Dunton Green Running Day

Sunday May 19th 2019

Prepared by Ian Smith, 6th June 2019.

Part 5: Farningham and back

401: Sevenoaks to Farningham: RT604

RT604 was waiting to depart for Farningham, so I climbed aboard, and found a seat near the front, behind the bonnet.

We headed north out of town, down through St.Johns and along through the rapidly industrialising area by Otford Road. We passed the rural idyll of Otford Pond, climbed up over the railway and headed north into the green countryside of the Darenth valley. We passed Shoreham Station, short-working terminus of the Dunton Green based 401s, and continued north beside the railway.

We met Lynx 3043 just south of the railway bridge, as it headed back towards Sevenoaks with a 401.

We passed under the skew railway bridge, and continued along the valley. The lavender fields were not yet in their summer glory. We passed under the railway again at Eynsford Station, and trundled along the pretty village street. The wisteria was in full flower.

We continued on to Farningham, where we did not turn left into the village but continued to the A20 roundabout. There we turned left for a burst of speed across the Darenth, then a left turn at the next roundabout to take us into Farningham down narrow Dartford Road. Another left turn took us down the High Street past The Lion, to recross the river on the delightful bridge (which has the northbound bus stop actually on it).

There was no spot to stop going southwards, so we continued towards The Bull, terminus for the 21 from London and GreenLine stop, until we found a spot.

Setting off again, we climbed the sharp bank up past The Bull, and turned right for the Darenth Valley Road. We rumbled along through Eynsford and Shoreham, to Otford. There we met Rf600, crossing the station bridge on its way to Heverham.

Now I discovered I had run out of battery power: third time in two days, and no further spare. But I was still on the bus, and we headed on south to Bat& Ball and up the hill to Sevenoaks. At the bus station I had a cup of tea, then found that RF679 was about to head off on a Knockholt run..

Part Six: Knockholt and back