The North Downs Way

153 miles

What Is It?

The NDW is one of 16  National long distance walking trails in England and my second journey after the Cotswold Way . Also called the  PILGRIMS WAY it is the historic route supposed to have been taken by pilgrims from Winchester  to the shrine of first St Augustine in 605AD then later Thomas Beckett murdered in 1170 at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent. The route follows closely a pre-existing ancient trackway dated by archaeological finds to 500–450 BC, but probably in existence since the  stone age. I suspect there will be a lot of roads and traffic but we'll see. 

Wednesday 10th June Walk Farnham, nr Aldershot to Guildford 11 miles (17.5 km)

Thursday 11th June Walk Guildford to Dorking 13 miles (21 km)

Friday 12th June Walk Dorking to Merstham 9 miles (14.5 km)

Saturday 13th June Walk Merstham to Westerham 12 miles (19 km)

Sunday 14th June Walk Westerham to Wrotham 14 miles (22 km)

Monday 15th June Walk Wrotham to Cuxton 10.5 miles (16.5 km)

Tuesday 16th June Walk Cuxton to Detling 10 miles (16 km)

Wednesday 17th June Walk Detling to Harrietsham 7.5 miles (12 km)

Thursday 18th June Walk Harrietsham to Boughton Lees 11 miles (17.5 km)

Friday 19th June Walk Boughton Lees to Canterbury 11 miles (17.5 km)

Saturday 20th June Walk Canterbury to Shepherdswell 10.5 miles (17 km)

Sunday 21st June Walk Shepherdswell to Dover 8 miles (13 km)

Monday 22nd June Walk Dover to Etchinghill 10.5 miles (17 km)

Tuesday 23rd June Walk Etchinghill to Boughton Lees 14.5 miles (23 km)

Wednesday 24th June Depart from Boughton Lees

Victorian map showing archaeological finds ( upper left) and possible true historic track.