North Downs Way

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North Downs Way
Walking the pilgrims way North Downs Way near Hollingbourne.jpg
The North Downs Way near Hollingbourne
Length153 mi (246 km) [1]
LocationSouth Eastern England, United Kingdom
Designation UK National Trail
Trailheads Farnham, Surrey
Dover, Kent
Use Hiking
Highest point Botley Hill, 885 ft (270 m)
SeasonAll year

The North Downs Way National Trail is a long-distance path in southern England, opened in 1978. [2] It runs from Farnham to Dover, past Guildford, Dorking, Merstham, Otford and Rochester, along the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Kent Downs AONB.

Contents

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 (which even in the 1960s was predominantly metalled road), was preferred. Working alongside Surrey County Council, plans were eventually submitted in 1966. 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. [3] The formal opening ceremony, led by Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury, took place on 30 September 1978. [4] At that time, it was 141 miles (227 km) long, 36 miles (58 km) of which were newly created public rights of way. [3]

Route

The North Downs Way, and the other Kent long-distance footpaths Kent Long Distance Footpaths.png
The North Downs Way, and the other Kent long-distance footpaths
Colley Hill on the North Downs Way Colley Hill, view.jpg
Colley Hill on the North Downs Way
Heading up Hollingbourne Downs on the North Downs Way Heading Up Hollingbourne Down. - geograph.org.uk - 170954.jpg
Heading up Hollingbourne Downs on the North Downs Way

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 131 miles (211 km) long, and the southern route 125 miles (201 km), the current length of the North Downs Way being 153 miles (246 km). The official guide to the trail divides the North Downs Way into fifteen sections. [5]

Sections of the North Downs Way
SectionStart pointFinish pointDistance (km)Ascent (metres)Descent (metres)
1FarnhamGuildford17.7203233
2GuildfordWesthumble21.0293288
3WesthumbleMerstham16.0442384
4MersthamOxted12.8311249
5OxtedOtford18.9524587
6OtfordCuxton24.1524587
7CuxtonDetling20.1404299
8DetlingLenham14.9320281
9LenhamWye17.9128247
10WyeEtchinghill18.1396303
11EtchinghillBoughton Lees19.3406506
12Boughton LeesChilham9.5156171
13ChilhamCanterbury11.6187215
14CanterburyShepherdswell16.7248158
15ShepherdswellDover13.7152268

The pathway is mixed-category in that it varies throughout length from footpath (around 48%) status to bridleway, byway and road. Some 19% of the Way follows roads, though 75% of those are minor lanes. [1]

The path (east of Boughton Lees, the southern section) runs along the ridge of the North Downs hills, and follows parts of the Pilgrims' Way.

Geology

Geology of the South East: chalk is light green S East Geology.jpg
Geology of the South East: chalk is light green

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.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 "National Trails - Facts and Figures about the trail". Archived from the original on 23 October 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2007.
  2. Drewett, J (1985). "Chapter 1: Landscape and Countryside". Surrey. Shire County Guides (2nd ed.). Princes Risborough: Shire Publications. pp.  9–10. ISBN   978-0-7478-0051-4.
  3. 1 2 County Council, Kent (July 1969). Archive files (CC/C-PL/19/16/1). Maidstone: Kent County Council.
  4. "News in brief". The Times. No. 60387. London. 23 August 1978. p. 3.
  5. Saunders, Colin (2013). North Downs Way. London: Aurum Press. ISBN   9781781310618.

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