Otford to Eynesford along the River
With Ivan away holidaying, we have left the High Weald path for a few weeks. Trevor and Richard decided on a gentle but scenic stroll down the Darent Valley Path. The River Darent is a small chalk-bed river that winds down the edge of the North Downs until it reaches the River Thames at Dartford. It flows through some lovely "Chocolate Box" villages as well as beautiful countryside.
We parked up at Otford and headed downstream towards the Thames not needing a map or GPS - well not often anyway!
Shoreham is very pretty and the path took us past their secluded cricket pitch into the centre of the village. The Church was pretty and the inevitable Pub opposite the church-gate dated from 1500.
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| Shoreham Church |
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| A very old Pub in Shoreham - but we didn't stop |
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| The River as it flows through Shoreham |
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| Looking across the Darent Valley |
Further along we came to Lullingstone Castle which is more like a big house than a castle and just beyond that is the archaeological site of a Roman Villa; not able to be seen from the path as its now fully encased. See here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lullingstone_Roman_Villa
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| The main gate of Lullingstone Castle |
To save using a country lane for a two-mile section the path detours up the hill away from the river and this was the only climb of the day. At the top we had great views over the entire valley.
Reaching Eyensford at 12-45 it was clearly time for refreshment which was taken in The Malt Shovel. Excellent food and good beer of course!
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| The river at Eynesford |
Stats for the day were ...
Date
|
Steps
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Distance (mi)
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Time (Hr)
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Calories
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Average speed (mph)
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Elevation gain (feet)
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Elevation lost (feet)
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13/05/2013
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12,734
|
6.5
|
2:34
|
806
|
2.5
|
720
|
750
|
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