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
North Downs Short Break
https://www.contours.co.uk/north-downs-short-break
A self-guided walking holiday through the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs, from Farnham to Dover.
From £415 per person
The North Downs Way National Trail follows the long chalk ridge of the North Downs through some of the most scenic and historic countryside in England. It crosses downland, sandy heath, deciduous woodland, green pastures, apple orchards and vineyards. A section of the trail even slips onto the Pilgrim’s Way, an ancient route followed by countless pilgrims on their way to pray at the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury, immortalised in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
Walking the North Downs Way will bring you across plenty more historic sites, from prehistoric long barrows to a Napoleonic fort, with eight castles and three cathedrals in the mix. The local settlements, too, show their years: spot impressive Tudor carvings, half-timbered houses, and flint-walled churches as you make your way to the white cliffs and seaside views at Dover.
From £415 per person
Walk through shaded woodland and rolling fields between historic towns on the North Downs Way Short Break. Depart the arches of Canterbury and set off through the “Garden of England” as you explore lush agricultural land and follow an old Roman Road into the bustling port at Dover.
Here, the North Downs collapse to the sea at the famous White Cliffs, and the trail offers staggering views across the English Channel toward mainland Europe.
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDWSB | From Canterbury to Dover | 2 days walking | £415 |
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDWSB | From Canterbury to Dover | 2 days walking | £415 |
Travel to Canterbury where your first night's accommodation will be booked
Canterbury to Shepherdswell(T). 10.5 miles (16.5km) / 771 ft (235 m) ascent
Shepherdswell(T) to Dover. 8.5 miles (13.5km) / 696 ft (212 m) ascent
Depart from Dover after breakfast
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 in most cases; should your accommodation be further than this, transfers will be provided as standard if practical. A very limited number of stops will require you to travel on foot up to two miles off the trail, however these instances will be clearly communicated to you if applicable.
Further transfers may also be required due to some accommodations having a two-night minimum booking policy, especially at weekends.
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:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
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Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Canterbury.
Walking through the beautiful rural landscape of Kent in the ‘Garden of England.’
Arriving at the port of Dover and admiring the views of the famous White Cliffs and the English Channel.
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:
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