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The North Downs Way

National Trail from Farnham to Dover

ISBN

9781852848613

Availability

Published

7 Jul 2017

Reprinted

2 Sept 2024

Edition

Third

Pages

144

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm

Weight

300g

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Guidebook to walking the North Downs Way National Trail, a 130 mile (208km) trail between Farnham and Dover, with an optional visit to Canterbury. Following the ancient Pilgrim's Way for much of the way, through pleasant countryside, this is one of the easier National Trails and the walk is described over 11 stages. With 1:25K OS map booklet.

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.

ISBN

9781852848613

Availability

Published

7 Jul 2017

Reprinted

2 Sept 2024

Edition

Third

Pages

144

Size

17.20 x 11.60 x .90cm

Weight

300g

Overview

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

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

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

Updates

November 2024

Stages 11a and 12a Canterbury to Dover

Thank you to M Marsh for the following updates:

There have been a number of new housing developments built along the route so some descriptions that describe following a path with houses on one side are now following a path *between* houses.

Most of the stiles have been replaced with gates. The only stiles I can remember were one with no step up so it was just a drop in fence level to knee height - not a gate but only nominally a stile - and the 'high iron stile' on p131, which was still there but had an (intentional!) person-sized gap in the hedge right next to it.

September 2021

Stage 8

We have received the following information from reader, Michael King, to whom we are very grateful.
Stage 8; p85 The waymark mentioned near the foot of page 85 has been removed (and apparently burned!). Alternative instructions are "half way across the field, where a minor path joins from the left, turn right 60 degrees and aim for the bottom corner of the field". Incidentally, many of the stiles mentioned have been removed, so these are no longer points of note.

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By Kev Reynolds

Kev Reynolds was a freelance writer, photojournalist and lecturer. A prolific compiler of guidebooks, his first title for Cicerone Press (Walks & Climbs in the Pyrenees) appeared in 1978; he later produced many more titles for the same publisher. A member of the Outdoor Writers' Guild, the Alpine Club and Austrian Alpine Club, his passion for mountains and the countryside inspired a lifetime's activity, and he regularly travelled throughout Britain to share that enthusiasm through his lectures. Sadly, Kev passed away in 2021. He will be remembered fondly by all who knew him and by many more he inspired through his writing and talks.

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