North Downs Way

North Downs Way

A self-guided walking holiday through the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs, from Farnham to Dover.

3 to 14 nights
19-137 miles
Moderate to Demanding / Strenuous

From £415 per person

Find your holiday

About the trail

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.

We offer multiple holiday options along this trail. If you wish to experience the entire trail, simply select the first option from the list below.

Choose your route

  • North Downs Way via Canterbury
  • North Downs Way via Folkestone
  • North Downs Way - West Section
  • North Downs Way - East Section via Canterbury
  • North Downs Way - East Section via Folkestone
  • North Downs Short Break

About this route

7 to 8 nights
76 miles
Moderate to Moderate / Demanding
2nd January to 24th December

From £980 per person

North Downs Way - West Section

The west section of the North Downs Way clambers through the chalk landscape of the Surrey Hills, where butterflies and wildflowers abound. Accessing the crest of the escarpment takes some stiff climbs – one so memorable that Jane Austen immortalised it with a depiction in Emma – but the views over the flourishing rural landscape below are always worth the extra effort.

The walk is broken up by visits to characterful towns teeming with literary links and historic architecture. Cobbled streets, a well-preserved castle, and the second-oldest cathedral in England give the holiday’s final stop in Rochester a notable wealth of things to see and do, well worth staying an extra night to explore.

Available tours

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
NDWW1 From Farnham to Rochester 7 nights, 6 days walking Moderate / Demanding £980
NDWW2 From Farnham to Rochester 8 nights, 7 days walking Moderate £1110

Short breaks

Code Tour Duration Difficulty Price per person
NDWSB From Canterbury to Dover 3 nights, 2 days walking Moderate £415