North Downs Short Break

Sample the North Downs Way on a short self-guided walking holiday: the perfect weekend getaway. Accommodation, luggage transfer and custom holiday pack included

Code	Tour	Duration	Difficulty	Price per person
NDWSB	From Canterbury to Dover	3 nights, 2 days walking	Moderate	£350

Start

Travel to Canterbury where your first night's accommodation has been booked

Day 1

Canterbury to Shepherdswell (T). 10.5 miles (16.5km) / 771 ft (235 m) ascent

Day 2

Shepherdswell (T) to Dover. 8.5 miles (13.5km) / 696 ft (212 m) ascent

Finish

Depart from Dover after breakfast

Your Itinerary

This itinerary lists our preferred overnight stops for this tour. Sometimes there may be a shortage of available accommodation in a preferred location, in which case we will transfer you from the trail to your accommodation and back again at no extra charge. Overnight stops marked with a (T) will always require transfers as standard.

Overnight stops marked with an (L) have very limited accommodation, and therefore more often than not will also require a transfer, particularly on bank holidays and weekends. We will use non-transfer accommodation wherever possible.

The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than a mile from the trail to your accommodation; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard.

Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Dog-friendly tours are subject to a Daily Dog Charge, which will be listed below if applicable. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:

A note about transfers

£55.00 per person / per night

£40.00 per person / per night

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

£60.00 per person / per night

What's included?

3 nights' accommodation in en-suite rooms (where available) in selected B&B’s, hotels, inns and guesthouses along the trail, or a short distance away via taxi provided at our expense.
Breakfast each day.
Door to door luggage transfer.
Maps with the route marked on and a guidebook or route notes describing the trail.
An information pack containing an itinerary, instructions on how to find your accommodation each night and a kit list.
Detailed travel instructions on how to get to the start of your holiday and back from the end of it.

Extra Nights & Rest Days

An extra night can be the perfect way to extend your holiday, whether you spend it relaxing, exploring the sights and sounds of the area or simply soaking up the atmosphere in this historically rich region.

The Cathedral city of Canterbury is a superb choice for an extra night. With the magnificent cathedral dominating its skyline, Canterbury offers a wealth of other fascinating attractions, including the 1000 year old St Dunstan's Church; Grayfriar's Chapel, the only remaining Franciscan Friary; Canterbury Castle and The Canterbury Tales, which brings Geoffrey Chaucer's tales to life.

You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:

£60.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 19 miles (30 km)
Duration: 3 nights, 2 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 8.5 miles (13.5 km)
Maximum daily distance: 10.5 miles (16.5 km)
Code: NDWSB Grade: Moderate
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Canterbury
End of holiday: Dover

Route Profile

Travel Information

Useful information and travel links that will assist you in your plans to travel to the start of the holiday and back from the end of it are sent to you with your full tour pack. A summary is given below:

By Air - The most convenient major city and international airports are London Gatwick, London Heathrow & London City.

By Rail - There is a choice of rail stations at Canterbury. Canterbury West or Canterbury East depending on the location of your accommodation. There is a rail station at the end of the trail (Dover).

By Bus - Various bus services run to Canterbury and from Dover.

From London - Trains run from London Charing Cross & London St Pancras International stations to Canterbury West, and from London Victoria, St Pancras International & Cannon Street stations to Canterbury East.

Return To The Start - The easiest way to return to the start of the trail, is to catch a train from Dover to Canterbury.

Weather Information

To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:

MetCheck - This website allows you to look up detailed weather information for specific locations as far as six months in advance.
Met Office - This website shows regional area forecasts a few days in advance, with a general UK forecast description of up to 30 days in advance.
Mountain Forecast - This website shows what the forecast is like up on specific hills and fells, and offers forecasts a few days in advance.