Heritage and Meadows Rail Trail (Bat and Ball Station) Preview

Directions

Turn left out of the station, following the road parallel to the railway past commercial buildings. Just before a footbridge, turn right into Watercress Drive and follow it to a T-junction where you turn left onto Farm Road, a cul-de-sac. A footpath continues from the end of the road leading into Sevenoaks Quarry.

Information

Before starting the walk, it is worth pausing for a look at Bat and Ball station. Opened in 1862, this was the first station in Sevenoaks and marked the end of a branch line from Swanley. It was another six years before Sevenoaks station and the main line connection to London was completed.

Operated by Tarmac, this is an active quarry providing gravel for construction work. The walk goes through the site past a converted oast house and the processing plant then passing both restored and unrestored areas.

Directions

Follow the path onto an internal road to reach the site of the processing plant, through which a route has been signposted for walkers’ safety. A wide track leads through a gate heading gently downhill with the footpath initially running parallel to keep walkers from quarry traffic. The route passes a waste disposal site on the left and a water-filled pit on the right eventually reaching the Otford to Maidstone railway. Cross the line by a footbridge and then go into a meadow.

Directions

Cross the field diagonally to reach a stile at the opposite corner. Maintain that direction in the next field heading towards the end of a surfaced track. Turn right onto the track, crossing another stile at a gate, to bridge over the M26 motorway. On the far side, the track bends left and almost immediately a kissing gate appears on the right. Go through the gate and into Oxenhill Shaw.

*There is an alternative finish of the route here (see number 6)

Information

Located between Otford and Kemsing, Oxenhill Shaw is a small mature wood while the meadows to the north and west is an area of self-seeded trees and shrubs that is being allowed to revert to woodland. The whole area is open to the public and is crossed by a dense network of informal paths. The route described is one of many that could be followed crossing the Shaw and Meadow from south to north.

Directions

Follow the path that curves right and then continue ahead at a crossing path. This takes you over a low rise to a second crossing path where you turn left, heading downhill to a plank bridge over a ditch, visible from the junction above. Turn right onto a broad grassy ride and continue ahead to a complex junction of paths by an information board. Fork left onto the path immediately left of the board, another grass ride, and follow it to a junction with a surfaced path at the north-western edge of the wood where there is another information board.

Directions

Turn left and follow the path into Otford, passing between residential gardens and crossing a driveway to emerge onto a road (Tudor Drive). Do not follow the path across the road but instead turn right, passing a few houses to a second path on the left. This leads to the eastern entrance to Otford Station. To reach the ticket office on the far side follow the path out to the road and cross the bridge. Otford village can be reached via a five-minute walk by turning left out of the main station entrance.

Information

Otford village boasts a wealth of heritage to explore including the Archbishop’s Palace, Otford Heritage Trail and even a listed duckpond! The North Downs Way National Trail also passes through Otford as well as the Darent Valley Path which hugs the River Darent through this stretch north to Shoreham. Look out for the 10 numbered information boards around the village along the Otford Heritage Trail.

Directions

*Alternative finish - ignore the turning into Oxenhill Shaw, continue along the track, passing under the Otford to Sevenoaks railway and reaching a small group of buildings including a converted oast house. Turn right off the track here and follow a faint grass path across fields towards houses at the southern end of the village. A gap in a hedge leads to the end of a residential road, The Old Walk. Pass the Archbishop’s Palace on your left before crossing the end of a drive to enter the corner of a churchyard with the parish church, St. Bartholomews, ahead.

Directions

At a T-junction, there is the option to turn left into the centre of the village, passing the church and continuing to the pond. For the station, turn right and follow the path out of the churchyard and between gardens and open land to reach the station car park with the station entrance ahead and to the left.