North Downs Way via Folkestone
Explore the North Downs Way at your own pace on a self-guided walking holiday via Folkestone. Accommodation, luggage transfer and custom holiday pack included.
North Downs Way via Folkestone
https://www.contours.co.uk/north-downs-way-via-folkestone
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 £1095 per person
Transform the finale of the North Downs Way into a spectacular coastal walk along the White Cliffs of Dover. Shorter than the Canterbury alternative, the route via Folkestone departs the North Downs Way National Trail at Boughton Lees.
With some steep climbs to high-level footpaths, this route excels at far-reaching views over the English Channel and the landscape of Wye Crown, not to mention Folkestone’s Millennium White Horse. It’s a fantastic way to capture some of the North Downs’ most memorable scenery, and to experience the dramatic cliffs that make Dover so famous.
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDWF0 | From Farnham to Dover | 7 days walking | £1095 | |
| NDWF1 | From Farnham to Dover | 10 days walking | £1500 | |
| NDWF2 | From Farnham to Dover | 11 days walking | £1640 | |
| NDWF3 | From Farnham to Dover | 12 days walking | £1770 |
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDWSB | From Canterbury to Dover | 2 days walking | £415 |
Travel to Farnham where your first night's accommodation will be booked
Farnham to Newlands Corner(T). 15.5 miles (25km) / 1532 ft (467 m) ascent
Newlands Corner(T) to Merstham/Reigate(L). 20 miles (32km) / 2264 ft (690 m) ascent
Merstham/Reigate(L) to Otford(L). 20.5 miles (33km) / 2083 ft (635 m) ascent
Otford(L) to Rochester. 19.5 miles (31km) / 2103 ft (641 m) ascent
Rochester to Hollingbourne(T). 16 miles (25.5km) / 2001 ft (610 m) ascent
Hollingbourne(T) to Brabourne(L). 20.5 miles (33km) / 1509 ft (460 m) ascent
Brabourne(L) to Dover. 18 miles (29km) / 2395 ft (730 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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Looking out over the Devil’s Kneading Trough, where 21 different species of orchid stipple the chalk grassland with colour.
Admiring the beautiful hills and woodlands around the Elham Valley.
Standing on the Hoverport pier and gazing at the amazing White Cliffs of Dover.
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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“Well, I enjoyed all of it… It's great to know that I can always contact someone if things don't go to plan and it will be sorted out.”Ms Breese, Germany
“We enjoyed the walk very much. We had heavy rail he first two days, but after that the weather was kind to us. Will always book with you, no reason to change you do a great job.”Mrs Potterton, Canada
“The NDW is a superb walk through glorious English countryside. The Trail is very well designed, without many steep ascents and descents. Undertaken in pretty dry conditions, the going is often very easy. I could imagine that under wet conditions it could become tricky in parts - Kev Reynold’s guide describes vividly the accumulation of mud on his boots in the rain and on my one very wet morning I appreciated what he meant. So would suggest people don’t try it during wetter months. The signage on the route is impressive, with only a handful of places where some time was needed, using the guides, to establish the correct direction. I have my eye on the Thames Path, perhaps during May next year.”Mr Bird, UK
“Tough going because short days in November, but great variety of places and some wonderful sunny days. Challenging but good.”Ms Pearson, UK
