Walks you can reach from West Malling by train
MapA day hike is just a simple train journey away — plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from West Malling.
Otford Circular via Shoreham (Kent)
15 minutes direct from West Malling.
Highly recommended: Quiet country lanes, meadows, rolling wooded hills, and two very attractive villages.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Shoreham (1h30 in)
Otford (3h30 in)
3 lunch spots: Shoreham (1h15 in) — the Samuel Palmer (plenty of seating, including outdoors), 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)
7 minutes direct from West 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.
Ightham Mote: Immaculately preserved medieval manor house with idyllic gardens. Touring the house thoroughly takes an hour, and the gardens another 30 minutes (National Trust; 2h in; 2h30 to visit).
One Tree Hill: A beautiful slice of Kent countryside (National Trust; 2h45 in).
Knole House: enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself (National Trust; 3h30 in; 3h to visit).
Knole Park (National Trust; 3h to visit)
3 lunch spots: the Plough (45 mins in), Ightham Mote café (2h in), or Knole House café (3h30 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 West Malling.
Highly recommended
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Canterbury (4h15 in)
Chilham (4h15 in)
2 lunch spots: the Flying Horse (1h45 in), or Perry Court Tea Room (2h15 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).
Borough Green & Wrotham Circular via Old Soar Manor (Kent)
7 minutes direct from West Malling.
Old Soar Manor: Remains of a late 13th-century knight's dwelling (National Trust; 2h15 in; 30 mins to visit).
1 lunch spot: the Kentish Rifleman (1h45 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the Plough
Source: Trains2Green.
Otford to Eynsford (Kent)
15 minutes direct from West Malling.
River valley, open fields, orchards, beech woods, golf course, ridge path and historic villages.
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 West 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).
Swanley to Sevenoaks (Kent)
30 minutes direct from West 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.
Walk details: Kent Downs National Landscape (tips, photos and local insights).
Swanley to Eynsford (Kent)
30 minutes direct from West 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).
Lenham to Charing (Kent)
30 minutes direct from West Malling.
North Downs footpaths, little-used field paths, rape seed fields and woods.
Warnings: Can be overgrown.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Yalding to Borough Green & Wrotham (Kent)
7 minutes direct from West Malling.
River Medway start, open fields, deer-fenced woodland, Kentish Weald countryside, vast managed woods, bluebell woodland valleys, orchard edges and small villages.
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 West Malling.
A National Trust extravaganza; Knole House and deer park, the Greensand Way, moated Ightham Mote, bluebell woods.
Woodland: two fifths under tree cover.
One Tree Hill: A beautiful slice of Kent countryside (National Trust).
Oldbury Hill: Discover the remains of an Iron Age hill fort (National Trust).
Knole House: enormous aristocratic estate, associated with the Bloomsbury Group; well worth a visit but consumes a day in itself (National Trust; 3h to visit).
Ightham Mote: Immaculately preserved medieval manor house with idyllic gardens. Touring the house thoroughly takes an hour, and the gardens another 30 minutes (National Trust; 2h30 to visit).
2 lunch spots: Ightham Mote café, or Knole House café
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 West 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).