Walks you can reach from East Malling by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from East Malling.
Otford Circular via Shoreham (Kent)
15 minutes direct from East Malling.
Highly recommended: Quiet country lanes, meadows, rolling wooded hills, and two very attractive villages.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Time: 4h–7h30
3 lunch spots: Shoreham (1h30–2h30 in) — the Samuel Palmer, the Kings Arms, or the Mount Vineyard
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 1.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Borough Green & Wrotham to Sevenoaks (Kent)
15 minutes direct from East Malling.
Highly recommended: Greensand hills, apple orchards, woodland paths, streams, deer park, open parkland and historic manor grounds. Mostly secluded.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Knole House: enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself.
Time: 4h30–9h
2 lunch spots: the Plough (2h–3h30 in), or Ightham Mote café (2h–4h in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Chequers, the Restoration, or the Sennockian
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Charing to Chilham (Kent)
30 minutes direct from East Malling.
Highly recommended
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 4h30–9h
2 lunch spots: the Flying Horse (2h–3h30 in), or Perry Court Tea Room (2h–3h30 in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Chilham Square, the White Horse, Chilham, or the Woolpack Inn, Chilham
Warnings: Penultimate section of the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Otford to Eynsford (Kent)
15 minutes direct from East Malling.
River valley, open fields, orchards, beech woods, golf course, ridge path and historic villages.
Time: 4h
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Reverse direction: Kent Downs National Landscape.
Otford to Snodland (Kent)
15 minutes direct from East Malling.
North Downs ridge, southern escarpment, fields, woods, open views south, forest, country park, open countryside and urban streets.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Lenham to Charing (Kent)
30 minutes direct from East Malling.
North Downs footpaths, little-used field paths, rape seed fields and woods.
Time: 4h30
Warnings: Can be overgrown.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Swanley to Sevenoaks (Kent)
30 minutes direct from East Malling.
Linear Darent valley sides on the North Downs Way and Darent Valley Path: three nature reserves including Lullingstone Country Park and Polhill Bank, panoramic Kent Downs views.
Time: 4h30–9h30
Walk details: Kent Downs National Landscape (tips, photos and local insights).
Swanley to Eynsford (Kent)
30 minutes direct from East Malling.
Linear walk into the Darent Valley countryside, with breathtaking views, Lullingstone Roman Villa, the Eynsford Viaduct and the village's humpback bridge and ford.
Walk details: Kent Downs National Landscape (tips, photos and local insights).
Yalding to Borough Green & Wrotham (Kent)
15 minutes direct from East Malling.
River Medway start, open fields, deer-fenced woodland, Kentish Weald countryside, vast managed woods, bluebell woodland valleys, orchard edges and small villages.
Time: 5h
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Sevenoaks to Kemsing (Kent)
15 minutes direct from East Malling.
A National Trust extravaganza; Knole House and deer park, the Greensand Way, moated Ightham Mote, bluebell woods.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
Knole House: enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself.
Ightham Mote: A medieval moated manor house dating to 1340, cared for by the National Trust.
Time: 4h–8h
Warnings: Steep drops and climbs through the woodland sections.
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Knockholt to Otford (Kent)
15 minutes direct from East Malling.
Wooded hills, steep ridges, hidden downland valley, bluebell woods, beech and sweet chestnut woodland and fields.
Warnings: Descents can be slippery.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Farningham Road to Otford (Kent)
15 minutes direct from East Malling.
Ancient woodland, field edges, riverside Darent Valley Path, low hills, chalk downland, quaint villages, golf course and nature reserves.
Time: 5h
Warnings: Motocross path closures possible.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).