North Downs Way via Canterbury

Explore the North Downs Way at your own pace on a self-guided walking holiday via Canterbury. Accommodation, luggage transfer and custom holiday pack included.

Code	Tour	Duration	Difficulty	Price per person
NDWC0	From Farnham to Dover	8 nights, 7 days walking	Demanding / Strenuous	£875
NDWC1	From Farnham to Dover	11 nights, 10 days walking	Moderate / Demanding	£1195
NDWC2	From Farnham to Dover	12 nights, 11 days walking	Moderate / Demanding	£1305
NDWC3	From Farnham to Dover	13 nights, 12 days walking	Moderate / Demanding	£1410
NDWC4	From Farnham to Dover	14 nights, 13 days walking	Moderate	£1515

Start

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

Day 1

Farnham to Newlands Corner(T). 15.5 miles (25km) / 1532 ft (467 m) ascent

Day 2

Newlands Corner(T) to Merstham(L). 20 miles (32km) / 2264 ft (690 m) ascent

Day 3

Merstham(L) to Otford(L). 20.5 miles (33km) / 2083 ft (635 m) ascent

Day 4

Otford(L) to Rochester. 19.5 miles (31km) / 2103 ft (641 m) ascent

Day 5

Rochester to Lenham. 21.5 miles (34.5km) / 2349 ft (716 m) ascent

Day 6

Lenham to Canterbury. 21.5 miles (34.5km) / 1660 ft (506 m) ascent

Day 7

Canterbury to Dover. 19 miles (30km) / 1486 ft (453 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

£75.00 per person / per night

What's included?

8 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

The ancient settlement of Farnham is a good choice if you wish to spend an extra night getting to know the area at the start of your holiday. Bordering the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there are plenty of options for exploring the area on foot, while the town centre is home to a range of fine historic buildings and is overlooked by the magnificent Norman Castle and keep. A heritage trail around the town can be completed in around two hours. On the outskirts of Farnham are the ruins of Waverley Abbey while the grounds of Farnham Park, a variety of gardens, potteries and galleries, cry out for exploration.

Rochester is also a fantastic choice for an extra night. The town is home to England's second oldest cathedral and one of the best preserved examples of Norman architecture in England at Rochester Castle. For fans of literature, Restoration House and Gardens is a must, as it is said to have been the inspiration for Miss Havisham's Satis House in Charles Dickens' Great Expectations.

The superb Cathedral city of Canterbury is another good choice. 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

£75.00 per person / per night

Tour Facts

Total distance: 137 miles (219.5 km)
Duration: 8 nights, 7 days walking
Minimum daily distance: 15.5 miles (25 km)
Maximum daily distance: 21.5 miles (34.5 km)
Code: NDWC0 Grade: Demanding / Strenuous
Season: 2nd January - 24th December
Start of holiday: Farnham
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 Heathrow and London Gatwick.

By Rail - There is a rail station at the start of the trail (Farnham) and also at the end of the trail (Dover).

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

From London - Trains run from London Waterloo/London Paddington stations to Farnham.

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

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.