North Downs Way

Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims on an inspirational 153 mile journey from Farnham to Canterbury and the White Cliffs of Dover through a beautiful landscape rich in heritage.

East of Boughton Lees, the path splits in two, the northern section running via Canterbury and the southern via Wye; at this stage the path crosses the Stour Valley Walk and passes the Wye Crown. The two sections of the path reunite at Dover. The northern route is 131 miles (211 km) long, and the southern route 125 miles (201 km), the current length of the North Downs Way being 153 miles (246 km). The official guide to the trail divides the North Downs Way into fifteen sections.

Walking the North Downs Way is a popular and scenic long-distance walking trail in southern England. The trail is approximately 153 miles long and takes around 10-14 days to complete, depending on your pace and level of fitness.

Starting in the town of Farnham in Surrey, the trail follows the North Downs ridge, passing through a variety of landscapes, including rolling hills, woodlands, and vineyards. The trail is well-marked and maintained, and is suitable for hikers of all levels of experience and fitness.

Along the way, hikers can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding countryside, as well as encounter a wealth of wildlife, including deer, foxes, and a variety of bird species. The trail also passes by several historic landmarks, including ancient hill forts, medieval churches, and historic market towns.

Accommodation options along the route are plentiful, with a range of campsites, B&Bs, and hotels available in the nearby towns and villages. There are also plenty of pubs and cafes along the way, providing opportunities for refreshments and rest.

The North Downs Way finishes in the historic city of Canterbury, famous for its cathedral and medieval architecture. Overall, walking the North Downs Way is a fantastic way to experience the natural beauty and cultural richness of the South East of England, and is suitable for hikers of all levels of experience and fitness.

North Downs Way via Canterbury Map

North Downs Way via Canterbury Interactive Map

North Downs Way via Etchinghill Map

Map – North Downs Way via Etchinghill

North Downs Way via Etchinghill Interactive Map

Route map for North Downs Way by Walking Rambler on plotaroute.com

15 Day Walking – North Downs Way via Canterbury

Stage	Start Point	End Point	Distance (miles)	Ascend (feet)
Day 1	Farnham, Surrey	Guildford, Surrey
Day 2	Guildford, Surrey	Gomshall, Surrey	8.6	988
Day 3	Gomshall, Surrey	Westhumble, Surrey	8	827
Day 4	Westhumble, Surrey	Mersham, Surrey	11.3	1512
Day 5	Mersham, Surrey	Oxted, Surrey	10.2	1171
Day 6	Oxted, Surrey	Dunston	12.9	1224
Day 7	Dunston	Wrotham, Kent	6	833
Day 8	Wrotham, Kent	Cuxton, Kent	10.2	935
Day 9	Cuxton, Kent	Boxley, Kent	10
Day 10	Boxley, Kent	Hollingbourne, Kent	7
Day 11	Hollingbourne, Kent	Charing, Kent	8
Day 12	Charing, Kent	Wye, Kent	7
Day 13	Wye, Kent	Canterbury, Kent	14
Day 14	Canterbury, Kent	Shepherdswell, Kent	10
Day 15	Shepherdswell, Kent	Dover, Kent	8.5

14 Day Walking – North Downs Way via Etchinghill

Stage	Start Point	End Point	Distance (miles)	Ascend (feet)
Day 1	Farnham, Surrey	Guildford, Surrey
Day 2	Guildford, Surrey	Gomshall, Surrey	8.6	988
Day 3	Gomshall, Surrey	Westhumble, Surrey	8	827
Day 4	Westhumble, Surrey	Mersham, Surrey	11.3	1512
Day 5	Mersham, Surrey	Oxted, Surrey	10.2	1171
Day 6	Oxted, Surrey	Dunston	12.9	1224
Day 7	Dunston	Wrotham, Kent	6	833
Day 8	Wrotham, Kent	Cuxton, Kent	10.2	935
Day 9	Cuxton, Kent	Boxley, Kent	10
Day 10	Boxley, Kent	Hollingbourne, Kent	7
Day 11	Hollingbourne, Kent	Charing, Kent	8
Day 12	Charing, Kent	Wye, Kent	7
Day 13	Wye, Kent	Etchinghill, Kent	11.25
Day 14	Etchinghill, Kent	Dover, Kent	12

OS Map Required for North Downs Way

North Downs Way Related Books

Title	Categories	Tags
Littleton via Losely Park and North Downs Way	Guildford, Surrey	3 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Cuxton to Otford North Downs Way	Kent, Rochester	16 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way Lenham To Boughton Lees	Kent, Maidstone	8 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Capel via North Downs Way and Coast Path	Folkestone, Kent	16 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Shepherdswell to Canterbury via North Downs Way	Dover, Kent	11 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Dover to Shepherdswell via North Downs Way	Dover, Kent	10 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Canterbury to Dunn Street via North Downs Way	Canterbury, Kent	17 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Boxeley via North Downs Way	Boxley, Kent	10 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Tut Hill To Canterbury via North Downs Way	Ashford, Devon	16 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Kings Wood To Howfield Wood Via North Downs Way	Ashford, Devon	10 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Etchinghill to Dover via North Downs Way	Dover, Etchinghill, Kent	12 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Wye to Etchinghill via North Downs Way	Etchinghill, Kent, Wye	12 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
Charing to Wye – North Downs Way – 7.4 Mile Walk	Charing, Kent, Wye	12 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Hollingbourne to Charing – 9.6 Mile Circular Walk	Charing, Hollingbourne, Kent	12 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Boxley to Hollingbourne – 6.2 Mile Walk	Boxley, Hollingbourne, Kent	11 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Cuxton to Boxley – 13.1 Mile Walk	Boxley, Cuxton, Kent	12 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Wrotham to Cuxton – 10.2 Mile Walk	Cuxton, England, Kent, Wrotham	10 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Dunton Green to Wrotham – 6 Mile Walk	Dunton Green, England, Kent, Wrotham	6 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Oxted to Dunton Green – 13 Mile Walk	Dunton Green, England, Oxted, Surrey	11 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Merstham to Oxted – 10.2 Mile Walk	Merstham, Oxted, Surrey	11 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Westhumble to Merstham – 11.3 Mile Walk	England, Merstham, Surrey, Westhumble	10 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Gomshall to Westhumble – 8 Mile Walk	England, Gomsall, Surrey, Westhumble	8 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Guildford to Gomshall – 8.6 Mile Walk	England, Gomsall, Guildford, Surrey	8 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Canterbury to Shepherdswell	England	North Downs Way
Shepherdswell to Dover via North Downs Way	Dover, England, Kent	9 Mile Walks, North Downs Way
North Downs Way – Farnham to Guildford – 10.76 Mile Walk	England, Farnham, Guildford, Surrey	10 Mile Walks, North Downs Way