Philobiblon

After elections, an afternoon off – a very pleasant stroll in Kent from Eynsford to Shoreham – yes the weather helped…

I was following a 1998 guide to walks around London, but luckily the paths were still there and open – and surprisingly accurate.

Eynsford has a well-known ford beside its little humpbacked bridge at the start of the walk; packed on this sunny day with paddling children. Around the bend there were still the Highland cattle billed as on show in 1998, together with some Indian runner ducks in the river.

Then you come to this simple, elegant railway bridge …

Then it was a cool detour into the magnificent Lullingstone Roman villa site – its rich 4th-century dining room mosaic a reminder of the wealth of even the late empire.

But sometimes it’s the humble things that are really interesting – like a simple, effective design that hasn’t changed in centuries…

And the preserved shape of a sandal or shoe – a walker who came this way millennia ago…

The walk continued on past lavender fields, new I think since I was last here a decade or so ago, and the hop fields are still going.

Along the way I was working, without a lot of success, on my tree ID skills. Can anyone identify this one?

Thanks!