North Downs Way - West Section
Walk the west stretch of the North Downs Way at your own pace on a self-guided walking holiday. Accommodation, luggage transfer and custom holiday pack included
North Downs Way - West Section
https://www.contours.co.uk/north-downs-way-west-section
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 £955 per person
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.
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NDWW1 | From Farnham to Rochester | 6 days walking | £955 | |
| NDWW2 | From Farnham to Rochester | 7 days walking | £1085 |
| 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 Guildford(L). 11.5 miles (18.5km) / 843 ft (257 m) ascent
Guildford(L) to Dorking(T). 14 miles (22km) / 1358 ft (414 m) ascent
Dorking(T) to Merstham/Reigate(L). 9.5 miles (15.5km) / 1604 ft (489 m) ascent
Merstham/Reigate(L) to Oxted(L). 8.5 miles (13.5km) / 1086 ft (331 m) ascent
Oxted(L) to Otford(L). 12 miles (19.5km) / 1050 ft (320 m) ascent
Otford(L) to Rochester. 19.5 miles (31.5km) / 2100 ft (640 m) ascent
Depart from Rochester 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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Walking between the fascinating old town of Farnham and the historic city of Rochester, and exploring their wonderful castles.
Crossing through the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Spotting the abundant plant and animal life as you walk through the chalk downlands.
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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