NORTH DOWNS WAY | Trailblazer hiking guide

hiking guide

Running from Surrey to Kent, in southern England, this National Trail partly follows the old Pilgrims’ Way to Canterbury. In this brand new, two-way edition all routes have been completely rewalked in both directions from Farnham to Dover and from Dover to Farnham.

Coverage includes: Farnham, Guildford, Shere, Dorking, Box Hill, Redhill, Oxted, Westerham, Otford, Rochester, Hollingbourne, Lenham, Boughton Lees, Chilham, Canterbury, Shepherdswell, Dover.

In this guide you will find:

• 80 detailed walking maps - the largest scale maps available - at just under 1:20,000 (8cm or 31/8 inches to one mile) these are bigger than even the most detailed walking maps currently available in the shops.
• Unique mapping features - walking times, directions, tricky junctions, places to stay, places to eat, points of interest. These are not general-purpose maps but fully edited maps drawn by walkers for walkers.
• Itineraries for all walkers – whether hiking the entire route or sampling highlights on day walks or short breaks.
• Detailed public transport information for all access points.
  • Practical information for all budgets. – what to see; where to eat (cafés, pubs and restaurants); where to stay (B&Bs, hotels, hostels, bunkhouses and campsites).
  • Downloadable GPS waypoints.

    The North Downs Way begins in Farnham and runs 131.6-miles (211.6km) to Dover in Kent, partly following the old Pilgrims’ Way to the shrine of St Thomas à Becket at Canterbury. It winds through the protected landscape of the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs passing medieval churches, castles, Neolithic burial sites, vineyards and numerous WWII defences. There are literary associations with Swift, Cobbett, Charles Dickens and Jane Austen. It’s not a difficult walk, with few steep ascents or descents. An alternative route runs via Folkestone.

    This Trailblazer guide will show you the way and offers excellent advice for pit-stops along the way.