North Downs Way
This beautiful trail starts in Farnham, Surrey and heads east through the stunning North Downs to the historic city of Canterbury in Kent.
The path runs for 153 miles taking you through some stunning scenery, including the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
In addition to the wonderful rolling countryside you will pass through a variety of interesting towns including Godalming, Guildford, Dorking, Merstham, Otford, Chilham, Rochester and Dover, where the views of the white cliffs from the trail are stunning.
North Downs Way Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
North Downs Way Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
North Downs Way OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
North Downs Way Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
On Reigate Hill you'll find the National Trust's Reigate Hill Tea Rooms. The cafe is in a fabulous elevated position with a number of picnic tables where you can sit outside and soak in the views of the Weald and Gatwick Airport. There's a good range of snacks and it's also very reasonably priced.
The Rising Sun in Otford is another good option. They have a fantastic garden area with fine views over the North Downs countryside. It's a great spot to relax in on fine summer days. You can find the pub just to the west of the village on Twitton Lane with a postcode of TN14 5JS for your sat navs. The pub is also dog friendly if you have your canine friend with you.
The Robin Hood in Blue Bell Hill village is an interesting pub worthy of some investigation. The pub dates back over 700 years and includes a charming interior with a wood burner for colder days. Outside there's a lovely garden area with BBQ facilities during the warmer months. You can find the pub on Common Road with a postcode of ME5 9RJ for your sat navs. The pub welcomes dogs outside and in the bar area.
In the Surrey town of Godalming there's a couple of worthy options to consider for a pit stop. The historic Star Inn dates back to the 1700s and includes and charming 'Olde Worlde' interior. They serve very good food which you can enjoy in a lovely garden area on warmer days. You can find them at 17 Church Street with postcode GU7 1EL for your sat navs. The Inn on the Lake is another good choice in the town. There's a particularly lovely garden here and a great Sunday roast. You can find them on the Ockford Road at postcode GU7 1RH. They are dog friendly if you have your canine friend with you.
In the village of Hollingbourne make a pit stop at the splendidly named Dirty Habit. It's a pub of some note with a history dating back to the 11th century when it began life as a monk’s ale and cider house. The pilgrims who passed on their way to Canterbury would refresh themselves and perhaps stay the night. It is also said that James II stayed here whilst escaping the country to France.
They serve high quality dishes and have a lovely garden area to sit out in on warmer days. You can find them on Upper Street at postcode ME17 1UW. Just to the north of here there's also the lovely Hucking Estate which includes a Norman church, a waymarked sculpture trail and another fine country pub at the north western end.
The historic village is also worth exploring with over a hundred listed buildings including some fine timber framed structures on Eyhorne Street and the noteworthy All Saints Church which dates from the 14th century.
The Kent Downs village of Lenham is a good choice for a pit stop. The worthy settlement includes a pretty square and a historic high street with a number of listed buildings. There's also a Grade I listed Tithe Barn, a notable 14th century church and an early 1600s pub to investigate. The Dog and Bull was originally built in 1602 and visited by Queen Anne in 1704 - her coat of arms is still displayed above the door today. They serve fine food and have a pleasant courtyard garden for the summer months. You can find them on the Square at postcode ME17 2PG for your sat navs.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
North Downs Way near Hollingbourne
North Downs Way near Wrotham
View across the Marinas from the Western Heights in Dover. Dover Castle and the Eastern Docks are visible in the background. The area includes a series of interesting old forts and batteries.
Medway Valley from Blue Bell Hill
Sunrise on The Saddle Knob, Colley Hill. This picture along the North Downs scarp was taken on a November morning, just after sunrise. The Saddle Knob is the grassy slope, with an old quarry at its foot. In the background is the much bigger Betchworth Quarry - until a few years ago its white cliff was a landmark for miles around. Now only the top shows, the rest having been used as a large landfill, now landscaped and being managed to make new downland. In the very far distance is White Downs. Box Hill, perhaps the most famous part of this stretch of the North Downs, is not visible, lying around the corner beyond Betchworth Quarry.
The view from Reigate Hill car park at sunrise, with Reigate and the Priory Park ridge in the background.
Video
Route Highlights
Farnham CastleThe lovely Georgian town of Farnham, with its 12th century castle, is the start point for the trail. Here you will also find the lovely medieval deer park of Farnham Park |
St Martha's HillThe top of the hill provides good views of Newland's Corner and other parts of the Surrey Hills AONB and is a popular wedding venue. The site contains several Megalithic and Neolithic artifacts, dating from as far back as 3500 BCE.St Martha's Church sits on the top of the hill |
Newland's CornerThis area of natural beauty offers splendid views of the Surrey Hills and has an information centre with maps and guides. |
Box Hill Country ParkWell know beauty spot that is named after the box trees on its steep southern and western flanks. It is now owned by the National Trust who have an information centre in the park. |
Otford PalaceThe Archbishop's Palace is in Otford, a village and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent. The principal surviving remains are the North-West Tower, the lower gallery, now converted to cottages, and a part of the Great Gatehouse |
RochesterWith its impressive cathedral and 12th century castle this historic town in Kent is just off the trail. |
Blue Bell HillOverlooking the River Medway and with fabulous views of the North Downs, Blue Bell Hill is an excellent place to stop for lunch. |
Wye DownsWye Downs is a stretch of chalk downland and woodland near the village of Wye in Kent. The site is a National Nature Reserve with over 21 species of rare orchids recorded. |
DoverThe coastline at Dover is stunning with the famous white cliffs and 12th century castle real highlights. |
CanterburyThe historic city of Canterbury with its majestic cathedral marks the end of the trail. |