DAYSOUT
Walk this Way
THE NORTH DOWNS WAY
PHOTOS BY JOHN MILLER
IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO DO YOUR FIRST LONG-DISTANCE TRAIL, THE NORTH
DOWNS WAY IS A GREAT STARTING POINT. ITS FAIRLY LEVEL TERRAIN GOES
UP AND DOWN THE SCARP SLOPE OF THE NORTH DOWNS SO THERE ARE A
FEW HILLY CHALLENGES IN PLACES. YOU’LL PASS AMAZING HISTORICAL SITES
AND FOLLOW THE FAMOUS PILGRIMS WAY THROUGH KINGS WOOD FEATURED
IN THE SATIRICAL CANTERBURY TALES. IF YOU’VE MADE A PACT TO TACKLE A
WALKING CHALLENGE THIS YEAR, NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO SMASH IT!
Starting in Farnham and heading to Guildford,
you’ll be in for a treat as you pass through the
Surrey Hills, a landscape that drew inspiration
for many writers including Aldous Huxley for
the famous Brave New World with the village
of Puttenham featuring in the book.
Dinner & drinks in Guildford: The Kings Head
is a historic pub next to Guildford Castle and
reputedly the town’s oldest and most haunted
pub.
From Guildford, a pleasant 13-mile stretch will
take you to Westhumble. You’ll leave the
Pilgrims Way at this point and head onto the
beautiful chalkland of the North Downs.
A challenging 10-mile stretch to Merstham
will reward you with some fantastic views.
Box Hill, Reigate Hill and Colley Hill provide
stunning panoramas all year round. The views
are so immense here that they inspired the
final 500 lines of John Keats’ Edymion.
90
An easier 8-mile jaunt from Merstham to
Oxted will take you on a steady climb up the
ridge and across farmland and onto the
rewarding sight of the Victorian Whitehall
Tower.
Steep climbs are found on the next stretch
between Oxted and Otford; look for the
Meridian Plaque near to Oxted. You’ll always
be treated to more glorious views for your
efforts. You’ll never be more than an hour
away from a pub or café along the North
Downs Way.
As you cross the Kent boundary, you’ll see the
first North Downs Way milestone with the rest
of the route taking you through the Kent
Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
(AONB).
From Otford, continue to follow the signed
footpath to Cuxton with the rich and varied
landscape of Kemsing Down Nature Reserve
and Trosley Country Park.
In Cuxton you’ll see the vast River Medway
stretch before you – look out for the
magnificent sight of Rochester Cathedral
dominating the skyline on your left. At Bluebell
Hill, you’ll see Kits Coty, a Neolithic burial
chamber and local legend states that you’ll
never arrive at the same number when
counting the stones…
Dinner and drinks in Cuxton: Try The White
Hart where traditional pub food is served in a
warm and welcoming atmosphere.
Upon reaching Detling you’ll be tracing the
ridge back on the Pilgrims Way of the lower
Down, look for Thurnham Castle situated
within White Horse Wood Country Park. You’ll
also pass Brother Percival on your way to
Lenham, a wooden sculpture of a monk taking
a rest on his way to Canterbury.