There's also now a cafe at Holwood Farm Shop. The route passes close by it shortly before Downe.

the london bridge train is now showing as departing at 10:00am

I don't knw if anyone counted/ Maybe18 people? It was11_degrees_and_cloudy

Seven hardy souls turned out for this walk, despite the thoroughly wet weather forecast, which was for the most part correct. But as always, I was glad I turned out. We had a nice day in cheerful company.

To describe the ground as muddy does not do it justice. It was a paddle in places, with some flooded areas in fields and lanes. On the plus side, my boots finished the day fairly clean and my new rain jacket and trousers held up well. I must remember to break out the waterproof socks next week though.

When we got to Downe we chose the second of the two pubs, having loudly discussed the deficiencies of the first right outside its front door. We acquired two car drivers here. All 9 of us ate in the pub, forming the totality of its lunch trade for the day. It is a long time since everyone on a walk had a pub lunch. Mysteriously sandwiches in the churchyard did not seem appealing today…

After lunch two took the bus “because the afternoon is boring” (nothing to do with the weather then…). The rest of us went on to Cudham, where the two car drivers left us. After that I navigated from memory and got us totally off piste (I might have been following the route of the Knockholt Circular). We got back on track by taking a fine all-weather horse-riding route through Newyears Wood, which actually might be an improvement on the normal walk route. At some point during these shenanigans the rain stopped.

I was afraid I might be the only one going to tea at Coolings, but in fact all five of us did, navigating though all the pot plants. (At least we looked like gardeners in our muddy boots and trousers). We left at 3.30pm and connected at dusk with the 4.43pm (?) train, which strangely was going to Victoria. (Victoria trains were operating from London Bridge and London Bridge ones from Victoria?). And so home to Covidland.

An alternative "tea stop" for those who prefer stronger fare might be the Rose & Crown in Halstead.

It's not far from Coolings, a little way off the route on Otford Lane, TN14 7EA. Tel: 01959 533120

https://website--605991373686031826491-pub.business.site/

15 on this walk: 10 at the start, 2 on a later train and 3 on an earlier train apparently. I say “apparently” because I never saw this mystery three. But they were attested by credible witnesses who even spoke to them, so they make the count.

We left London Bridge in sparkling sunlight, the first sunny Saturday since I don’t know when. So it was a bit disappointing to emerge at Hayes into fog. This kept being on the verge of burning off, the disk of the sun appearing through the gloom from time to time, but not till after Downe did it clear completely. Crossing the valley to Cudham was lovely - wisps of mist drifting up into the blue sky. It was then sunny while we were having lunch but the sun was obscured by “envious cloud” to the west once we emerged, though with reasonably clear skies above. So fog then sun then bright .

Six of us lunched at the not overly busy pub in Cudham, where we discussed the decline of restaurants in rural France. The other diners nicely waited for me, a late-orderer, to get my food and we then also waited for a late arrival to get hers. In the afternoon a few of us went astray through over-attention to our conversation and inattention to our gismos, but we still arrived at Coolings Nursery at 3.45 or so. There we met some others emerging from tea and heading for the pub in Halstead.

A mere five to ten minutes walk through the vast garden centre got us to tea where we waited in a fairly long queue while all the remaining chocolate cake was sold to other customers. But hey, the pistachio and whatsit sponge was an interesting experience. We then set off at about 4.20 to walk in the dark to Knockholt station, where we met the pubbers for the 5.13 (?) train home.

Anyone doing this walk?

Don't worry, you won't be alone. You'll meet others on the train or at Knockholt station. It's not customary for people to post here that they're planning to do the walk, since we don't find it necessary to do so.

Sigh. For third week in a row rain was forecast on Saturday. On the previous two it barely materialised: today we had light rain all afternoon . Still, 34 turned out for this walk which made a super autumn outing: a big hit of colourful woods to start with and then plenty more smaller woods during the day. Glorious golds on beeches and oak, yellow on hazel and field maple. A pity that there was not enough light to take good photos, but my “mind camera” took many great pictures.

For lunch we split between the non-Farage pub in Down and the Blacksmith’s Arms in Cudham. The latter had barely any customers apart from us but did creditable food. ‘Twas a bit before we arrived there that the rain started. After lunch, damp, drizzle, more leaf colour plus a fine tea at the Coolings Garden Centre tea room. I am guessing the advance party got the 4.12. The less advanced aimed for the 4.12 but were on the 4.42. We dawdlers also got the 4.42 - some after sprinting to reach it - despite finding the directions confusing on the golf course. Nice to (just about) finish in the dark: makes one nostalgic for the good old days.

I see there are two walks planned for Sunday 22nd Jan. I would like to know if anyone is going on either walk so I'm not alone.

Jo

Hi Jo,

Two of us hope to do the Hayes to Knockholt walk.

Joanna, since the weather forecast is good, you can expect to find up to a dozen walkers on each of the walks. You definitely won't be alone, whichever walk you choose. We gather on the platform at the destination station for introductions before setting off.

Good morning see you at Hayes at 10:59.

Good morning see you at Hayes at 10:59.

12 walkers, including 3 newcomers, on a beautiful cold crisp sunny day, with not a breath of wind. The ground and bushes were coated with frost and the ice in the Keston ponds was thick enough to skate on, though no-one was brave enough to give it a try. The Blacksmith's Arms being fully booked, the Queen's Head in Downe gave us a table for 10 in a separate room and provided quick and efficient service and ample food. Three non-diners pressed ahead and were caught during the afternoon by the main group who took the shortcut from Downe though the Downe Bank Nature Reserve. Apart from two who stopped at Coolings for tea, everyone finished the walk together and caught the 16:28 train from Knockholt.

There's also a cafe in Down House, Darwin's former home. When I was last there, visitors were allowed to the cafe without needing to pay the English Heritage entrance fee for the house and gardens.

Sorry to dent hopes re mud on this walk but my note on the previous time I did this walk at exactly the same time of year is that a lot of it was muddy or waterlogged.

What year was that? I only ask because in 2014 at this time the ground was particularly soaked due to a very wet February. But it has not been so wet this year.

I'm intending to do this walk. I've done it in January before and the ground was fine. It really depends on the conditions year by year.

It was in fact 2014. February may not have been particularly wet this year but the previous months certainly have been. The overall impact remains to be seen.

10-or-so a bit of drizzle initially but then dry and cold

There was a lot of slippery mud, probably about 70% of the paths. Nonetheless, It's a very nice walk this one. I'd say it's best done during a dry summer or autumn, or on frozen winter ground.