The North Downs is a long chalk ridge running through South East England from Farnham in Surrey to Dover on the Kent coast. The North Downs Way National Trail follows this natural line through some of the most historic and scenic countryside in southern England . It includes herb-rich chalk downland, sandy heath, large expanses of beech, oak and yew woodland, farmland, apple orchards, hop gardens and vineyards. Part of the trail follows the Pilgrims' Way, an ancient route taken by countless pilgrims on their way to pray at the shrine of Thomas à Becket in Canterbury Cathedral, immortalised in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales . Other sites of historical interest include Prehistoric long barrows, a Roman villa, eight castles, dozens of churches, three cathedrals, three palaces, manor houses, follies, a Napoleonic fort, oast houses, figures carved in the chalk slopes and World War II bunkers.

The route passes through many attractive settlements such as Otford, an attractive village containing the ruin of an archbishop's palace; historic Rochester, with its handsome High Street lined with old half-timbered buildings, magnificent cathedral and one of the best-preserved Norman castles in the country; the ancient walled city of Canterbury with Roman and early Christian ruins, a Norman castle and a glorious cathedral overlooking a warren of Tudor dwellings; and Dover, with its mighty medieval fortress, that contains the remains of a Roman lighthouse and a Saxon church. The North Downs Way also takes in a number of memorable viewpoints including Box Hill, Reigate Hill, the Devil's Kneading Trough and the lonely flint-walled church on top of St Martha's Hill.

Towards the end of the trail, at the village of Boughton Lees , the route divides. One branch heads for Dover via the historic city of Canterbury (130 miles, 208km); the other takes a more direct line via Folkestone and the celebrated 'White Cliffs' (123 miles, 197km).