Viaduct and Villas Rail Trail (Swanley Station) Preview

Directions

Leave Swanley station by the main entrance along Station Approach then turn left onto Goldsel Road. Before the roundabout, carefully cross the road and turn right into High Street. Turn right into St Georges Road and follow it under a railway bridge after which it becomes a surfaced track. At the next junction turn left to bridge over the A20 and leave Swanley.

Directions

The track climbs slowly with views on the right looking back to Swanley. When it reaches a road turn left (Crockenhill village is a short distance to the right). At the next junction by Wested Farm, turn right onto another track which leads to the M25. Turn left at a junction to go under the motorway.

Directions

On the far side turn right then left at a junction with farm tracks to join a lane that passes the entrance to the Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation. This is the highest point of the walk and the lane now starts to descend with views opening up of the Darent Valley below, within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Information

The Darent Valley Path is a promoted route and currently runs for 19 miles between Dartford and Sevenoaks. Hugging the River Darent for much of it, the waymarked route offers panoramic views through a mix of stunning landscapes of marshes, woodland and chalk grassland.

Directions

Turn right onto a footpath that goes along the valley side then at the next junction, turn left onto a footpath that descends steeply to the valley bottom to arrive at a lane near Lullingstone Roman Villa.

Information

Lullingstone Roman Villa is among the most outstanding Roman villa survivals in Britain. The villa was begun in about AD 100 and developed to suit the tastes and beliefs of successive wealthy owners, reaching its peak of luxury in the mid-4th century. Visitors to the villa today can still view the spectacular mosaics and prints of the rare wall paintings, a heated bath-suite and a 'house-church'.

Directions

For Eynsford turn left and follow Lullingstone Lane, which is also the Darent Valley Path, passing the Roman Villa and then under the railway viaduct. Take extra care along this section of the walk as there is no pavement along the road. (*An alternative route to Shoreham station instead of Eynsford station is available here by turning right instead of left along the road see point 8).

Information

Eynsford Viaduct, with its impressive nine brick arches rising 75 feet (23 metres) above the valley floor, was built between 1859 and 1862 by the Sevenoaks Railway Company. It is a Grade II listed building and is still used by the London to Sevenoaks line and beyond.

Directions

At the junction with Sparepenny Lane, continue straight ahead along the riverside area to the ford and humpback bridge over the River Darent.

Information

Eynsford Bridge is a well-preserved example of a multi-span bridge dating from at least the 17th century, built to allow pedestrians and packhorses to cross the river.

Directions

*Alternative route - extension to Shoreham station

Carefully cross over the bridge, then at the junction with the main road (A225), cross over and turn right. Eynsford station will be on your left-hand side after about 700 metres.

Directions

Turn right at the lane by the Roman Villa and follow the signposted Darent Valley Path to Shoreham, passing Lullingstone Castle, Lullingstone Country Park with an attractive riverside walk, and the Hop Shop and lavender fields at Castle Farm. At the edge of Shoreham village, bear left at the end of a lane on a path that leads to a footbridge over the river then stay on the riverside path to head into the centre of the village.

Information

Eynsford Viaduct, with its impressive nine brick arches rising 75 feet (23 metres) above the valley floor, was built between 1859 and 1862 by the Sevenoaks Railway Company. It is a Grade II listed building and is still used by the London to Sevenoaks line and beyond.

Directions

Joining a road, continue ahead and once you see the church of St Peter & St Paul in the corner opposite the pub, follow the path through the churchyard. At the top, go through the timber gate and follow the path around the edge of the field, joining Station Road just before the railway bridge. Shoreham station can be accessed via the steps or the road a little further up on the left.