Borough Green Circular – 21 Sep

NB Please note the change of train from that on the original walks programme.

Train Instead of departing from Victoria station, we will catch the following train (destination Maidstone East), which only stops at Swanley and Otford after London Bridge.

Charing Cross 9.29
Waterloo East 9.32
London Bridge 9.38
Arriving Borough Green & Wrotham 10.15

NB your journey to and from the London stations may be affected by road closures for the Vitality Run (on Saturday mainly St James’s Park area).

The Walk The morning is mostly through wonderful deciduous woods, which can be magical if the sun is shining, but still attractive if it is not. There are occasional beautiful views across valleys.

The afternoon is mostly through fields, including the grounds of a stately home. and a visit to a lovely church 

The morning and the afternoon are about 2.5 hours and 2.3 hours of walking respectively, but with the addition of a possible 30 minutes pub break in the mid-afternoon for tea or beer!

Highlights on the way are Elizabethan/Tudor houses in Ightham village, Oast Houses, a 15th century hall house, a rare plant called bog bean (Menyanthes Trifoliata), close-up views of 2 sides of Ightham Mote (a 14th Century moated Manor House), an apple orchard, the church at Plaxtol with no name of a saint because it opened during Cromwell’s time and a stroll through the grounds of Fairlawne House, which was the home of the Cazalets (trainers of the late Queen Mother’s horses) and was then owned by racehorse owner Prince Khalid Abdullah until he died in 2021.

Lunc The lunch stop is the National Trust cafe at Ightham Mote. There isn’t anywhere wonderful nearby for a picnic, so those eating their own food may want to sit in the outside area of the Cafe and complement their sandwiches with some NT tea/coffee and, possibly, cake!

Dropouts  Unfortunately there are no dropouts by public transport. You may be able to order a taxi or Uber from the lunch stop at the cafe of Ightham Mote to the station of Borough Green & Wrotham (4 miles).

Hazards There are a few short, steep climbs and descents, for which a walking stick/pole will be useful. There is mud in the woods, particularly churned up on some of the bridleways.

There are crossings of a busy dual carriageway and some walking along country lanes, so the usual warnings apply – listen to the leader’s guidance, take responsibility for your own safety when crossing a road and walk single file along narrow roads.

Terry. Any questions please contact walks@morleyramblers.uk