Our Campaign
Following the huge success of the South Downs Challenge in 2007, the team have decided to take on the challenge of The North Downs Challenge 2008.
This event will start at Farnham, Surrey on June 2nd next year and follow the North Downs Way National Trail for 131 miles, taking in some breathtaking scenery, quaint villages and some culturally rich towns and cities including Rochester and the cathedral city of Canterbury where we will spend an overnight stopover on Saturday 7th June. The event closes with a stunning finale at the famous channel port of Dover with France in view, some 21 miles away from the top of the legendary White Cliffs, which will host the finish. The cast and crew of this years event are set be re-united next summer with the addition of a few new faces. 131 miles over seven days is indeed a challenge. Although the route is generally flatter than its South Downs counterpart, the average distance of 18.5 miles a day without respite, will test even the most experienced walker. Below is our week itinerary:
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Our 2008 finishing point
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Last year the walk ended in the beautiful town of Eastbourne where we had a celebratory meal at a local Italian restaurant and stayed overnight at the charming "Cherry Tree Hotel".
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THE STAGES.
Monday 2nd: Farnham to Gomshall 17.5 miles.
Tuesday 3rd Gomshall to Merstham 16.4 miles
Wednesday 4th Merstham to Otford 19.9 miles
Thursday 5th: Otford to Rochester 17.4 miles
Friday 6th: Rochester to Lenham 18.5 miles
Saturday 7th Lenham to Canterbury 21 miles
Sunday 8th Canterbury to Dover 19.2 miles
Stage One.
Farnham on the Hampshire/Surrey border marks the start of the event with the route beginning on Station Hill and following the banks of the River Wey out of town. The NDW then follows the Hogs Back before looping just to the south of Guildford before heading east towards Dorking. The highlight of this stage is the numerous pretty villages the route passes through. The days finish is just outside the small village of Gomshall. This first day is relatively flat. Overnight stay is likely to be in Guildford.
Stage Two.
The first serious climb of the route features today. The route continues eastward and passes through the outskirts of Dorking before hitting the toughest climb of the whole event. The nationally famous landmark of Box Hill stands 172 metres above sea level and the summit is reached after a brutally steep climb. Following that obstacle the route then winds it’s way towards Reigate going over a succession of short climbs. The finish is at Merstham opposite the Railway Arms on the aptly named Quality Street. Overnight stay in the Redhill/Gatwick area.
Stage Three.
After leaving Merstham this stage is a mixture of ancient on modern with the route passing through some lovely countryside, yet reminding us of modern day Britain is it straddles the M25. The route crosses it immediately after the start then follows it closely east past the infamous Clacket Lane services. The route is at its closest to London here and there will be frequent reminders of this throughout the day. Several key main roads must be crossed and M25 is crossed again on the very South east corner of London immediately before the stage finish in Otford outside to Woodman Pub. Overnight stay in Sevenoaks.
Stage Four.
The Medway towns are the destination today as the route continues eastwards for the first few miles, away from Otford passing within a few miles of the famous Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. The route is in Kent now and this will cross some unspoilt and quintessentially English countryside. Then we turn North East, heading directly towards Rochester and a spectacular finish on the banks of the River Medway alongside the Medway bridges. Overnight stay in Rochester.
Stage Five.
This stage gets underway with the crossing of the Medway via the pedestrian bridge that neighbours the M2 motorway crossing. Once the river is crossed, the route follows the M2 briefly before turning South East and away from the conurban sprawl that is the Medway Towns. There is a lot of interest on this stage, including Kent’s oldest village and some wonderful landmarks and Thurnham Castle. Stage finish is just outside of the small village of Lenham. Overnight stay in Ashford.
Stage Six.
Stage Six finishes at Canterbury through which the NDW passes. This will prove to be one of the highlights of the whole walk. Leaving Lenham, the route then continues South East towards the Channel Ports until the small town of Boughton-Lees. Here the NDW splits into two. The Northern Route goes to Dover via Canterbury. The Southern route is shorter and gets there via Folkestone and the Channel Tunnel terminal. But the walkers will go North East through some classic Kent countryside. This starts with Godmersham Park then numerous Apple Orchards at Old Wives Lees, followed by passing many Hop Houses before the approach to Canterbury. A great view of the Cathedral City can be had at Golden Hill, before the run in to the City and the finish in the City Centre at the Cathedral itself. Overnight stay in Canterbury.
Stage Seven.
All that is left to do now is complete the journey to the final destination: Dover. What should be a quiet Sunday morning departure from Canterbury will then take the walkers due South East through some quiet countryside. This is prairie-like flatlands with the A2 not far away and the walkers will now begin to get a feeling of finality as Dover looms closer. In fact they will hit the channel port quite abruptly, finally crossing the A2 before turning left into a specially designed run in. Instead of following the official route into a largely unspectacular finish in a soulless town centre, the new finish will take the walkers along Connaught Road, past Dover Castle and the Bleriot Memorial and up to a summit finish on top of the White Cliffs. Here at the finish, they will be able to look down on the busy Channel Port and (hopefully, weather permitting) across the channel to France, some 21 miles away. A fitting and spectacular end to a long hard seven days of walking! The walkers will then transfer back home the same evening, an hour or so after the finish.