Saturday 1 August 2020

North Downs Way Part 2 ! (July 2020 - Merstham to Otford)

North Downs Way Part 2 !  (Merstham to Otford)

Picked up where I left off in 2019 at Merstham. 2020 was a different year as we all know so couldn't spread my 'longer' walks out and instead squeezed two (the Wey South Path and this one) into July. Not always easy, the 'Stars have to align', work, childcare, 'permission', and of course the weather. If it's wet and miserable, well, it's mean't to be enjoyable! Luckily the weather was nearly perfect.


Not sure if my feet hadn't recovered or I was taking too many pictures (!) but only managed 20 miles when I wanted to go a little further. Taking trains from my Woking base means the start time is not going to be as early as I might like so started at 6.45am in Merstham when ideally I'd like to have started an hour earlier, and that was catching the 5.30am train from Woking! Finished about 1730 in Otford. The next leg was 15 miles and I couldn't have done it without running out of daylight. So Otford it is in 2021 for my next leg - and hopefully minus a face mask on the train!

Please see the earlier 2019 post for details of the walk (packing list, the essential Colin Saunders guide book etc):-


Once again Colin's book was a must have. The signage is mostly good but there are sections where the signs are missing and having the book to hand gives great peace of mind. 




Starting out at Merstham.

A military vehicle somewhat the worse for wear...
It's a climb up - but it's the North Downs of course!

The North Downs does not follow the old Pilgrim's Way, but does intersect at times. I wonder how old this sign is?

In the distance (looking north) you can see London, the Shard is the most obvious.
A zoom in.
A couple of projects on the go?

There is some road walking, and you need to be careful sometimes.
This is more like it!


And the view noted above. 
Caterham viewpoint on a Tuesday around 8.30am, and still nice and quiet...
Quite a drop at times.



Some of the signage is quite new, but be aware, not all sections of the route are this well marked.



3 miles to Kent.
I'm not sure why, but the snails seem to get bigger as you approach Kent.





Although it doesn't say so, this stone approximately marks the Surrey - Kent border according to Colin Saunder's book.
My favourite picture on the walk.



A walled entrance in the middle of nowhere with no evidence of a house nearby. A build that never happened?




Coming into Otford.
The pond a little further on. A pleasant little place.


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