North Downs Way

The North Downs Way is a long distance path in southern England from Farnham to Dover, which was opened in 1978. It runs past Godalming, Guildford, Dorking, Merstham, Otford and Rochester, along the Surrey Hills and Kent Downs, both of which are classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ( AONB ).

East of Boughton Lees near Ashford, the path splits into two alternatives, the northern route runs via Canterbury and the southern via Wye:

• The southern section east of Boughton Lees crosses the Stour Valley Walk and leads past the Wye Crown.

• The northern section of the route always runs along the ridge of the North Downs hills on the steep part of the Stour Valley to the west and approximately follows the Pilgrims ' Way path which was used in the Middle Ages by many pilgrims.

The two road segments unite again in Dover. The northern route is 211 km long, and the southern route 201 km, the total length of the North Downs Way ie 246 km.

The rights of way are mixed, they change in the course of the state as a footpath, bridleway, byway and road. Around 19 % of the way to follow roads but 75 % of them are very small ways.

The path leads through the Downland, the paths and the surrounding landscape are characterized by grazing and chalk soils and Kalkmagerwiesen and agricultural clay soils.

Photographs

Newlands Corner, Guildford and the long-distance footpath.