From the car park at Shoreham we make our way to Dunstall Farm and on to Romney Street. We turn south to Eastdown and the Fackenden Nature Reserve before returning to Shoreham for lunch - about 5¾ miles, 650 feet ascent.
The afternoon route will be decided at lunchtime. See the details below.
This is a re-run of a walk done in early June last year which proved too early for the hoped-for display of orchids. This year, the walk is a bit later so fingers crossed.
In the morning, the walk takes us to various spots where orchids can be expected to be on show in the middle of June. There is a fairly sharp climb up to Dunstall Farm but it's on a wide track with a good surface; and it's preferable to going up the notorious direct route with 144 steps. There are a few other short climbs later on. The distance is about 5¾ miles and 650 feet of ascent.
Lunch will be at Shoreham. Picknickers can find seats by the river or in the sports ground and there are team rooms. A pub lunch will be available at The King's Arms in Church Street.
The afternoon will depend on the group preference. If it is to look for more orchids, we will take a route based on the published Shoreham Woods Orchid walk. It goes through Meenfield, Andrew's and Pilots Woods before returning to the car park. It is 4 miles but with several short climbs totalling 900 feet of ascent.
If the group prefers a less woody afternoon, we will do a walk in the Lullingstone Country Park past the castle, golf course and the Shoreham Cross from where we would drop down to the car park. It is 5¾ miles with two modest ascents totalling 430 feet.