Trails of Kent – Lavender fields, Castles and Lullingstone Country Park, 15km

Kent - the garden of England! Enjoy a day in the delightful countryside, passing cute villages, castles, and admiring amazing lavender fields!

We'll begin our adventure in the charming little village of Otford in the Sevenoaks District of Kent. It lies on the River Darent in the lush Darent Valley. It has a rich history dating back to the Romans, Saxons, and Normans. We'll travel through Lullingstone Country Park, 460 acres of ancient woodland and grassland in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Our hike takes us past the Shoreham War Memorial - a cross carved into the east-facing slope of the North Downs above the village of Shoreham. It was made in 1920 in memory of those who died in the Great War.

This is the best time of the year to see lavender fields in bloom - the fields should hopefully be bursting with colour and we will stop and spend some time here where you can take in the splendour of the flowers, relax and enjoy refreshments and perhaps even do some shopping at the farm shop, which sells everything lavender! (note: we will not be going into the fields and walking among the flowers as you need to pay for this). The farm is apparently the largest producer of lavender in the UK - they have a distillery on site that enables them to extract the essential oils within hours of the crop being harvested.

We will pass by a couple of castles along the hike as well - Lullingstone Castle, one of England’s oldest family estates, and Eynsford Castle in the picturesque village of Eynsford. Eynsford castle is a rare example of an early Norman 'enclosure castle'. It was abandoned centuries ago. Eynsford was protected by an extensive curtain wall - today, parts of the wall survive to their impressive full height alongside the remains of the hall building, where the inhabitants would have lived. This is a linear hike from Otford to Eynsford.

Cost: £4 organiser fee payable on RSVP

Start time: 9:40am

Start location: Otford station TN14 5QY (my mobile: 07951673142)

End location: Eynsford station

Length: 15km

Ascent: 140m

Time: approx 6 hrs. It’s not possible to guarantee what time we'll finish as it depends on the weather, pace of the group and our breaks along the way.

Pace & Difficulty: a reasonable moderate pace; we will not be zooming along in a mad rush. The aim is to enjoy the outdoors and have a fun, friendly day. This is an easy hike with some ascent in places and suitable for beginners.

Transport (train): The 8:55am direct train from London Victoria reaches Otford station at 9:31am. Check the trains before travel. You could coordinate with other participants and buy a group saver ticket.

What to bring:
Check the weather and bring appropriate gear. A comfortable backpack, waterproof jacket, sufficient food, snacks, and water along with suitable socks and footwear (waterproof hiking boots) are some essentials. Walkways and trails can be steep, muddy, and slippery and boots with ankle support will be useful, as well as hiking poles. Gaitors are handy when its muddy and wet. Carrying waterproof socks in your backpack is a good idea in case your boots get wet from the inside. Don't wear inappropriate clothing such as jeans and sneakers. Remember to carry any medication you may require. If it’s sunny, don’t forget a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen!

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER / TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
By participating, you confirm you have read, understood and accepted the below, including the full Terms and Conditions
I am NOT a qualified hike leader or first aider.
Hiking, walking, and hill walking carry the risk of personal injury and death. Participants must be aware of, and accept, the risks. Participants are responsible for their own safety and actions and agree not to hold me responsible or liable for any injury (or death), damage or losses incurred either directly or indirectly from their participation in group events. This group is for people 18 years old and over.