and visit the visitor centre. Although we will not enter the property itself, there may be an opportunity to use the facilities, refill water bottles and enjoy an ice cream, subject to opening times and availability. We’ll then loop back through more of Kent’s beautiful countryside and orchards.

Once back at Borough Green & Wrotham, those who wish to stay behind can enjoy a drink and some informal socialising at a local pub before catching the train home.

This is not a fast-paced or strenuous hike, but the 23 km distance and gentle undulations require a reasonable level of fitness. The walk will be steady and social, with a few planned stops along the way, but it will not be a slow, leisurely stroll.
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HIGHLIGHTS
🍎 Traditional Kentish apple orchards
🌳 Meadows, woodland and quiet country lanes
🥾 Sections of the Wealdway and Greensand Way
🏰 Visit to 13th-century Old Soar Manor
🧺 Picnic stop on Shipbourne village green
🍺 Optional pub visit for refreshments and facilities
🍦 Facilities and ice cream at the Ightham Mote visitor centre
🚆 Start and finish at Borough Green & Wrotham
🤝 A relaxed day of walking and socialising with fellow hikers
📏 23 km of steady walking through beautiful Kent countryside
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OVERVIEW
📏 Distance: 23 km (approximately 14.4 miles)
🥾 Difficulty: Moderate, Level 3/5
📈 Elevation: Approximately 357 m ascent and 357 m descent
🚶 Pace: Approximately 5 km/h (3.1 mph)
This is not a race, but neither is it a slow leisurely stroll.
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📍 OPTIONAL LONDON GROUP TRAVEL
Meet at the London Victoria ticket office at 08:30. We’ll leave the meeting point at approximately 08:40 to board the train.
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OUTBOUND TRAINS
From London: Catch the 08:55 train from London Victoria towards Ashford International (usually platform 2), arriving at Borough Green & Wrotham at 09:42. The fare is £12.50 with a Network Railcard or £15.80 without.

From Ashford: Catch the 08:56 train from Ashford International towards London Victoria, arriving at Borough Green & Wrotham at 09:45. The fare is £13.25 with a Network Railcard or £14.50 without.
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RETURN TRAINS
Trains run towards London Victoria (16:45, 17:45)
Trains run towards London Charing Cross (16:29, 17:29)
Trains run towards Ashford International. Please check the latest return times before travelling or during the hike.
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📍 MEETING POINT AND TIMINGS
▶️ Start: Borough Green & Wrotham railway station, 09:50 (W3W)
🏁 Finish: Borough Green & Wrotham railway station, approximately 16:30
⏱️ Estimated walking time: 5.5 hours
🕒 Estimated total duration: Approximately 6.5 hours, including breaks and stops
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🚗 BY CAR
Parking is available at Borough Green & Wrotham railway station. Please check the latest parking arrangements and charges before travelling.
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FOOD AND FACILITIES
🍔 Lunch: Bring a packed lunch, snacks and sufficient water.
🚻 Facilities: Pub refreshments and toilet facilities are available in Shipbourne, approximately 12 km into the hike. Additional facilities may be available at Ightham Mote later in the route, subject to opening times and availability.
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🎒 WHAT TO BRING
Packed lunch and snacks
At least 2 litres of water, and more in hot weather
Proper hiking boots or shoes with good grip
Weather-appropriate clothing and waterproofs
Sun protection
A fully charged phone
Personal medication and basic first-aid supplies
Optional trekking poles
More snacks than you think you need
A smile, good vibes and a sense of adventure
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✅ WHO CAN JOIN
Adults aged 21 and over
No children
No pets
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📅 RSVP & ATTENDANCE
Please RSVP only if you genuinely plan to attend. If you can no longer come, cancel as early as possible so someone else can take your place.

A no-show means RSVPing but not attending, or cancelling shortly before or after the start time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations without a valid reason may lead to removal from the group.

Reliable regular members who find themselves on the waitlist may message the host for priority consideration.
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👣 GROUP PACE & PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
This is a social group hike, and everyone is expected to stay reasonably connected with the group rather than rushing far ahead or falling behind.

Please keep the group in sight and remain within a reasonable distance, as a back marker may not always be present. Faster walkers should wait at junctions, and organisers may stop at suitable points to allow the group to regroup.

If you choose to leave the group structure or continue at a significantly different pace, you will be considered to be hiking independently and will be responsible for your own route and safety.

By attending, you agree to follow these guidelines.
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EXIT POINTS
The easiest exit point is approximately 12 km into the walk, around lunchtime in Shipbourne. It is close to a main road, making it relatively easy for a taxi to collect you if necessary.
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📞 CONTACT: For questions, please message the event host via Meetup. On the day of the walk, you may contact AdrianB via WhatsApp on +44 (0) 7438 812 663.
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER: By joining, you confirm that you have read and accepted the group policy on the About page. You are responsible for your own safety, and neither the host nor the group can be held liable for injury, loss, or damage.