Local councils and Sustrans have recently conducted a survey of a potential North Downs Cycle Route. As a local Sustrans volunteer ranger, I assisted with some of the survey work, checking out the viability of following the North Downs Way itself up to the Surrey/Kent border. Sustrans have put together a tentative route from Farnham to Canterbury. They organised a 'pioneer' ride this weekend to check it out, and I joined in for the three day trip as follows (see map below): the route we cycled is in
blue and
red. (Afternote: In December 2018, Cycling UK proposed a route which endeavours to stay off-road as much as possible, and is hence rather more circuitous: I compare it to the Sustrans route in
this blogpost.)
The route comprised:
- Day 1: Farnham railway station - National Cycle Route 22 to Guildford - 'ridge' of the North Downs via Newlands Corner, Ranmore, Box Hill, Reigate Hill to Gatton Park, nr Redhill
- Day 2: Along North Downs to Knockholt, descend to Otford, Pilgrims Way to Bluebell Hill, near Rochester
- Day 3: Pilgrims Way/North Downs Way to Wye, then National Cycle Route 18 to Canterbury
The weather forecast predicted wet weather, but mercifully, this proved inaccurate, and we had mainly dry even sunny weather. All in all, this will make an excellent long distance route on tracks and mainly quite roads, with some great viewpoints. There are some short stretches on busy main roads, and some of the trackways are quite rough, requiring a mountain bike and some care (potholes, mud, overgrowing vegetation). It is to be hoped that Sustrans will be successful in obtaining permission to make the route official, erect suitable signage and, in the longer term, improve the off-road surfaces. I particularly enjoyed the new cycle path which has been laid on Route 18 between Wye and Canterbury, which provides several miles of traffic free cycling through pleasant woodland, entering the city beside the River Stour.
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| On the Town Bridge in Guildford |
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| At Bluebell Hill |
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| Pilgrims Way in Kent |
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| Arrived at Canterbury Cathedral |
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