Dover to Dorking Robust Ramble
A 116-mile long-distance footpath through Kent and Surrey crossing the Kent Downs AONB, the Low Weald, and the river valleys of the East Stour, Beult, Medway, Eden, and Mole, ending with hillier sections in the Surrey Hills to reach Dorking. With map, statistics, and GPX route file.
Statistics and Files
Grid Ref: TR 316 415
Distance: 116 miles (186 km)
Time: 48–58 hours
Duration: 7–11 days
Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps (1:25,000):
136 High Weald, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst and Bewl Water
137 Ashford, Headcorn, Chilham and Wye
138 Dover, Folkestone and Hythe
146 Dorking, Box Hill and Reigate
147 Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Royal Tunbridge Wells and Westerham
Summary
The Dover to Dorking Robust Ramble is a long-distance walking route through Kent and Surrey which roughly follows a line parallel to the London to Dover Railway. It was devised by Colin Bridge, Local Footpaths Officer for the Ramblers’ Association. This walk was inspired after he experienced the thrill of long-distance walking while completing the Sussex Border Path. He followed a useful format of day sections so those not able to complete the walk as one long-distance path may complete it in piecemeal sections on several occasions. The Robust Rambles website has detailed route descriptions for both directions, enabling circular walks of the full daisy-chain route — in total over 200 miles of walking across 52 sections. From Dover, the east–west route crosses the Kent Downs AONB and the Low Weald, often in the river valleys of the East Stour, Beult, Medway, Eden, and Mole, ending with hillier sections in the Surrey Hills to reach Dorking. The larger towns are avoided except for station access; the route passes around Ashford, Paddock Wood, and Edenbridge, and uses the riverside route along the Medway through Tonbridge. (Source: LDWA)