153 miles, 246 km, 12 days

National Trail

Hiking the North Downs Way you can feel all alone. This chain of limestone hills is never far from the larger population centers in Kent, eastern England. But walking these wooded hills, you will enjoy a serene peace that you would rather expect in sparsely populated areas far north.

The special limestone grasslands on these soils are rich in flowers and insects. There is much variation in forest types. In the valleys lie the villages and the odd buildings which is so special about the English.

The North Downs start at the coast, at Dover. From the white cliffs, the hills stretch eastward, south from London. The 153 miles, 246 km long path starts with a circular leg, near Dover, allowing you to visit Canterbury. The southern semi-circle runs close to the coastline, so you can enjoy the sea for a day or two.

The North Downs Way has the status of National Trail, which adds to its popularity. This, in its turn, has a positive effect on the availability of accommodation.