Walking in Kent. Kev Reynolds
When a footbridge allows, cross to the left bank where the continuing route is waymarked for the Darent Valley Path. It continues as a fenced path. When the fencing ends keep along the right headland of a field, then cross through the middle of the next field to a concrete farm road. Continue ahead and eventually come onto a country road by some houses. At this point veer slightly left, up steps and into a field where you follow its right-hand boundary for about 500 metres to Lullingstone Park Visitor Centre.
WALK 2
Shoreham to Romney Street
| Start/Finish | Church of St Peter & St Paul, Shoreham (TQ 523 616) |
| Distance | 5 miles/8km |
| Maps | OS Explorer 147 |
| Refreshments | Pubs in Shoreham |
| Access | Via A225, 3 miles/5km north of Sevenoaks. Nearest railway station: Shoreham. Buses from Sevenoaks. |
| Parking | Public car park in Filston Lane, Shoreham (TQ 518 615) |
‘Everything connected with the village in those happy times,’ wrote 19th-century artist Samuel Palmer of the seven years he lived in Shoreham, ‘seemed wrapped about with a sentiment of cosy quiet antiquity, full of association that carried you far back into the pastoral life of Merry England years ago.’ There’s something of that association today, for the Darent Valley – in which Shoreham nestles between ramparts of the North Downs – is surprisingly unspoilt, having happily been spared the ravages of the M25 whose route had once been proposed to go through it.
Both village and valley are among the gems of this corner of Kent, with lots of opportunities for the walker. But Shoreham features only at the start and end of this particular walk, for the Darent is soon deserted in order to cross the eastern wall of the Downs to enter a hidden valley whose existence will surprise newcomers to the area.
Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Shoreham lies in a valley known to have been a major site of Stone Age settlements. A castle was built here in the 13th century – Castle Farm stands on its ruins – and two watermills once drew power from the Darent: a corn mill to the south, a paper mill to the north. During World War II, Shoreham was the most heavily bombed of all UK villages.
From the heart of the village, pass through Shoreham churchyard into an open field, where you turn left. Walk along the field edge until coming to a crossing path, then turn right. This path soon crosses the railway line and brings you to the A225. Cross with care and find a footpath sign about 50 metres to the left. Here you go through a hedge and aim half-left across a field to the opposite scrub boundary, then out to a drive below a house. Across the drive the continuing path slants up the edge of the garden and the wooded hillside beyond. It’s a steep climb nearly all the way.
Gaining the crest of the Downs come to a crossing path and bear left. The way eventually eases through woodland and emerges to open fields. From the woodland corner proceed straight across the field ahead, in effect making for the far corner. A few paces right of this, enter woods again and begin a steep descent among yew trees.
The path emerges into a surprisingly peaceful valley. Enclosed by hedges and trees for about 100 metres, you then turn left and follow the continuing path through grassland and on to a minor lane near a large Dutch barn at TQ 541 631. Crossing the lane the way passes to the right of the barn, and comes to a farm drive where you turn right. Passing a few houses and farm buildings the drive eventually becomes a track, which then narrows to an enclosed footpath.
Before 2014 this hidden valley was home to a golf course
About 500 metres after joining the track leave it in favour of a path on the left which is flanked on both sides by hedges and trees. It soon begins to rise up the downland slope towards Lower Wood. Entering a patch of scrub, veer right, then left up a sloping meadow. The path then angles along the fence-lined edge of the wood. There are splendid views ahead, and across to the right, where you can see over the brow of Round Hill to the wooded ridge through which the walk entered the valley. At the end of the fence-line the way continues along the top edge of two linking fields, until the garden boundary of Romney Street Farm and a crossing path at TQ 548 615.
Turn right and enjoy a long view to the right where, far-off, can be seen the sky-scrapers of Canary Wharf. Climb two stiles on either side of a track, then descend a steep slope, at the bottom of which you cross a track and continue ahead on another hedge-enclosed footpath. This takes you up a steep slope on the western side of the valley.
Enter woods again, and on emerging from them aim half-left across the corner of a hilltop field. Maintain direction over the next field, then, at a crossing track, turn right to reach Dunstall Farm at TQ 535 614. Shortly before reaching the farm the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge over the Thames at Dartford can be seen in the distance, while all around you lies a tranquil, untroubled landscape. In the farmyard veer right, then left past some barns and cross another open field towards more trees on the lip of the Downs. Shortly after entering Dunstall Woods there’s a crossing path. Go straight over this and descend (steeply in places and on a long flight of timber-braced steps) ignoring alternatives to right and left, and come once more into the Darent Valley. Cross the A225 opposite Shoreham station, and wander down the road into Shoreham village.
WALK 3
Westerham to French Street and Chartwell
| Start/Finish | Westerham green (TQ 447 540) |
| Distance | 4½ miles/7km |
| Maps | OS Explorer 147 |
| Refreshments | Pubs and cafés in Westerham, tearoom at Chartwell |
| Access | On the A25 about 5 miles/8km west of Sevenoaks. Westerham is served by buses from Bromley and Sevenoaks. |
| Parking | Pay & display car park on A25 east of Westerham near Quebec House |
This circular walk is a real gem that explores some quiet little valleys, woodland, hilltop crests with expansive views, an attractive little hamlet, and wanders alongside Chartwell, one-time home of Sir Winston Churchill. It’s a switchback of a route with several steep, though short, ascents and descents to tackle; a fine walk to enjoy in all seasons.
Westerham is a historic place whose first inhabitants built their huts within a stockade on what is now the green. In 1227 Henry III granted a charter allowing a market here, thus giving Westerham town status. Among its many fine old buildings there’s the 700-year-old Grasshopper above the green, and the Vicarage in which James Wolfe was born in 1727. Wolfe actually spent his childhood in the red-brick, multi-gabled house now known as Quebec House after his famous victory in Canada. This house is now in the care of the National Trust and is open to the public.
Begin on the triangular village green near Westerham parish church. On the green there’s a bronze statue of Churchill by Oscar Nemon, while General James Wolfe holds his sword aloft nearby. Cross the A25 below the Churchill statue and walk ahead down Water Lane, a narrow alleyway that leads between walls, crosses two branches of the Darent stream and enters the foot of a sloping meadow. Walk up the slope to a kissing gate in the skyline fence, after which you cut across a hilltop meadow slightly left, to reach a squeeze stile by an oak tree. An enclosed footpath now takes you to the B2026. Cross with care, turn right, and after a short distance come to a minor junction by a green at TQ 452