Sevsol three

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Sevsol here.

This route addresses the problem raised with SevSol 1 and 2, about problematic road walking between Camer Country Park and Sole Street but it's a redesign, not an adjustment, both were tested before choosing this one.

This route goes up the North Downs early, at Shore Hill near Kemsing, to get the best uninterrupted views. It has more places to stop and 5mi/8km less road walking. Between Kemsing and Meopham Green is quite remote with only a few small settlements whereas between Vigo and Meopham Green, used by 1 & 2, is green but largely on lanes going past housing. This route is very marginally shorter, but it doesn’t go past Kemsing Station or any shops.

After Shore Hill it does follow the North Downs Way but only for a few miles, and there is a very short (but easily scrapped) detour to go past the Rising Sun at Cotman’s Ash. When the route crosses the multilane M26, M20 and A20 it uses foot(& hoof) bridges and there are decent crossings of the A roads around Sevenoaks. Most of the road walking is in Sevenoaks, Kemsing and Meopham Green on pavements, otherwise it's quiet lanes but there are two places where extra care is needed: 150m on Exedown Rd at TQ 5937 5963 where you leave the North Downs Way and later, in Meopham, 325m of Whitehill Rd at TQ 6461 6545. There are two long steep ascent/descents and one long but slightly less steep one. There are cows, sheep and horses, stiles, gates, steps and a fair chance of mud.

Places to stop for a break: Bell Inn at Kemsing, Rising Sun at Cotman’s Ash (no food but great reviews), Black Horse at Stansted. And at Meopham Green the Whitefinch Bakery and Tea Room (on route at TQ 6370 6486), and on the green - Minel Meze (open all day - formerly Kings Arms) and the Cricketers Inn.
The pub shown on OS maps at Hodsoll Street was demolished after a fire in 2021 and the public toilets at Meopham Green have also closed.

Transport: There are relatively good rural bus services from Kemsing and Meopham Green i.e. better than just a school service, and also at Culverstone Green which is not on the route but is a fairly short walk and nearer the central portion

This route addresses the problem raised with SevSol 1 and 2, about problematic road walking between Camer Country Park and Sole Street but it's a redesign, not an adjustment, both were tested before choosing this one.

This route goes up the North Downs early, at Shore Hill near Kemsing, to get the best uninterrupted views. It has more places to stop and 5mi/8km less road walking. Between Kemsing and Meopham Green is quite remote with only a few small settlements whereas between Vigo and Meopham Green, used by 1 & 2, is green but largely on lanes going past housing. This route is very marginally shorter, but it doesn’t go past Kemsing Station or any shops.

After Shore Hill it does follow the North Downs Way but only for a few miles, and there is a very short (but easily scrapped) detour to go past the Rising Sun at Cotman’s Ash. When the route crosses the multilane M26, M20 and A20 it uses foot(& hoof) bridges and there are decent crossings of the A roads around Sevenoaks. Most of the road walking is in Sevenoaks, Kemsing and Meopham Green on pavements, otherwise it's quiet lanes but there are two places where extra care is needed: 150m on Exedown Rd at TQ 5937 5963 where you leave the North Downs Way and later, in Meopham, 325m of Whitehill Rd at TQ 6461 6545. There are two long steep ascent/descents and one long but slightly less steep one. There are cows, sheep and horses, stiles, gates, steps and a fair chance of mud.

Places to stop for a break: Bell Inn at Kemsing, Rising Sun at Cotman’s Ash (no food but great reviews), Black Horse at Stansted. And at Meopham Green the Whitefinch Bakery and Tea Room (on route at TQ 6370 6486), and on the green - Minel Meze (open all day - formerly Kings Arms) and the Cricketers Inn.
The pub shown on OS maps at Hodsoll Street was demolished after a fire in 2021 and the public toilets at Meopham Green have also closed.

Transport: There are relatively good rural bus services from Kemsing and Meopham Green i.e. better than just a school service, and also at Culverstone Green which is not on the route but is a fairly short walk and nearer the central portion