History
In August 1965 the National Parks Commission announced it was negotiating with Surrey and Kent county councils for a long-distance footpath from Farnham to Folkestone. Kent pressed for a loop through Canterbury, which the Minister of Housing and Local Government, Anthony Greenwood, agreed in July 1969.
Where possible the path keeps to the top of the escarpment for the views, rather than following the old Pilgrims' Way to Canterbury below. It opened in stages from May 1972, when the 41 miles from Hollingbourne to Dover via Canterbury opened, and the completed route was opened by Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury, at Wye on 30 September 1978.
It runs from Farnham to Dover.
Sources: Wikipedia: North Downs Way; National Trails: North Downs Way; National Trails: North Downs Way trail information
Facts
- Code
- UK 008 (provisional)
- Distance
- 153 miles (246 km). We measure 158 miles
- Type
- Linear
- Opened
- 30 September 1978
- Designation
- National Trail
- Looked after by
- Kent Downs National Landscape / North Downs Way National Trail Partnership / Natural England
- Nations
- England
- Total ascent
- Still to be measured