The North Downs Way. Kev Reynolds

      

      THE NORTH DOWNS WAY

      by

      Kev Reynolds

      2 POLICE SQUARE, MILNTHORPE, CUMBRIA LA7 7PY

      www.cicerone.co.uk

      About the Author

      Kev Reynolds is a prolific compiler of guidebooks whose first title for Cicerone Press (Walks and Climbs in the Pyrenees) appeared in 1978 and is still in print. He has written and illustrated more than 50 books, including numerous guides to the Alps, a series on Himalayan trekking, various books on the Pyrenées, and guides to three major National Trails – the North Downs Way, South Downs Way and the Cotswold Way – as well as guides to day walks in Kent, Sussex and the South Downs National Park. A member of the Alpine Club, Austrian Alpine Club and Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild, Kev lives below the greensand hills of Kent – the centre of his spiritual universe. His passion for the countryside began almost before he could walk and remains undiminished after a lifetime of activity, and he regularly travels throughout Britain to share that enthusiasm through his lectures. Check him out on www.kevreynolds.co.uk

      Other Cicerone guides by the author

      Abode of the Gods

      A Walk in the Clouds

      The South Downs Way

      The Cotswold Way

      Walking in Sussex

      Walking in Kent

      Walks in the South Downs National Park

      Walking in the Alps

      Trekking in the Alps

      Trekking in the Himalaya

      Trekking in the Silvretta and Rätikon Alps

      100 Hut Walks in the Alps

      Tour of the Oisans: GR54

      Tour of the Vanoise

      Tour of Mont Blanc

      Tour of the Jungfrau Region

      Alpine Pass Route

      Chamonix to Zermatt: The Walker's Haute Route

      Écrins National Park

      Walking in Austria

      Walks in the Engadine

      Walking in the Valais

      The Bernese Alps

      Ticino – Switzerland

      Central Switzerland

      Walks and Climbs in the Pyrenees

      The Pyrenees

      Langtang, Helambu & Gosainkund: a Trekker's Guide

      Kangchenjunga: a Trekker's Guide

      Manaslu: a Trekker's Guide

      © Kev Reynolds 2017

      Third edition 2017

      ISBN: 978 1 85284 861 3

      Second edition 2011

      First edition 2001

      A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

      Printed in China on behalf of Latitude Press Ltd

      All photographs by the author

       This product includes mapping data licenses from Ordnance Survey® with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. © Crown copyright 2017. All rights reserved. Licence number PU100012932.

      Updates to this Guide

      While every effort is made by our authors to ensure the accuracy of guidebooks as they go to print, changes can occur during the lifetime of an edition. Any updates that we know of for this guide will be on the Cicerone website (www.cicerone.co.uk/861/updates), so please check before planning your trip. We also advise that you check information about such things as transport, accommodation and shops locally. Even rights of way can be altered over time. We are always grateful for information about any discrepancies between a guidebook and the facts on the ground, sent by email to [email protected] or by post to Cicerone, 2 Police Square, Milnthorpe LA7 7PY, United Kingdom.

      Register your book: To sign up to receive free updates, special offers and GPX files where available, register your book at www.cicerone.co.uk.

      Front cover: Quintessential Kent: oasthouses on the Canterbury loop

      CONTENTS

       Map Key

       Overview Map

       Introduction

       The North Downs Way

       Walking west to east

       Where to stay

       Waymarking and accessibility

       When to go

       Getting there – and back

       Using this guide

       Along the way

       The North Downs Way

       Stage 1 Farnham to Guildford

       Stage 2 Guildford to the Mole Valley (A24)

       Stage 3 Mole Valley to Merstham

       Stage 4 Merstham to Westerham Hill

       Stage 5 Westerham Hill to Wrotham

       Stage 6 Wrotham to the Medway

       Stage 7 The Medway to Detling

       Stage 8 Detling to Harrietsham

       Stage 9 Harrietsham to Boughton Lees

       Direct Route to Dover via Wye

       Stage 10 Boughton Lees to Etchinghill

       Stage 11 Etchinghill to Dover

       The Canterbury Loop

       Stage 10a Boughton Lees to Canterbury

       Stage 11a Canterbury to