Length 16.8km (10.4 miles)
Toughness 3 out of 10
Trains: Take the 9.43 Dover Priory train from London Victoria changing at Paddock Wood (arrive 10.32) to catch the 10.40 Strood train, arriving Yalding 10.47. Buy a day return to Yalding
Return trains from Borough Green are at XX:24
On arrival, set off in small groups (no more than six), allowing gaps between each departure. You will be asked to provide your email address for COVID contact tracing purposes. Please email swc.wandererAAAgmail.com (substitute @ for AAA) if you intend to come on the walk. Exchange names with those in your group.
In the event that you develop COVID symptoms in the week following the walk, please email swc.wandererAAAgmail.com with the names of people you had contact with on the walk. Your contact details will not be shared with anyone.
This is an easy walk through the woods and fields of the Kent countryside, without too much in the way of hills. The walk starts beside the River Medway, follows the Greensand Way to Roydon Hall and then heads gently uphill to East Peckham and St Michaels Church. The route now takes you to the village of Merewerth, Mereworth Woods, the village of Crouch, then through woodland to Basted and on to Borough Green.
Lunch: Bring a packed lunch as there may not be any refreshment options open. Mereworth is around the midpoint of the walk and the route passes the parish church of St Lawrence which may be a good picnic spot.
Tea: Melia's Place coffee shop in Borough Green may be doing takeaways.
L=1.50
We stopped in St Lawrence churchyard for lunch. A myriad of sumptuous feasts appearing from rucksack depths.
Soon we were off again, on a slog through what must be the biggest chestnut wood in the world. We arrived at the station in time for the 15:24.
I'm sorry you encountered problems at point 37 in the directions when you did this walk on Thursday. It is some two years now since I last updated / book checked the directions for this walk and it is possible the bridge structure has changed. But that said, the text suggests there are two bridges in the vicinity of point 37. I will check it out and update the directions if needed.