A guidebook to walking the North Downs Way National Trail between the high downland of Farnham, Hampshire and Dover on the Kent coast. Covering 208km (130 miles), this gentle trail takes around 11 days to walk and is an ideal first long-distance hike for beginners.

The route is described from west to east in 11 daily stages between 12 and 22km (8–14 miles) in length. An optional 3-stage detour via Canterbury is also provided.

• Contains step-by-step description of the route alongside 1:50,000 OS maps
• Includes a separate map booklet containing OS 1:25,000 mapping and route line
• Refreshment and accommodation information given for each route stage
• Handy route summary table helps you plan your itinerary
• Much of the route follows the ancient Pilgrims' Way to Canterbury Cathedral

Overview Map

Map Key

Introduction

The North Downs Way

Walking west to east

Where to stay

Waymarking and accessibility

When to go

Getting there – and back

Using this guide

Along the way

The North Downs Way

Stage 1 Farnham to Guildford

Stage 2 Guildford to the Mole Valley (A24)

Stage 3 Mole Valley to Merstham

Stage 4 Merstham to Westerham Hill

Stage 5 Westerham Hill to Wrotham

Stage 6 Wrotham to the Medway

Stage 7 The Medway to Detling

Stage 8 Detling to Harrietsham

Stage 9 Harrietsham to Boughton Lees

Direct Route to Dover via Wye

Stage 10 Boughton Lees to Etchinghill

Stage 11 Etchinghill to Dover

The Canterbury Loop

Stage 10a Boughton Lees to Canterbury

Stage 11a Canterbury to Shepherdswell

Stage 12a Shepherdswell to Dover

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Recommended reading

Appendix C Route summary table

Seasons

The North Downs Way can be walked at any time of the year, but is seen at its best between April and October

Centres

Beginning in Farnham, the North Downs Way passes close-to or through Guildford, Otford, Wrotham, Detling, Charing, Wye, Chilham, Canterbury, Patrixbourne and ends in Dover

Difficulty

Despite some reasonably short steep ascents and descents, the North Downs Way is one of the more gentle of National Trails and is suitable for first-time long distance walkers.

Must See

Passing through the Surrey and Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the North Downs Way crosses Box Hill, visits Neolithic sites like the Coldrum Stones and Kits Coty House; passes below the remains of Thurnham Castle, visits Canterbury Cathedral, Dover Castle, and across Shakespeare Cliff, one of the White Cliffs of Dover.

November 2024

Stages 11a and 12a Canterbury to Dover

September 2021

Stage 8

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