3 Men on a walk 2017: North downs ramble

Otford loop via the North Downs Way and Shoreham

Weather forecast was not good but as Monday morning approached the weather maps indicated that the band of rain would pass from the north. So if we delayed our start a bit and walked in the North of our catchment area we might just stay dry. Trevor picked up a route around the North Downs and with a bit of modification to suit our late timing that's where we headed.

We parked up at Otford and set out along the North Downs Way. There is a very steep uphill section out of Otford but once on the top of the downs and caught our breath and the rain stayed away. We had done some of this trail before but for several miles we found ourselves on new paths as we looped across the downs and eventually dropped down the steep side of the Darenth valley into Shoreham where we hoped to find one of the three pubs open for business. Luckily the Kings Arms was open and we popped in for refreshment before walking up the other side of the valley as we looped back to the car at Otford.