An Overview of the North Downs Way England

Opened in 1978, this long distance path in southern England runs along the North Downs Hills, which is a ridge of chalk hills that run from Farnham to the Dover White Hills. It's an entire 153 miles of picturesque quaint villages, rolling fields and countryside, amazing scenery and home to a bevy of wildlife creatures. It is generally made of footpaths and roads but some sections are also open to cyclists and horse riders. A relatively easy path, which is ideal for beginner hikers, the hike can be done with a minimal of physical exertion, as its highest point is only 850 feet, compared to over 1000 feet for other popular trails.

The North Downs Way also follows parts of the Pilgrims Way, which was created by pilgrims to pray at holy shrines. This path is heavy with traffic and consists of a series of roads that go along the shadow of the Downs Hills. The pilgrims travel from the cathedral city of Canterbury to Winchester and pray for St. Swithum whose remains are buried at the cathedral. The Pilgrims Way and the North Downs Way are two different trails. Though the North Downs Way follow some parts of the Pilgrims Way, it does have its own path; it just converges with the pilgrim’s path at some parts, but not all.

There is a wide variety of accommodation choices along the way and public transport is accessible so this trail gives you a rather convenient hike. Compared to other England Paths, the North Downs Way has little access to major cities, giving you a complete rural England experience. Some of the countryside along the Path is listed in England's AONBs, or Areas of Natural Beauty which have significant landscape value. This means that the areas you will be hiking through will give you several views and scenery of the English countryside.

An ideal itinerary would start at Farnham, Surrey. From here, walk to Guilford for 10 miles, then through a series of towns such as Westhumble, Messtham, Oxted, Cuxton, Charing, Hollingbourne, Otford, and Wye. This starting point of Farnham follows the river Way, with woodland and open fields and comprises most part of the trail, which covers 114 miles.

From the town of Wye, head to Canterbury for 14 miles then walk to the Shepherdswell for 10 miles. From here, head to Dover for 8.5 miles where you get to witness the beauty of England's open fields and villages.

Being one of the most serene and beautiful trails among the long distance trails of England, the North Downs Way is perfect for those who want to experience the outdoors of this rich country, without having to go through its urban areas.