Essex Man Does Walking

I have spent a bit of time since walking the South Downs Way thinking about what to do next. Accommodation/campsite availability is the main thing that puts me off a trail. I would prefer to camp as it is cheaper but the number of campsites seems to have dwindled since Covid and the costs of B&B on places like the Cotswolds Way is so high that you cannot justify staying in them. I imagine this is why a lot of people Wild camp on these routes but I am not ready for that yet!

The North Downs way also has it’s accommodation problems, there are very few campsites near the route on the first half of the trail and the two Youth Hostels near the route now only hire out to large groups. However, because the route follows the M25 and other main roads there is a large number of cheap motels like Premier Inn and Travelodge that you can use for around £50-60 a night if you book early enough and out of the main holiday seasons. So in the end I have booked into a bunkhouse, 2 campsites and the rest in motels. The campsites are on the second half of the route so I am thinking I might send my tent down to the first so I don’t have to carry it on the initial leg of the route.

The North Downs Way winds its way from Farnham in Surrey to Dover in Kent through two areas of outstanding beauty, the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs. The first stretch is rather like the first couple of days on the South Downs heading through forests but much more so from what I gather. The second stretch on the Kent Downs is more like walking along most of the South Downs Way. There are two endings to the route and depending on which you take the distance you cover will be 125 miles or if you go through Canterbury it will be 131 miles. Unlike the South Downs way you are never too far away from civilisation, namely the main roads but from what I have gleaned it does not detract from the journey.

Here is my plan for the walk, I am walking a longer distance on most days than I did on the South Downs Way as I am hoping sleeping in a bed will leave me a bit more refreshed!

Day 1: Farnham to Puttenham Bunkhouse – 6.57 miles

Not far on the first day as I aim to get down to Farnham in the early afternoon.

Day 2: Puttenham Bunkhouse to Travelodge Dorking – 19.37 miles (if you walk to the Travelodge from the route end)

The route ends near Westhumble Station, so I am hoping I can get a train to Dorking Station to cut out a mile or so. If not, well then walking it is!

Day 3: Travelodge Dorking to Travelodge Caterham – 16.5 miles

I will need to get off the North Downs Way just south of Caterham and walk a mile or so to the Travelodge.

Day 4: Caterham Travelodge to Premier Inn Sevenoaks – 16.35 miles

The trail passes through Dunton Green so I hope to get on a train and travel to the next stop in Sevenoaks.

Day 5: Premier Inn Sevenoaks to Premier Inn Rochester – 20.37 miles

The Rochester Premier Inn is not too far from the trail so seems ideal.

Day 6: Premier Inn Rochester to Oakham Holiday Park Detling – 12.73 miles

Not far today, probably need a bit of a breather. The campsite is not too far from the trail.

Day 7: Oakham Holiday Park Detling to Dunn Street Farm Campsite – 16.55 miles

The Dunn Street Campsite is right on the trail.

Day 8: Dunn Street Farm Campsite to Premier Inn Folkestone – 20.37 miles

I didn’t really want to stay in Folkestone, too expensive and the distance is a large one again but there is nothing else close enough to the trail to make it worthwhile.

Day 9: Premier Inn Folkestone to the finish at Dover – 9.16 miles

A nice easy stretch along the coast to finish with and then a beer and a train home.

Total Distance give or take a mile or two if I get a train at the end of routes to the hotel = 138 miles. This is 17 more than published due to walking to accommodation. The South Downs Way is published at 100 miles but I calculated I did about 130 miles in the end, so not too different.