Coming by car it was irritating to be held up for ages on a rail strike day at a level crossing, so that I started 10 minutes late. Eventually I caught up with five others (only one of whom had come by train) so there were 6 of us on a cloudy morning then partly sunny afternoon . In Shoreham The Samuel Palmer was displaying a new bar menu so we stopped there for a change, finding plenty of attentive staff and pretty quick service.

Two slipped off on a short cut back to Otford but the rest of us did the walk more or less as written, ignoring the walk poster's plea for us to go off-piste. The spacious Olive Tree tearoom at the back of the Hospices of Hope provided a nice tea before the solitary rail traveller set off to catch the 16:29. Lots of cowslips in Magpie Bottom, but the extensive bluebells in the muddy woods above Shoreham were well past their best.

Two of us did this walk on Sunday, we noted from the start of the walk, paragraph 1 in the instruction, just after leaving the station, turned 'immediately left', the Council has erected metal fences blocking the path. We managed to get onto the path through a narrow gap in-between two fences, and did the same on the other side. There is a patch of loose earth with additonal fencing around it, nothing too serious. I am not sure how long the path will be blocked.

I was trying to catch up the group on Saturday so only had a quick look at the notice on the fencing. The Council have erected it to help prevent the spread of ash dieback from infected trees in the Chalk Pit. I didn't notice any information about how long the area would be fenced off or what diversionary route to take, but it was pretty obvious to take the short detour around it on the roads.

I've got a few minor updates to make on this walk and I wasn't sure if it was necessary to mention it, but it looks as if I do need to actively discourage people from ignoring the closure. None of us wants to see the spread of this blight and find more and more woods closed off to walkers.

The notice we saw was a warning about unstable earth not ash dieback. The fenced off path was quite short. Inside this path, there was another small fenced off area about 2-3m in diameter which contained loose earth. We thought the Council was being super cautious not to cause injuries.

Only two of us got off the appointed train at Otley. We’re lunching at the Crown Inn.

Could it have been the thunder that deterred the Sunday walkers from this lovely walk? Two arrived at Otford meeting a third at Shoreham walking the route from Shoreham back to Otford so that made a total of <3>. The weather was .

It’s a lovely walk. So it was autumn leaves, damp earth and modest amounts of mud underfoot. Lunch was at the Crown Inn that seems to have revamped its menu and is a bit more expensive. We noticed that the Two Brewers is closed and being converted to a private house and the George is now the Samuel Palmer.

The woods after lunch were fertile ground for fungi spotting and we returned to Otford before the torrential rain. The sunset from the train ended an enjoyable autumn walk.

3

8 of us met in Otford station car park. Most opted to do a customised circular walk via Eynsford, cutting across the slopes of Fackenden Down (which was well stocked with orchids and marbled white butterflies) and on to Romney Street via two good hill climbs. From there along the valley top, where we lunched on a flower-covered hillside, then down to Eynsford station.

We avoided the village, cutting straight down to Lullingstone Roman Villa. Hereafter the route got very busy with families who had parked at Lullingstone. Lots were picnicking on the hillside near the visitor centre (whose toilets were open, but not its cafe) and the car park was overflowing. We had a sit down on the hillside too and discussed army foot care techniques. Setting off on the Darent Valley Path we discovered that the lavender farm had set up a tea kiosk. It seemed a pity not to reward such enterprise and two of us had a tea and one a lemonade. They had attached the card machine to a wooden baton which was held out to you - very clever. The lavender was mostly not out, but starting in places.

The path from there to Shoreham was still busy with families (Shoreham being another popular parking spot) - uncomfortably so, I thought. I fell behind my companions here, and then ran into another SWC walker who had missed us by ten minutes at the start and was doing the Otford via Shoreham walk. So 9 on the walk in total. She reported that the vineyard in Shoreham was serving both wine and pizza - takeaway, but with outside tables. I do not know if the rest of the group got any drinks in Otford, but some tea outlets did seem to be doing takeaway when we passed through in the morning. I diverted instead up onto Fackenden Down for more butterfly watching In the golden evening light.

Oh, and the weather was increasingly sunny and warm .

Just a huge vote of thanks to Walker for posting this walk and gently encouraging us to follow his customised circular route to Eynsford and back.

We dealt with the need for possible future contacts by nominating one person to collect names and phone numbers (hopefully not needed) and enjoyed a glorious day. Wish we'd known about the wine and pizza at Shoreham!

You are very welcome. It was so nice to be out with the group again. I am sorry I lost you guys towards the end. I was trailing a bit on the way into Shoreham and then I ran into Number Nine as described, and we had a bit of a chat. I presume you all found your way to the end OK....

Lashing rain early in the morning put off at least one walker I know from turning out today, but 23 were not so easily dissuaded. Setting out, we encountered one hailstorm about 40 minutes into the walk, but the skies then cleared and it was largely a sunny and breezy day. After all the overnight rain there was a fair degree of mud, both slithery and gloopy, but not more than on other winter walks. The morning route was an interesting amalgam of bits and pieces from other walks. It would be very pretty in high summer.

I said in the walk post that we always end up at the King’s Head for lunch. Perhaps some did, but 10-12 of us descended on the George instead, whose solitary barman seemed a bit shell-shocked to have so many customers turn up at once. After confused discussions about how we might order and pay, the food came quickly and efficiently, and speaking personally mine was both hearty and substantial.

In the afternoon sunshine the group seemed to fragment, or perhaps I just got left behind. I enjoyed the route up into the ridge, where plentiful bluebells were growing (but not flowering yet, obviously) and the very pretty double-back across the downland was charming as well. Perhaps the sunshine helped, but the little section around Filston Hall also delighted, being not previously known to me despite comprehensive previous explorations of this area.

We got to Otford about 3.30pm, rescuing two walkers with a copy of book 1 (doing its Otford Circular) on the way. A sizeable contingent went to the cosy and friendly Hospices of Hope tea room.

Over tea I canvassed support for a short extension to Shoreham, and was doing quite well until we emerged to find the rain lashing down again. Cue a scurry to the station for the 4.26 train to Victoria. But 20 seconds before it arrived the sun reappeared and I snatched two companions for a lovely sunset walk along Fackenden Down to Shoreham, which we reached just as the sun dipped below the hills. We got the 5.32 Thameslink back to the nervous pleasures of civilisation.

12 on a pleasant stroll in the sunshine ; 4 enjoyed the generous portions in the George Inn for lunch. Not sure how many stopped for tea in Otford but some of us hastened back for the Christmas party; most were on the 1556 to Victoria. As far as I know, nobody resorted to either of the short-cuts. A fine choice of walk for a short day.

Looks like this short and close to London walk won the day, 16 at the station with 3-4 new walkers but they soon disappeared from the group. Despite forecast of rain, we managed the entire walk totally dry, overcast but dry . A classic SWC walk with beautiful autumn colours and varied landscope. We reached Shoreham around 12:30. 5 ate at Ye Olde George Inn and 3 dinned at Kings Arm. Food were good at both pubs. Several (4-5) from Ye Olde George Inn took a short cut in the afternoon (really? can't believe it, but it is true), at least 5 did the scheduled walk (8.7 miles), 2 took an alternative route in the woods to avoid romantic sound of 'Niagara Falls' (M25). Various segments came, went or met up at Hospice cafe for tea and cake, yum! The last group left Otford on 4:56pm train. A good day out. Thanks Otford for keeping us dry.

Now I might do the Walk next Sunday. But I can't Guarantee I will. So during the Walk. There will be no Pub Restaurant to stop at. Anyway if I do make it. Then I will be bringing Sandwiches etc.

There are no guarantees that country pubs will survive from one week to the next, but it would be a shock if all four of Shoreham's pubs close by next weekend. Still, pessimists who bring sandwiches will find some nice spots in the churchyard or on the riverbank.

I am doing this walk but starting an hour earlier as have something on in the evening

Do I need a Return ticket from Otford there and back?

Unless you're planning to stay in Otford, you would need a return ticket.

On a sunny day 17 walkers set off at the appointed time for this (mostly) new walk, with quite a lot of climbing packed into its modest 14km. The Crown was as good as ever for lunch, but as I've commented here before I wish some people wouldn't eat their own food in a pub's beer garden - the pub might not be so welcoming to the next group of walkers. At the end of the walk the Pond View Café had annoyingly shut at least 30 minutes before its published 4.30pm closing time; with a little time to spare before the 16:32 some stopped for a quick drink in the Bull, but were then caught in a heavy downpour. [Three piled into my car for a lift to the station and in the confusion I managed to lose a nice Tilley hat...probably dropped in the rush but if someone did mistakenly walk off with it, please say].

Agreed. Rank bank manners to eat your own food in a pub. Cheapskatery & gives those who properly support often struggling country pubs a bad name. Find a bench, or apply for a job in the pub kitchen.