If you live in London (or any large city) you probably feel the urge to flee and “get a bit of green” every from time to time.
I feel this way a lot, so I like to plan country walks or hikes just outside the city. Often I’ll join a guided walk (which I’ll write about in another post), but sometimes I head out solo. You have to be a bit more organised, of course, if you decide to go it alone – but with a pre-planned route and smart phone, anyone can do it.
One of my favourite places to go for a solo stroll is Kent – which is pretty, peaceful and easily accessible from London.
Last weekend I got out and did one of my favourite walks in Kent between the villages of Shoreham and Eynsford. This short and easy stroll has a ton of great highlights – pretty English pubs, lavender fields, a castle, babbling brooks, roman villas, viaducts and ice-cream stops.
I’m sharing my route, highlights and photos below, so you can follow along (or better yet, get out and try it for yourself).
Country Walk in Kent: Shoreham to Eynsford
Key Info and Detailed Map
- Distance: 4.2 miles
- Time: 2 – 2.5 hours
- Circular: No
- Transit from London: Thameslink or Southeastern (to both Shoreham & Eynsford)
- Terrain: almost entirely flat
As I’m not organised (nor motivated) enough to truly “chart my own course”, I use tried and true paths – recommended by others – whenever I trek alone.
This route comes courtesy of Local Kent Walks and is one of many you can find at localkentwalks.wordpress.com. They provide clear and concise directions via this helpful pdf.
Highlights Along the Route from Shoreham to Eynsford
Village of Shoreham, Kent (Map points 1 – 3)
Shoreham is a charming village located just north of Sevenoaks in Kent (England). With a population of just over 2000, it’s a popular destination for walkers and cyclists, thanks to its beautiful countryside setting.
The village is home to a number of historical attractions, including the Shoreham Aircraft Museum and Shoreham Village Church. There are a number of traditional pubs, independent shops, and a lovely village green. Shoreham is also home to a few notable events throughout the year, including the Shoreham Village Festival and Shoreham Arts Festival.
Lavender Fields and Castle Farm (Map point 5)
If you try this walk in July, as I did, you should see purple fields of lavender as you approach Castle Farm. Lavender starts to bloom in late June and the fields are harvested for essential oils in late July.
If you’d like to get up close to the purple plants, and perhaps purchase some fragrant products, then you’ll want to stop off at the lovely Castle Farm. Castle Farm is a working, family farm with crops of barley, wheat, hops, apples and pumpkins. It’s the largest producer of lavender in the UK, and has an onsite distillery for extracting essential oils after harvest. The farm offers walks, picnics and tours of its purple fields in June and July.
If you can’t make it in summer, I recommend visiting Castle Farm’s Shop, no matter what time of year you’re walking. You’ll find drinks, sweets, oils, soaps and much more! (Lavender is my all time favourite scent so I find this place pretty heavenly 🙂) My top recommendation is their homemade Kentish ice cream (which comes in a lavender flavour, of course).
Pro tip: hold-on to your ice-cream treat and enjoy it riverside (see Map point 6, below).
Lullingstone Visitor Centre (Map point 6) and Walk by the River Darent
Not too far from the Farm is Lullingstone Visitor Centre – which has toilets (win!) and a cafe. The Visitor Centre marks the start of my favourite part of the walk – a tree-covered footpath next to the River Darent. The green and the sounds of the water make this stretch of the route really serene. In the warmer months you’ll see local kids wading into the water with fishing nets, trying to snag trout and pike.
Lullingstone Castle (Map point 7)
Next up is Lullingstone Castle, a historic manor house built in the 15th century. The house (or “castle” if you’re feeling fancy) is a Grade 2 listed 3-storey building.
The house is set in an estate of 200 acres, and includes the “World Garden”, a collection of plants from around the globe. The garden is open to the public from April to October. The manor house itself is open to the public when special events are on – so be sure to check Lullingstone Castle’s website before you go.
The “Lonely Tree” (Map point 10)
After the Castle begins the most “country” stretch of the walk. You’ll likely find yourself alone in the Kentish countryside for a bit (which I always find does my head some good 🙂
Continue on past this lone tree …
The Lonely Tree signals that you’re nearly out of the fields…
To Eynsford! Onward!
Lullingstone Roman Villa (Map point 11)
Once you emerge from the fields you’ll pass Lullingstone Roman Villa – a well-preserved Roman villa built in the 1st century AD.
The villa was occupied until the 5th century AD and is notable for its mosaics, which depict scenes from Greek mythology and Roman life. It also has a rare Christian chapel, which is one of the earliest examples of Christian worship in Britain.
The villa was excavated and restored in the last century and is now a popular tourist destination. It’s managed by English Heritage and usually open to the public from April to October.
Eynsford Aqueduct
Now on the homestretch to Eynsford you’ll pass under the impressive Eynsford Viaduct.
The Eynsford Viaduct is a Roman structure originally built as an aqueduct. It’s a Grade 2 listed building and is one of the best-preserved Roman aqueducts in Britain.
The aqueduct was built in the 1st century AD to carry water from the River Darent to the nearby Roman villa at Lullingstone. It’s made of brick and stone and is about 100 meters long. It’s supported by a series of arches and is still in great condition.
Village of Eynsford, Kent
Your arrival in Eynsford marks the end of the walk!
This tiny, 2000 person village is incredibly picturesque. It’s right on the river, and you’ll often see locals fishing and wading in (You may want to join them. Soak your feet!) Alternatively, you can get a drink at one of several cozy pubs. (I usually choose the Malt Shovel. It’s on the way to the train station and has a large outdoor space in the back).
The End
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If you’ve tried this walk, or others nearby, let me know. You can share your best tips in the comments below…
Best,
