Otford Kent Circular Walk

The Otford loop is one of those walks that sneaks up on you. Start from the village itself - it's only a few miles south of Sevenoaks - and you'll find the trail properly well-marked once you get going. The route circles back through chalk downland and past the ruins of Otford Palace, which is the main talking point, though honestly the palace itself amounts to a few stone fragments you'd miss if you weren't paying attention.

What makes it work is the landscape, not the history. The walk takes you through proper countryside - rolling fields, tree-lined stretches, decent views back across the Kent Weald when you crest the higher bits. It's roughly five miles depending on which variation you take, so budget two and a half hours at a normal pace. You could stretch it to three if you're stopping for photos.

Families with older kids will manage it fine. Younger ones might flag on the longer sections, but there's enough variety in the scenery to keep them interested. The ground's generally good underfoot except after heavy rain when it gets muddy. Worth doing in autumn when the light's better and the trees are turning.

If you're based at Thriftwood Country Park nearby, this is a cracking half-day outing. The walk's free, naturally - it's just a public footpath. Start early to avoid the weekend crowds around Sevenoaks, and you'll have the place pretty much to yourself.