13 of us gathered at Leigh station, and set off under cloudy_skies. We had a sharp shower of rain around 1pm, by which time most people were ensconsed either in the White Rock or the church. After everyone had either eaten or had a drink in the pub, we all set off together for the last leg of the walk through the vast parkland of Knole. I don’t think anyone stopped there for tea, but made our various ways out of the park to the station. A very pleasant Sunday outing.

For tea, Sevenoaks now also has a Gails - great cakes and it stays open later than other places. Not far from the Malabar.

7 at the station plus one catching us up so 8 in total. It started sunny, and although rain threatened as we approached Underiver, it remained dry until mid afternoon by which time most were at the end of the walk.

As expected there was plenty of mud, but we were treated to bluebells as we made our way through a series of small woods. As the morning wore on it became quite windy, and thunder rumbled ominously. 5 of us took refuge in the church for our picnics, and 2 lunched in the pub at Underiver. After lunch we trudged up a steep muddy bridleway up onto the Greensand way and then into Knole Park.

2 of us had cake and hot drinks in the Malabar Coffee house when we arrived in Sevenoaks before dashing through the rain to catch a fast train back to London Bridge.

A good day out with better than expected weather, thanks to Sandy for posting.

The two of us who enjoyed an excellent lunch at the White Rock pub in Underriver timed our arrival in Knole Park to perfection, having fought our way up that revoltingly muddy bridleway which sucked up one of my.walking boots at one point. The heavens opened, hail then thunder and lightning - we got the best soaking ever, out in the open parkland with no shelter ! We skipped tea and arrived sodden at Sevenoaks railway station. Apologies to South Eastern Rail for our leaving puddles on the train..........

But as Boonster has mentioned, it was a good day out !

sun strong wind heavy rain showers thunder lightning and hail !

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This is the second time I've written a walk report which has ended up in "Comments." What am I doing wrong?

@Brian: You need to write numbers and weather as (say) nEQ8 and wEQbrilliant-sunshine (or whatever), but replacing my EQ with = so that it displays as 8 and brilliant sunshine . I think that's what our webmaster's software uses to determine that it's a walk report.

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Hi Brian you just need an "=" character between the octothorpe and the walk attendee number or weather description.

The #= is simply a replacement for both w­= or the n­=

Hope this helps

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7 off the train and 1 at the lunchtime pub, so 8 on this gentle walk under brilliant sunshine and a cloudless blue sky . (Okay, it clouded over later, but let's not split hairs.) Crossing bare fields and through woodland, the first signs of spring soon appeared in the form of crocuses and snowdrops - can the first lambs be far behind? A young couple who started off behind us mysteriously appeared in front as we approached Underriver, but we never found out how they managed it. We did, however, at the suggestion of a sharp-eyed map-bearer, take a slight detour via field paths instead of the road between Oak Tree Farm and Watts Cross.

Arriving at Underriver (the name "Underriver" is derived from the Old English sub le ryver which translates into modern English as "under the hill" so, nothing to do with rivers at all) four picnickers found conveniently placed tables outside the village hall, while three elected to lunch at the White Rock pub. They were just being served as the picnickers left, so perhaps one of them will report on the food?

Up a steep and very muddy hollow way, obviously much used by horses, we emerged on the Greensand Way which we followed into Knole Park and then into Sevenoaks for tea and cakes at the Malabar Cafe before a short stroll down London Road to the station. As always with the SWC, a good day out in very convivial company.

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Yes, trial and error (mainly error) established that just using the hash sign does the trick.

Fixed now.

(the bit that splits the TWW comments feed into before-a-walk and trip-reports looks for a post's first comment with a numbers or weather tag - but it was only looked "N" and "W" tags, not "hash" ones [Thanks Sean]

Five off the train and one "local" who we met en route so 6 in all. Most walkers appeared in rain-proof garb - except me- and the (half)day was generally cloudy with a little rain so some mud was picked up on boots and the bottom of trousers: essentially the first walk of autumn. We took our boots off for the White Rock pub which served exellent food of sizeable portions in quick time.

After lunch the group soon reached Knole Park where 2 decided to visit its grand house. Speedily back to London and back through the frnt door by 5pm. Not a bad walk but not a Book 1 classic.

30 on this walk so I am told and the weather was fair

The walk was very nice as was expected of this area of Kent though two heavily ploughed dried muddy fields made it hard work for those who went across them ( I went round )

Lunch was had by about 15 of us at The White Rock Inn though one poor chap didn’t get fed as they lost his order but he got his money back and a heartfelt apology from the barman who said that after he took the order he lost it and it never reached the kitchen. Crisps seemed to make up for the shortfall and the hungry man didn’t seem too upset not hungry.

After lunch there was the long slow climb with a bit of mud but not too bad and it did blow away the relaxation of lunch just in time for ……..

Afternoon tea which was taken in the NT tea rooms at Knole house - a very nicely refurbished area though the tea and cake were as poor as ever - a few apparently had tea in Sevenoaks at the Malabar Tea room which is supposed to be very good - we will all know for next time.

Then on to Sevenoaks where the train was caught by most of us, tawdry Sevenoaks as I heard a fellow walker say - not sure why, maybe it is the Christmas lights but that should be Tawdry Great Britain then - don’t you just hate Christmas and all those interminable Christmas tunes ? - ‘ I wish it could be Christmas everyday ' - oh NO I don’t.

All the best

Audrey Humbug

I noticed a branch of \bills ha opened, opposite the theatre in Sevenoaks. It looks to be sizeable enough to cater for a large group of walkers.

If easier, you could start in Hildenborough, which would knock about 3 km off of the walk but allows you to pick up the route.

Upon leaving the station via the car park go north along Rings Hill and then Watt’s Cross Rd until you reach a T junction with the London Rd where you turn left and then next right into Mill Lane

This lines up with half way through Point 16 & then Point 17 from the online text of the walk

Continue ahead for 500 metres, passing a house called Oak Trees on your left to reach the B245.

Turn left and in 70 metres turn right on to Mill Lane.

Enjoyable walk with mild autumn weather. 9 /10. Charing cross trains delayed, causing one person to be an hour behind. Friendly pub. Forgot to check on the instructions where a previous walker got lost. We didn't, but that might just be familiarity with some of the route.

Thank you :-)

It is the CHRISTMAS PARTY on Thursday - don't forget!! See listing below

London Bridge at 09.22 I think - please someone confirm or deny

Just booked a table for 6 for lunch at 12.30

I'll be coming via East Croydon, arriving at 10.43 and will try to catch the group up.

blowy and dry About 16 on this walk which featured death and difficult styles but little mud

The White Rock at Underriver served us well with 14 or so of us ordering a meal and though it wasn't very busy they were turning away people who hadn't booked, so well done the person who had booked a table for us.

We finished in Sevenoaks with some making a beeline for the train but the more stalwart making a beeline for tea and cake in a little café called Malabar

Body count for the day was 3 (road kill hedgehog and squirrel) and a partridge not quite dead in the woods after the shooters had brought it down. It is bloody dangerous out there if you are a wild animal though the deer that we saw during the day were noticeably chill – they didn't expect to be attacked and killed though nor for that matter I doubt if the three that we saw earlier expected such carnage

Plus a few more on a later train: 3 regulars and a group of about 10 friends doing the same walk independently.

This walk could be improved by cutting out some of the road walking in the morning. Looking at the OS map, a potential alternative route might be:

- Instead of turning right at point 15 carry on north after Lower Street Farm, along the footpath.

- Turn left on a minor road (Philpotts on right) and pick up the footpath on your right (heading north)

- The path crosses the railway. Turn left along the country lane and pick up the footpath again on your right. This eventually takes you across the A21 by a footbridge and to the pub.

re last comment, the pub in that case is the one in Cock Wood and you'd need to follow a map from there to Underriver or for directions see the note from Chris in the updates section for this walk.

I want to express happiness with

- the pub, the White Rock at Underriver, which delivered food quality out of proportion to the price

- the early start and finish to this walk.

Historical duplicate/misleading attendance numbers cleanup project: 19