Swasev one

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Really lovely! Walked reverse, starting at Sevenoaks.

There are many wonderful things about the route, it's a beautiful riverside path (mostly) that runs along a wide rural valley between attractive steep hills (N Downs). It goes through pretty villages which are welcoming to walkers and has several train stations close to the route (you'd have to detour a good bit for Eynsford though). The clear majority of the route is on the Darent Valley Path, which is v well signposted and thought out. Indeed you could just use the DVP from Dunton Green to Eagle heights without spoiling the walk at all.

But... there are a few things to warn about, hence only 4 stars.

As John said, it's difficult (not safe) to cross the busy A25 anywhere along the intersect. But out of sight, nr S. Wildlife Reserve, there are islands, and thus also slowed traffic. If the route followed Lambarde Rd, instead of through Bradbourne Lakes (a park), people wouldn't need to brave the fast and busy traffic.

Rye Lane was pretty but not that quiet on Sat just after lunch (cold weather so low no. of walkers though, according to lavender farm shop people). I counted 17 vehicles. It's narrow and twisting from shortly after the M26 underpass until Otford, with solid high hedges but no verges. Southern bit was a pleasure though. It would be easy for the route to use the D Valley Path instead (from just below M26 to the end nr Otford). You'd miss the bad bit, plus get helpful signage, crossing points that have been thought about, etc. I asked a passerby who lives off Rye Lane and she won't even drive through since a crash some years back.

When you get to Otford, don't use the first crossing island as you'll just need to cross back again for the bridge (no crossing there).

And finally through the Swanley outskirts to the station is not ideal. The roads twist, turns are v close together, houses look v similar, at the end of the walk it was irritating. Not that bad really, but no pedestrian crossing on fast, wide-ish Godsel Road is bad. Plus there are then multiple sanctioned cut throughs to the station, you don't have to go the long way around via the top of Station Approach. I had to wait for a train so did quick test of a route nr A20. It turned out not to be near the crossing either. I'll check online for a better one. The traffic light crossing is nearer to High Firs junction.

I wonder if the difference in perception of safety has an order bias, i.e. tendency to hold memories of the more recent parts (of a road/ route) higher.

Sadly it's not wheelchair friendly, despite being v tourist friendly in general terms. I think the worst bits are a v steep long hill nr L Roman Villa (lovely view of Eynsford viaduct), extremely muddy bridleway N of Otford Rec (dry now but v churned up in wetter weather, per local rider-by). Crumbling thus suddenly too-narrow and dangerously angled bits of riverbank path near Lullingstone, significant protruding roots and rocks, multiple kissing gates.

If you are going to walk it before mid April 2023 you'll need to divert via Crockenhill as the path to A20 footbridge will be closed for a month, looks like major road drainage works.

A lovely walk through fields and along the Darent river. After a short distance through Swanley housing and over the A20, you are in countryside. The route joins the Darent Valley path after Hulberry Farm. There's the Roman Villa and Lullingstone Castle to visit and a little further on is a café in Lullingstone Country Park and Castle Farm (lavender products). The route goes through Shoreham village with shop, pubs and tea room (weekends) although there's a short cut along the river path. There are cafes in Otford village too. You need to walk 1.5 km on the road along Rye Lane although there are verges and it's fairly quiet. Crossing the A25 is tricky. After that there is a pleasant section passing Bradbourne Lakes before reaching Sevenoaks Station. Several gates and stiles would prevent push chairs etc. following this route. There are toilets at Swanley Station (platform 1) and Lullingstone Country Park.

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