Day 3 Dartford to Otford

Another warm day ! South today to join the other pilgrim route from Winchester . After saying good morning to Mick Jagger ...it’s down the Darent river valley under the M25 and M20 and pass the Darenth church with remnants of Roman , Saxon , Norman and completed with a door shot at by Oliver Cromwell ! The 1881 paper mill chimney and the 1860 ten arch huge railway viaduct in South Darenth are impressive ! Following the diminishing river through Horton Kirby and it’s Norman church and onto Farningham and it’s bridge cum cattle screen (or folly?) in the river - to stop stock wandering in the ford across the river - and attractive old coaching inns. Still following the river and fields of lavender, poppies and hops and onto Eynesford with its ruined castle. The area has changed a lot and this area had more Roman villas than anywhere else in England as represented by
Lullingstone Roman villa ! Then Lullingstone castle - where lawn tennis rules were devised ! Through fields of barley and wheat , cricket and golf courses its the idyllic village of Shoreham and down to Otford with its quirky duck pond roundabout and Otford palace which was a model for Hampton court - yet it is now a ruin !
Another 15 or so miles today - Feet don’t fail me now !Read more