Follow the steps of Pilgrims on an inspirational journey from Farnham to Canterbury and the White Cliffs of Dover through a landscape rich in scenery and heritage.

Main Towns along the trail

John Miller

Towns along the trail

Farnham

10 miles to the west of Guildford and lying under the Hogs Back, Farnham is over a thousand years old and came to prominence in the 18th Century as a great hop-farming centre. Most of its architecture dates from this period and the best examples of Georgian houses can be found in Castle Street, which leads off the High Street to the Castle. The castle itself dates from around 1138 and is the only remaining one fully intact in Surrey. West Street  houses the museum, which includes not only the town’s history but also relays the life of local hero William Cobbett and the local art school.

Farnham is less busy than nearby Guildford and is a relaxing place to use as a base for visiting local attractions and walking the wooded landscape.

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Guildford

An important town since the 17th Century when the town was an important staging post between London and Portsmouth, Guildford also prospered with the canalisation of the River Wey in 1648, which allowed barges from the Thames to the Town itself. Although a thriving centre for shopping much of the old character remains. Amongst places to see are the Guild Hall, the castle, Archbishop Abbot’s Hospital (a hospice built for the borough’s elderly in1619), the 13th Century vaulted Undercroft and the treadmill powered crane on the wharf at the bottom of the High Street.

There is much to see and do around the town from eating and being sociable to taking a cruise down the river Wey or visiting some of the many local attractions.

  • Guildford Borough Council - Borough Council website with tourism and local event details.
  • Guildford Cathedral - The history and heritage of the last concecrated Cathedral in England complete with events and services.
  • Guildford Town Centre - Official town centre retail and business website.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Dorking

Dorking lies in spectacular scenery! It is here that the river Mole dissects the North Downs and the town is dominated by Box Hill, made immortal by Jane Austen as the site for one of in the novel of the same name. Not only was the area an inspiration to Jane Austen. Vaughn Williams, Fanny Burney and Conan Doyle all lived in and around Dorking as did William Mullins, one of the Pilgrim Fathers. Dorking is now a thriving market town with regular Farmers Markets and a Mecca for antique seekers with over 100 antique shops clustered around West Street. Eat in one of the many restaurants and bistros in the town and visit other attractions in the area including Denbies Vineyard (the largest in the UK) and walks that take in the beauty of the surrounding countryside.

  • Dorking Halls - Entertainments venue in the heart of the town with a full programme of events.
  • Dorking Town - New website for the town of Dorking and surrounding area.
  • Mole Valley District Council - District Council official website with local event and tourism information.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Reigate

Sitting below the scarp of the downs Reigate is another thriving market town with plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained or watch the world go by. Implements dating back to the bronze age have been found nearby and it was occupied by the Romans; it is believed that the now demolished Reigate Castle was built on the site of an earlier defence system. Most of Reigate Castle has disappeared; however a visit to the Castle Grounds and the Baron's Cave underneath, are well worthwhile. Steeped in history and set in beautiful gardens, the Castle Grounds offer panoramic views of Reigate and its environs. Churchill is supposed to have had one of his war time bunkers in the hill above the town and the views from here are quite superb

  • Reigate and Banstead - Borough Council website with tourism and local event information.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Westerham

Westerham is an attractive town with a 12th century market town charter and an abundance of walks and attractions close by. There is evidence that Westerham has been a settlement for some 6000 years and more recent inhabitants include General Wolfe, who lived at Quebec House and Sir Winston Churchill, who purchased Chartwell in 1922.

In Victorian times the village thrived as a centre for brewing. You can still sup on a good pint of ale in one of local hostelries or around the Village Green, dominated by statues of Westerham’s most famous inhabitants and plan walks to the Downs or through the richly wooded landscape to the south of the town.

Close to Westerham is Biggin Hill and a visit to the chapel commemorating the Battle of Britain pilots is informative and poignant reminder as to what happened in the skies above during WW II.

  • Visit Westerham - Official website for Westerham- local event information.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Sevenoaks

The town lies a few miles south of the North Downs Way and unlike many of the villages along the Downs has a more recent history. Six of the seven oaks, for which the town was famed, were lost in the Great Storm that hit the Southeast with disastrous effects on October 15th, 1987. Seven trees were planted in their place, since the remaining tree was likely to die first and it was felt that the Seven Oaks in the future should be of the same size. It sprung to prominence in the mid 1300s as it lay at the junction between two trading roads but it was in 1862 that the town started to flourish with the introduction of the railway.

The high street is a busy one and there is much interesting architecture to be observed whilst meandering through the town. Like many of the larger towns along the North Downs Way Sevenoaks offers a wide range of places to wine and dine and because of the mainline station gives easy access to both London and the South Coast

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Kemsing

Kemsing is a delightful village that nestles comfortably in the North Downs. With it's selection of wonderfully traditional shops and three quality public houses, Kemsing has everything that an English village can offer.

With some of the finest Kent country side on it's door step, Kemsing is a must for the ardent outdoor person. Many of the village outlets have leaflets of local walks. Kemsing is also steeped in history, which certainly predates the Domesday book. With it's magnificent Saxon church and fine examples of 15th and 16th century architecture, backed up by detailed literature, the village would be of great interest to the history buff.A solid community exists in Kemsing, a village that is obviously proud of its heritage and preserving all that is precious about village life.

  • Sevenoaks District Council - Official website for Sevenoaks Borough Council - local event information.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Rochester

The City of Rochester has grown from a little Saxon Village to a Historic City representing one of England finest Cities. The impressive Norman Castle is nearly 1,000 years old and a must see attraction as is the Cathedral, which is the second oldest in England. Charles Dickens lived here and Swiss Cottage and the Dickens Centre are two attractions on the High Street. Many festivals are held in Rochester, from May, with the 'Sweeps Festival' finishing with the 'Dickensian Christmas' and the lamp light procession through the streets of Rochester. Walk back in time along Rochester's Victorian High Street and visit many of the shops and restaurants that still have the 'Dickensian Characteristics'.

Rochester is close to Chatham, with the famous dockyards and there are forts and museums in the area to visit in abundance.

       Medway Council - Official website for the Unitary Authority of Medway with tourism and local event information.

  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Maidstone

County town on the River Medway with full range of facilities and a fascinating history. The oldest known inhabitant was the Iguanadon who's fossilised remains were found in 1834. During the Middle Ages the town was the site of many well known rebellions including Wat Tylers peasant revolt of 1381. Maidstone was the scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. In the 17th - 19th centuries the town prospered by supplying London with hops, linen, paper, ragstone and gin. Today there are over 200 historic listed buildings in the town

  • Leeds Castle - Official website for Leeds Castle.
  • Maidstone Borough Council - County town's official website with tourism and local event details.
  • Maidstone Tourism - the official tourism website for the Maidstone area. 
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Lenham

Lenham is an attractive village with a particularly picturesque and spacious village square, a hint of Lenham's past importance as an agricultural centre. The Dog and Bear Hotel has a wonderful coat of arms over the door commemorating the visit of Queen Anne. The church of St Mary's contains a superbly carved oak pulpit. Lenham is also the source of 2 rivers - the Len and the Stour.

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Charing

Charing  has always been an important settlement and the last stopping point for pilgrims before Canterbury. The Archbishop's Palace constructed in medieval times was evidence of this importance. It remained in the hands of the Crown until sold by Charles II in 1692. Flint walls remain and parts have been converted into a row of cottages while the 14th century great hall is now a barn. There is a good range of shops and restaurants.

  • Ashford Borough Council - Official website for Ashford Borough Council
  • Charing Local Information - Website link from the Lenham website listing local services, information and events.
  • Charing local website - New website with information about the village. Lots on the history of the Archbishop's Palace in connection with the BBC2 Restoration Programme in which it featured.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Ashford

Visit the Ashford and Tenterden areas and discover the very best the Garden of England has to offer. Beautiful tranquil countryside, hop gardens, oast houses, picturesque villages, historic buildings and a host of unusual places to visit all give this part of Kent its own unique flavour. Whatever the length of your stay, take time to see the impressive scenery of the North Downs and the wide expanse of the Romney Marsh, the thriving market town of Ashford and the delightful country town of Tenterden with its wide, tree-lined streets, historic buildings, restaurants, inns and shops

Take a leisurely ride on a steam train, soak up the atmosphere of Pa Larkin's 'Darling Buds of May' countryside and make friends with the animals at the South of England Rare Breeds Centre. Find out how corn is ground at one of the many windmills in the area or visit the home of famous 19th century actress Dame Ellen Terry - the list of places to visit and things to do is endless.

  • Ashford Borough Council - Guide to attractions, events and accommodation in Ashford area
  • Ashford Town Information - Website giving details of businesses and entertainments in and around the town of Ashford.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Wye

Wye is a busy and attractive village lying by the banks of the river Stour and directly on the North Downs Way. Nestling at the foot of the North Downs, Wye lies under the Crown, a huge emblem cut into the chalk hillside by students of Wye College in 1902 to commemorate the coronation of King Edward VII. Every November on Guy Fawkes’ Night, the students light a bonfire high on the hill and outline the Crown with torches carried in procession from the village.
The Wye area covers several places of outstanding beauty such as the Devil’s Kneading Trough, a steep coombe some 260 feet deep, from which there are breathtaking views across the countryside to the coast.

Wye is the centre of a walkers paradise with many varied routes in the Stour Valley and on the North Downs. There are also many historic buildings and places of interest in and around the village. There are several shops, restaurants, three pubs and a sub-post office. There is plenty of accommodation in the area from which to base yourself to visit the Downs, which run impressively above the village.

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Folkestone

Folkestone is a typical Edwardian seaside resort with a Martello Tower from the Napoleonic era and a Gurkha Regiment Visitor Centre to visit. Unmissable is William Cubitt's railway viaduct which spans the valley around the town and brought prosperity with the arrival of the train in 1843.

  • Folkestone Town Website - Website giving information to Folkestone residents and visitors alike.
  • Shepway Council - Official website for Shepway District Council - local events and tourist information.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Dover

Famous for many things, Dover and its White Cliffs are symbols of the gateway to England and it is here that the North Downs Way finishes its 153 mile journey through the finest landscape in the Southeast. The town and the busy port is overlooked by Dover Castle and despite being visited by 13 million people a year (most of them on their way to Calais!) there are many quiet areas to the town where it is possible to rest and enjoy a drink or a meal.

Apart from the castle and walks along the cliffs Dover can also boast Western Heights, a Napoleonic fort and the Roman Painted House. This dates back to the 3rd century and is thought to be a boarding house – infamous or not – and is the finest and oldest building of its type in England.

  • Dover Borough Council - Council website with tourist information and events.
  • Dover: Dover UK - General information about the town and port of Dover.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Chilham

The centre of Chilham is an attractive square between the church and castle and stands as testament to the feudalism of the Middle Ages when the Lord's retainers lived at the gates of his castle. Unfortunately the castle, set in grounds designed by Capability Brown, is no longer open to the public. St Mary's Church contains some interesting 15th century stained glass.

  • Ashford Borough Council - Official website for Ashford Borough Council
  • Chilham Parish website - Website with information about the Parish - useful information on organisations, clubs and societies, the Church and surrounding villages.
  • See settlements/attractions map for a list of facilities.
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Canterbury

Canterbury is probably England's most famous cathedral city. Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church together form a world heritage site, attracting over 2.5 million visitors every year making it a cosmopolitan, colourful and thriving place to visit. The charm of the narrow streets and period architecture, the pedestrian high street with shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs to suit everyone - today's Canterbury offers a wealth of things to see and do.

There are large formal and informal gardens in which to escape the bustle of the high street. The Westgate Gardens with its much praised floral displays, through which you can enjoy a punt trip on the river Stour. The countryside surrounding Canterbury is rich with orchards and strawberry fields – the true Garden of England!

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