North Downs Way


The North Downs Way National Trail is a long-distance path in southern England, opened in 1978. It runs from Farnham to Dover, past Guildford, Dorking, Merstham, Otford and Rochester, along the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Kent Downs AONB.
on the North Downs Way

History

Planning for a new Long Distance Path, as they were classified in 1949, began in Kent in 1950. After an extensive survey, it was agreed that a route on "a line which offers the best scenic qualities for the walker" along the ridge of the North Downs, rather than the Pilgrim's Way, was preferred. Working alongside Surrey County Council, plans were eventually submitted in 1966.
on the North Downs Way
The North Downs Way was officially designated by the then Minister of Housing and Local Government, Anthony Greenwood, on 14 July 1969, and opened in parts shortly afterwards, becoming fully open in 1978. At that time, it was long, of which were newly created public rights of way.

Route

East of Boughton Lees, the path splits in two, the northern section running via Canterbury and the southern via Wye; at this stage the path crosses the Stour Valley Walk and passes the Wye Crown. The two sections of the path reunite at Dover. The northern route is long, and the southern route, the current length of the North Downs Way being. The official guide to the trail divides the North Downs Way into fifteen sections.
SectionStart pointFinish pointDistance Ascent Descent
1FarnhamGuildford17.7203233
2GuildfordWesthumble21.0293288
3WesthumbleMerstham16.0442384
4MersthamOxted12.8311249
5OxtedOtford18.9524587
6OtfordCuxton24.1524587
7CuxtonDetling20.1404299
8DetlingLenham14.9320281
9LenhamWye17.9128247
10WyeEtchinghill18.1396303
11EtchinghillDover19.3406506
12Broughton LeesChilham9.5156171
13ChilhamCanterbury11.6187215
14CanterburyShepherdswell16.7248158
15ShepherdswellDover13.7152268

The pathway is mixed-category in that it varies throughout length from footpath status to bridleway, byway and road. Some 19 percent of the Way follows roads, though 75 percent of those are minor lanes.
The path runs along the ridge of the North Downs hills, and follows parts of the Pilgrims' Way.

Geology

As the pathway runs through the higher parts of the downland, the trail and surrounding countryside are characterised by chalk-based soil and calcareous grassland with broadleaf woodland on the upper slopes. It reflects the underlying sedimentary chalk deposits on the highest parts of the trail. There is livestock grazing on the lower slopes with clay soil and crop agriculture predominant in the valleys.