Introduction:

The North Downs Way is 153 miles long. It runs from Farnham on the edge of the Surrey Hills to Dover. The route follows ancient trackways along the chalk ridges and wooded downland of Surrey and Kent through Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, grazing the southern edge of greater London and ending at the celebrated White Cliffs, with an optional loop via Canterbury. It was opened as a National Trail in 1978. For much of its length the Way parallels the old Pilgrim's Way route between Winchester and Canterbury. Much of the traditional route of the Pilgrim's Way is now part of the modern road network and walkers wishing to follow it are advised to use the North Downs Way as an alternative.(Extract adapted from Ramblers Association)

The best web sites for General Information and Planning:

Ramblers Association A comprehensive site providing details on the route. Includes an accommodation guide, booking service providers, maps required.
South East National Trails This Official site for the walk is comprehensive with lots of useful information on the route. Has just about everything needed for planning the walk.

The best web sites for Guided Walking:

Walkawhile provide a self guided or accompanied walking option for the Pilgrim's Way 'Rochester to Canterbury' section of the walk. Accommodation can be arranged too.

The web sites that organise your accommodation and baggage transfer:

Contours Full range of self guided walking services.
Xplore Britain Full range of self guided walking services.

The best web sites for you to plan your accommodation:

S H Systems Excellent range of accommodation. Just type in the location to bring up a list of accommodation in the area. You can sort them by price, postcode rating or self catering.
South East National Trails The site has an extensive list of accommodation providers.
Ramblers Association Includes a comprehensive web listing of accommodation.

(Note - finding suitable walkers accommodation on the web is a minefield. It is best to search for accommodation by searching for it in a specific place. If you don't then you will spend ages wasting your time trawling large databases and getting nowhere fast. I have done so many times. In my experience S H Systems has proved to be most useful)

The best personal journals of the walk:

Kevan Wilkinson Kevan has put a superb report together, the best on the web.
Bob Barton Bob pens a short report on the walk.
Sara Davies Sara says "A group of us walked the NDW this year (2007). There are some really nice photos taken by one of my walking companions. If you have time, do dip into it." It is a nice report on the walk.

The sites for safety advice and emergency services:

Ramblers Association Practical walking advice including a guide to map reading, navigation and a detailed list of the essential gear required on a long distance walk.
Ramblers Association Essential safety guide with clear web site navigation.
Mountain Rescue UK You may need them so take their advice.

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