The North Downs Way National Trail
| Route Overview | The North Downs Way National Trail runs for 153 miles through the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs). It starts at Farnham on the Surrey Hampshire border and ends at Dover - Gateway to England. There is a loop at the eastern end to take in the historic Cathedral City of Canterbury. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distance - Full | 153 miles / 244.8 km | ||||||
| No. of Days to Complete Route | 12 | ||||||
| Start Point | Farnham, Surrey | ||||||
| End Point | Dover | ||||||
| Type of Route: | Linear | Level of walk: | Moderate | ||||
| Route Features |
| ||||||
| Accessibility / Facilities |
Begins near bus route Begins near parking Begins near picnic area Begins near pub Begins near toilets Begins near train station Ends near bus route Ends near parking Ends near picnic area Ends near pub Ends near toilets Ends near train station Picnic area enroute Pub enroute Suitable for Dogs Toilets enroute |
||||||
| Terrain |
Bridle Ways Fields Muddy Tracks PROW (Public Right Of Way) Public Byways Roads |
||||||
| Route Description | It starts at Farnham on the Surrey Hampshire border and ends at Dover - Gateway to England. Much of the Trail follows the Pilgrims Way, the legendary route that was supposed to be used by pilgrims on their way from Winchester to Canterbury to pray at the shrine of St Thomas Becket (murdered in 1170). Prior to this pilgrims would have walked the other way to pray for St Swithen, who was buried at Winchester Cathedral! Modern day pilgrims and people simply out to enjoy some of the finest scenery in Southeast England now use the North Downs Way and the route takes the traveller through a rich tapestry of heritage and history. The North Downs Way passes through a landscape of great variety. There are eight castles, three cathedrals, three archbishops’ palaces as well as numerous stately homes and gardens close to it. The trail follows part of the Pilgrims Way and there are many churches and links to pilgrims who would have traveled these parts in Medieval and more recent times. Along the Trail can also be found Neolithic sites, roman and Napoleonic forts, Medieval castles and WWII fortifications as the North Downs are the great protector of London from invaders from across the Channel. The views from the scarp across the High Weald are spectacular, as is the countryside through which it passes. Much of the Downs are covered with rich woodland and rare chalk grasslands, which give rise to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. There are nature reserves, rare plants and butterflies - but wherever you find yourself on the Downs there will always be a new discovery or breathtaking view awaiting you around the corner. In discovering the Downs you will fall upon typical English villages steeped in history - all of them offering a warm welcome through the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs. | ||||||
| Terrain Details | As with all National Trails there is a variety of terrain. Much of the Trail is along relatively level ground but remember the North Downs Way follows the scarp slope of the North Downs and does go up and down it a few times. There are some stages that can be tiring with the climbs up Box and Colley Hills in Surrey and those in the Mid Kent Downs needing to be written into the equation! There is an all ability access trail at Box Hill from the visitor Centre to the Viewpoint and at Reigate Hill the National Trust have put in a better surface path from the car park to the open Downland above Reigate. Trosley country Park also has a relatively easy walk along the North Downs Way. | ||||||
| Access Info / Public Transport | A free leaflet can be downloaded from the website below giving details of public transport operators along the Trail. | ||||||
| Services / Amenities | The website below has free downloads of accommodation along the trail and information on nearby attractions and villages. | ||||||
| Baggage Transfer Services | See website for details | ||||||
|
|||||||
| TSE Accommodation Search | |||||||
| More info | The North Downs Way National Trail | ||||||
