Charles Darwin's Day Hike - Darwin's House, Kent Countryside, Meadows and Woodland!
This full day hike heads out from the very fringes of Zone 6 into the edge of the beautiful Kent countryside. We use transport from London but this is far from the madding crowd. Cuckoo Wood is known for its ancient woodland and gemlike wildflowers, especially blankets of bluebells in the spring. In summer we pass huge wildflower meadows of poppies and walk through buttercups and daises up to your knees.
It's here Charles Darwin developed his (then scandalous!) theory of natural selection, and furthered his theory after five years sailing on The Beagle, studying the huge range of species in this local area. In particular he looked at the orchids and their pollinators, the area is now being proposed as a world heritage site.
We pass through ancient
woodland, masses of farmland the villages of Downe and Cudham and back through Foxberry
Wood. We stop at Darwins House and break for lunch in his favourite village pub, (you can bring a packed lunch instead of eating there is you wish), and at the end of the day we can leave you at a lovely country pub to finish with a well-earned drink in the evening, or put you on the train back to London.
Green London and Outdoor Weekends are the only London MeetUp to give a 10% contribution of this Event fee to “Putting Down Roots” a gardening project for London's Homeless".
Distance: 14.75km/9 miles approx
Walking Time: 4 hours approx, excluding lunch break.
Difficulty: 7/10 – moderate/strenuous, some hills, mainly rolling slopes.
Departure point: London Bridge overground station or Chelsfield rail station.
What's Included: Guided hike, 10% of fee donation to “Putting Down Roots” a gardening project providing training and occupation to London's Homeless.
What's not included: Food, drinks, entry to the grounds of Darwin's house.
Price: £16.00 per person
Groups of over 10 : £12.50 per person
Note: Darwin's House is a modest sized Victorian villa, we stop in the grounds to have a look at the outside, however going inside the house and grounds is not part of the tour. If you wish you can use the lunch break to visit the inside of the house and the gardens, entry is additional and charged by English Heritage.
Pick up time: 11.00am
To Book:
1. Check Calendar below for available dates
- Dates in red text are available
- Dates in grey and pink background are not available
2. Input an available date and click “Buy Now”
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