SEVERAL direct journeys from Sevenoaks to outlying villages would leave travellers who make the journeys waiting a week to get home.

Trying to take a direct route from Sevenoaks to Horton Kirby means a trip on Wednesday morning on the 405 to West Kingsdown. After an overnight stay there, it is on to the 9am 422 service to Horton Kirby.

After just two-and-a-half hours in the village, it is back on the bus to West Kingsdown, with those onboard on their way to Sevenoaks crossing their fingers that it is not running late, as there are just minutes to make the connecting bus back to town, or passengers face a week's wait for the next one.

Bus travellers wishing to avoid a lengthy stay in West Kingsdown could opt for a bus home via Gravesend or Bluewater.

Sennockians heading for Toys Hill at 1pm on a Wednesday on the 238 service, which takes half an hour, would be stuck there until 11am the following Wednesday, unless they want to change at Brasted with a journey of an hour.

Trips to some of the district's visitor attractions take some planning if sightseers plan to travel by bus as some routes only operate on certain days of the week. Sevenoaks Tourist Information Centre assistant manager Bob Carpenter said: "Obviously we'd like to see better transport for local people and visitors. We do get a lot of visitors who are upset to find that there is only a bus to Chartwell on Wednesday afternoons and Sundays.

"From here (Sevenoaks) they can only get to Hever Castle on Saturdays.

"For Ightham Mote there's only one or two days when they can get there by bus directly."

The Days Out by Bus and Train leaflet, which is available from the Sevenoaks Tourist Information Centre on Buckhurst Lane for 50p, gives advice on the routes visitors can take to nearby tourist attractions.