National Trail: Southern England/London
Farnham to Canterbury and Dover245km/153 miles
A route that follows ancient trackways along the chalk ridges and wooded downland of Surrey and Kent through Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, grazing the southern edge of greater London and ending at the celebrated White Cliffs, with an optional loop via Canterbury. It was opened as a National Trail in 1978.
For much of its length the Way parallels the old route known as the Pilgrim's Way between Winchester and Canterbury. Much of the traditional route of the Pilgrim's Way is now part of the modern road network and walkers wishing to follow it are advised to use the North Downs Way as an alternative.
At Farnham the St Swithun's Way (54.5km/34 miles) continues through the Itchen Valley to Winchester. From here the Pilgrim's Trail follows another old pilgrim's route to Portsmouth via the Forest of Bere (45km/28 miles): this is the British section of a route between Winchester and Mont St Michel, Normandy, a total of 248km/155 miles including the sea crossing.
The 24km/15-mile Thames Down Link connects the Thames Path and London LOOP at Kingston via the attractive river Hogsmill and Epsom Common with the North Downs Way at the famous beauty spot of Box Hill. This route interconnects on the edge of greater London with the Chessington Countryside Walk, a circular 8km/5-mile route through downs and woodland at Epsom Common and Horton Country Park.
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| National Trail |
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| The 193km section between Guildford and Dover is part of European path E2. |
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| Part of the South East Walks network. |
 | Some accessible sections: contact the National Trail Office for advice. |
Connects with
Main route:
St Swithun's Way:
Pilgrim's Trail:
- Chemins de saint Michel (via ferry Portsmouth-Cherbourg)
- GR2 (via ferry Portsmouth-Le Havre)
- GR223 (E9, via ferry Portsmouth-Cherbourg or Ouistreham)
- GR23 (E9, via ferry Portsmouth-Ouistreham)
- GR24 (E9, via ferry Portsmouth-St Malo)
- GR34 (E9, via ferry Porstmouth-St Malo)
- GR36 (via ferry Portsmouth-Ouistreham)
- Isle of Wight Coastal Path (via ferry Portsmouth-Ryde)
- Monarch's Way
- Solent Way (E9)
Highway Authorities
Parks and countryside
Tourist Information Centres
- Alton 01420 88448
- Ashford 01233 629165
- Clacket Lane Motorway Service Area 01959 565063
- Canterbury 01227 766567
- Dover 01304 205108
- Farnham 01252 715 109
- Folkestone 01303 258594
- Guildford 01483 444 333
- Maidstone 01622 673581
- Rochester 01634 843666
- Sevenoaks 01732 450305
- Winchester 01962 840500, www.winchester.gov.uk/visiting_winchester
Accommodation
Click here to find bed & breakfast accommodation on this path
There is also an accommodation guide on the National Trail website below.
Holiday providers
include Contours, Orchard, Bobs
Public Transport
- Winchester has trains to Southampton, Weymouth and London Waterloo, some inter-city services to Birmingham and northwest England, and express buses to London and Heathrow Airport.
- Between Winchester and Alresford a regular bus service (less frequent Sundays) connects these towns with Kings Worthy, Martyr Worthy, Itchen Abbas and Itchen Stoke.
- Between Alresford and Alton the route runs parallel to the preserved Watercress Line railway, with stations at Ropley and Four Marks: see www.watercressline.co.uk. There is also a bus service connecting Winchester, Alresford, Bishops Sutton, Ropley, Four Marks and Alton to Guildford.
- Between Alton and Farnham the route runs parallel to the local SWT service to Woking and London Waterloo, also calling at Bentley. There is also a bus service connecting Winchester with Alton, Bentley, Farnham and Guildford.
- Guildford has SWT rail services to Portsmouth, Woking and London Waterloo, and a Thames Trains service to Reading. There are also express buses to London and Heathrow.
- Between Guildford and Redhill the Trail runs parallel to the Thames Trains' North Downs line from Reading to Gatwick Airport, with stations at Shalford, Chilworth, Bomshall, Dorking West, Dorking Deepdene, Batchworth and Reigate near to the route. Boxhill and Westhumble station has trains to Wimbledon, Sutton, London Bridge and Waterloo. Redhill has very frequent trains to Gatwick Airport, Brighton, East Croydon, London Bridge, King's Cross, Luton and Bedford. The Surrey Hills Explorer bus serves the Dorking area on summer weekends: click here for details.
- Between Redhill and Dover the Trail passes close to numerous stations with services to London Bridge and Charing Cross or Victoria: Mertsham, Caterham, Oxted, Woldingham, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks (Darent Explorer bus service: click here for details), Otford, Kemsing, Cuxton, Rochester, Maidstone, Hollingbourne, Harrietsham, Lenham, Charing, Ashford, Wye, Chilham, Chartham, Canterbury West, Canterbury East, Bekesbourne, Shepherdswell, Dover Priory, Folkestone West and Folkestone Central.
- Ashford is connected to the Way via a signed link path, connecting with Eurostar services to Calais, Lille, Paris and Bruxelles as well as regular services to London.
- Dover has trains to Canterbury, Chatham and London, and ferries to Calais (www.hoverspeed.com, www.posl.com)
For more on finding out about services and fares, click here.
Maps
- Explorer maps 137, 138, 145, 146, 147, 148, 150
St Swithun's Way 132, 144; Pilgrim's Trail 119 - Landranger maps 178, 179, 186, 187, 188, 189
St Swithuns Way: 185; Pilgrim's Trail 196
The route is marked on recent editions of these maps.
Strip maps
- North Downs Way West (Farnham to the Medway) ISBN 1 85137 367 5
- North Downs Way East (Medway to Dover) ISBN 1 85137 379 9. Harvey, £9.95 each + p&p. Order here!
Waterproof with additional information in English, French and German - Explorer digital map on CD-ROM. memory-map £99.95
Publications
- North Downs Way by Neil Curtis and Jim Walker, ISBN 1 84513 065 0,. Aurum £12.99 + p&p. Order here!
Official National Trail Guide with OS 1:25,000 map extracts - North Downs Way by John Curtin, ISBN 1 873756 96 8. Trailblazer Publications £9.99.
Detailed compact publication with route description, extensive background notes, sketch maps, accommodation suggestions, public transport information. Forthcoming April 2006. [2006] - The North Downs Way by Kev Reynolds, ISBN 1 85284 316 0. Cicerone £8.
Alternative guidebook with full route details and simple maps. - St Swithun's Way, ISBN 1 85975 283 7. Hampshire County Council £3.99 + p&p. Order here!
Leaflet card pack with maps, description, public transport details, background information. - Pilgrims' Trail, ISBN 1 85975 283 7. Hampshire County Council, £2.99 + p&p. Order here!
Leaflet card pack with maps, description, public transport details, background information. - Discover the attractive Thames Down Link, free leaflet from Lower Mole Countryside Management Project.
- Chessington Countryside Walk, free leaflet from Lower Mole Countryside Management Project (see below).
- Details of over 30 short circular walks connecting with the Trail can be found on the website below.
Note that accommodation and practical information is available from the National Trail manager or the National Trails website (see below).
Contacts
