North Downs Way
The North Downs Way begins at Farnham in Surrey and finishes at Dover in Kent.
Just past the village of Boughton Lees in Kent there is the option of taking the northern or southern route to Dover.
The longer northern route passes through Canterbury before turning down to finish at Dover. The shorter southern route takes the walker on a much more direct path from Boughton Lees to Dover.
North Downs Way Accommodation
Accommodation on the North Downs Way is plentiful. We have split accommodation into Hotels & Inns and Bed & Breakfast. While we realise many guest houses are as good, if not better than, some hotel accommodation, in order to avoid confusion we have opted for the simpler option. We are always looking to improve our information, and welcome accommodation recommendations.
Restaurants and Pubs
We have attempted to give as much information as possible, especially as to whether pubs serve real ale and/or food. But restaurants and pubs are notoriously changeable. Please let us know if our information is out of date.
North Downs Way Guidebooks & Maps
Guidebooks
We recommend buying two different guidebooks. One will supplement the other in terms of clarity, additional information, etc. The cost of the additional guidebook is very little compared to the cost of the walk.
North Downs Way: Farnham to Dover
By John Curtin
Includes hand-drawn maps at 1:20,000 scale, plus a wealth of additional information. Excellent value.
North Downs Way
By Neil Curtis and Jim Walker
Includes relevant portions of OS maps at 1:25,000 scale. Excellent value.
Maps
Do not feel tempted to save money buying the 1:50,000 Ordnance Survey maps; they do not have anywhere near the same detail as the 1:25,000 scale `Explorer' maps, and do not show field boundaries. The whole of the North Downs Way route is marked on the Explorer maps.
The Ordnance Survey `Explorer’ maps at scale 1:25,000 required for the whole route are:
137 Ashford, Headcorn, Chilham & Wye
138 Dover, Folkstone and Hythe
145 Guildford and Farnham, Godalming and Farnborough
146 Dorking, Box Hill and Reigate
147 Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, Royal Tunbridge Wells
148 Maidstone and the Medway Towns
150 Canterbury and the Isle of Thanet
Alternatively, There are two Harvey’s maps for the whole route at 1:40,000 scale
Buying the North Downs Way Guidebooks and Maps
By clicking on the guidebook or map images you can view the available guidebooks and maps, see further information, and order them through us online.
North Downs Way Websites
National Trail: The North Downs Way
Being an official long-distance footpath, the North Downs Way has the luxury of an official website. This has valuable up-to-date information and footpath news, and is packed with goodies, including GPS info.
www.nationaltrail.co.uk/northdowns
The Walking Englishman: North Downs Way
This is a very handy directory to many other websites
www.walkingenglishman.com/ldp/northdownsway.htm
North Downs Way.Co.Uk
This includes a short description of each section, together with many good quality photographs. An excellent appetitizer for the walk.
www.northdownsway.co.uk/
Ramblers (Ex Ramblers Association)
`Since it was founded in 1935, the Ramblers have campaigned, lobbied and helped step-by-step build a walking Britain. In the past 75 years, we've helped gain 10 national parks, a 130,000 mile path network and open access land in England and Wales, and land reform in Scotland.’
www.ramblers.org.uk/info/paths/name/n/northdowns.htm
Kev and Liz Walking Places: North Downs Way
This is a detailed personal log of the walk, with plenty of photographs. Another excellent appetizer for the walk.
www.kevanliz.walkingplaces.co.uk/ndw.htm
Public Transport
Recognising that many will walk the path in separate stages, we have included public transport information wherever possible for each location. If there is a lack of transport information for a particular area, the following website shoud prove useful:
www.carlberry.co.uk/rfnshowr.asp?RN=KEWAYA&G=1
North Downs Way
Mileages and Services Table
A note on milages:
For the route from Farnham to Boughton Lees and then the longer northern route, we have used information in the Trailblazer guide North Downs Way by John Curtin. Interestingly, though, the added individual distances between points come to appreciably more than the total distance he quotes for the walk, even accounting for the round up or down of fractions of miles. We think the individual distances are correct, and that the total length he uses is the usually agreed length of 131 miles. Unfortunately, the guide pays little regard to the southern option, and so for that option we have used our own estimates in conjunction with the Nation Trail Guide North Down Way by Neil Curtis and Jim Walker.
Both are excellent guides for the North Downs Way.
Please click on a location below to open the page displaying accommodation, Camping, Pub and Restaurant information for that location
NOTE: Figures after the `+' sign in the table belowo indicates miles off route. Legend is at the end of the page.
| LOCATION | CUMULATIVE MILES | FACILITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Farnham | - | All (excluding C) |
| Seal | 4 | H |
| Puttenham | 6½ | C,R,PH |
| Compton | 8¼ | B&B,R,PH,TC |
| Guildford | 13¼ + 1 | All (excluding C) |
| Chilworth | 14¾ + 1¼ | PH,Rail,Bus |
| Albury | 15¾ + 1¼ | H |
| Shere | 18¾ + ¾ | H,B&B,R,PH |
| Gomshall | 19¾ + 1¼ | H,R,PH,Train,Bus |
| Ranmore Common | 23¾ + ¾ | YHA |
| Westcott | 25¾ + 1½ | B&B,R,PH |
| Westhumble | 28¼ + ½ | PH,Rail,Bus |
| Dorking | 28¼ + 1 | All (excluding C) |
| Box Hill Village | 30¼ + 1 | PH |
| Betchworth | 31¼ + ¼ | H,B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Reigate Hill | 34¾ | H,R |
| Merstham | 38¼ | H,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Whitehill Tower | 42¼ | PH |
| Oxted | 46¼ | H,B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Botley Hill | 48¼ | R,PH |
| Tatsfield | 49½ + ¾ | PH |
| Westerham | 50½ + 1¼ | H,B&B,R,PH, |
| Knockholt | 53¼ + ¼ | PH |
| Knockholt Pound | 54½ + ½ | PH |
| Dunton Green | 56½ | H,R,PH |
| Otford | 58¼ | B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Kemsing | 60 + ½ | B&B,PH,Rail |
| Wrotham | 63¾ | H,B&B,PH |
| Trottiscliffe | 66¼ + 1 | PH,Bus |
| Ryarsh | 68¼ + 1¼ | B&B,R,PH |
| Cuxton | 73 | B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Rochester | 75¼ + 1½ | All (excluding C) |
| Blue Bell Hill | 77¾ | R,PH |
| Boxley | 82¾ + ¾ | B&B,PH |
| Detling | 84¼ | B&B,C,PH |
| Thurnham | 85¾ | H,B&B,C |
| Hollingbourne | 89¾ | B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Harrietsham | 92 + ¾ | H,B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Lenham | 94½ + ½ | H,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Charing | 98½ | All |
| Westwell | 101 | B&B,C,PH |
| Boughton Lees | 103 | H,R |
| Chilham | 108¾ | H,B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Old Wives Lees | 109¾ | B&B,PH |
| Chartham Hatch | 112¼ | B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Canterbury | 116 | All |
| Bridge | 119½ + ½ | H,B&B,R,PH |
| Shepherdswell | 126¼ | B&B,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Coldred | 126½ + ¾ | B&B,PH |
| Dover | 135¼ | H,B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FROM BOUGHTON LEES TO DOVER:
| LOCATION | CUMULATIVE MILES | FACILITIES |
|---|---|---|
| Wye | 1¾ | Inn,B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
| Hastingleigh | 6 + 1 | B&B,R,PH |
| Stowting | 9 | B&B,PH |
| Etchinghill | 13½ | R,PH |
| Folkstone | 18 | B&B |
| Capel-le-Ferne | 119½ | Inn,C,R,PH |
| Dover | 25¾ | H,B&B,R,PH,Rail,Bus |
Legend
| B&B | Bed & Breakfast Accommodation |
| C | Camping |
| CS | Camping Shop |
| H | Hotel or Inn Accommodation |
| PH | Pub or Bar |
| R | Restaurant, Bar Meal or Tea Shop |
| YHA | Youth Hostel |
Contact us
If you want to email us with comments or amendments, wish to add to our free listing, or wish to upgrade to Superior Listing, please right-click and copy the link below and paste into your email facility: