Lullingstone Country Park and Roman Villa

The Lullingstone Country Park is one of a number of such parks dotted around Kent - I daresay there are many all over Britain - and from the visitor's centre there are tracks that suit most tastes and ability. I elected to take a walk around the black trail that led past Lullingstone House (they call it a castle) alongside the Darent river and to the Roman Villa. My intention was to visit the Villa although when I passed Lullingstone House I was impressed by the gatehouseand the buildings in general. The walk takes you past the house and to the Villa or you can continue to Eynsford. I met up with two ladies who had seen me walking around in the village and we passed a pleasant few moments. On these days I am always amazed at how friendly people are and from the centre I walked with a man who was taking his daughter's dog for a walk who told me of the park and its attractions. Interesting.

The Villa is close to the river which the Romans used to transport their goods to London and as a way of reaching Watling street other than the road. Evidently the place was a flourishing farm of 150 to 275 Hectares and had a granary that was as nearly as big as the Villa.

A nice touch was children playing Pooh sticks on the bridge across the river. I liked that.

From there you can see the railway viaduct that is still in use and seems appropriate in the circumstances as it evokes images of Roman aqueducts - with the reference to the phrase ' as quick as a rat up an aqueduct' springing immediately to mind.

Inside the Villa I took some photos but it is better to see the place yourself to get the best out of the visit. I offer a picture of a rather thin man who was found on the site. The Villa had its own burying ground I suppose and it was said that the body which was buried with a woman may be of the household. It was important enough to have a lead coffin.

The country park encompasses woods and a golf course with an eighteen hole and a nine hole course which is also part of the public access. This can be disturbing at first but as long as you respect the golfers and the course greens there is no problem.

As it was a hot day I decided that I needed to cut the long walk short and did so but will at some time take another trip up and walk some of the other pathways. The steamy summer day was typical of the Augusts I remember as a child and I revelled in the myriad butterflies, native wild flowers and the prolific blackberries which furnished me with one of my flipping five a flipping day the government keep rabbiting on about.

It was a day when people were out strolling rather than hiking and as could be seen the harvets is well under way - again a very Roman thing - the wealth of the Villa was in the land. The woods arond the golf course, or the golf course that is inserted into the woods are all part of the park and for walkers and golfers alike there is plenty to see.

Lullingstone Country Park is a multi-use park with the civilised battles on the golf course, bridleways and wild areas for the visitor and is one of the best I have visited. Go there and walk on the wild side.