Oldbury

The orchids of Oldbury, Kent
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The orchids of Oldbury, Kent

Orchids are in full flower across almost all the Kent Walks Near London. They particularly like the chalky North Downs routes, such as Heaverham, Chevening, Fackenden Down, Polhill, Lullingstone, Eastern Valleys etc (see list of walks above) but I’ve found great clusters at Hever and meadow fringes at Oldbury too, on the sandstone/clay of the weald and Holmesdale Vale. We unexpectedly came across the pictured common spotted orchids (the UK’s most often seen variety) on the Oldbury walk this week. This is one of the routes I’ve walked the least often; in fact I can count the times I’ve hiked the long and short versions on the fingers of one hand. I don’t know why, they are both brilliant strolls. The shorter version is mainly through woods and is one of the quietest walks on this website (apart from the bit near the A25). It takes in an enormous Iron Age fort, meadows facing the North Downs escarpment and a sandy trail past beautiful old fish ponds in rich woodland. I really recommend it – it’s got a special atmosphere, some might say even a bit spooky.

See the best places to see orchids on these routes.

The woody wonder of ancient Oldbury: a shorter route
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The woody wonder of ancient Oldbury: a shorter route

Click here for full directions for Walk 29 at KWNL.

This is a shorter version of a really great woodland autumnal route. The Oldbury walk comes in at around seven miles once you wander around a bit. That may be a bit offputting for some, who prefer a 90-minute-2-hour stroll, no more, no less. So click here for a clipped version (Ordnance Survey GPX map). On this shorter 4.2-mile version you miss out on Ightham Mote and its secret valley but other walks on this site include these superb spots, such as the two One Tree HIll walks (walk 6 and 7). So, starting in the Styants Bottom Rd car park the new walk sets off east and around the Iron Age Fort of Oldbury Hill. On the fort’s northern side there are great views to Kemsing Down and the St Clere estate at Heaverham if you walk along the field edge. Then it’s back into the woods, crossing the A25 at Crown Point and walking up towards St Lawrence church above Stone Street. Just before reaching the church turn sharp left and follow the path along a cliff edge set back from the main greensand ridge before turning left down giant steps and following the sand path north through mysterious Fishpond Wood back to the A25 then on to the car park.

  • Oldbury Hill Fort
    Holloway on north west slope of Oldbury Hill Fort
  • A log looking like the remains of a prehistoric creature
    A log looking like the remains of a prehistoric creature (eye and mouth front right)
  • fish ponds
    Fallen tree by one of the fish ponds, almost dry in early September
  • Sand path through Fishpond Woods, Oldbury
    Sand path through Fishpond Woods, Oldbury
  • Church, Stone Street, on Oldbury walk, July

I’ve added some waypoints to the GPX map mentioned above to help you navigate. Some have labels (church, for example) others have Ordnance Survey grid references (TQ 5764 5613 etc) to help you pinpoint location on your smarphone (if you have one). I recommend using the GPX map because being mostly in woods it’s hard, otherwise, to know what path you’re on; however, walking around a bloody great lump in the form of south-east England’s largest iron age fort should help! Here’s the NT page, and here’s more about the history of the place here.

There’s also a Google map of the route here, but this isn’t GPX so not as useful.

One more thing about this walk: it’s a bit spooky. The woods, the ancient fort, the hidden cliff, the mysterious ponds in the woods. It’s … atmospheric let’s say.