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Kent Downs National Landscape

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Chalk hills, ancient pathways, and countryside shaped by history

Rolling chalk downs, wooded valleys, orchards, and historic villages create a landscape that stretches across much of Kent from the White Cliffs of Dover to the Surrey border. Shaped by farming, trade, and centuries of travel, the Kent Downs National Landscape offers a network of routes through some of South East England's most distinctive countryside.

Long-distance trails such as the North Downs Way, Pilgrims' Way, Greensand Way, and Saxon Shore Way pass through the landscape, linking places including Dover, Canterbury, Folkestone, Wye, Maidstone, and Sevenoaks. Chalk ridges, woodland tracks, farmland paths, and quiet country lanes reveal changing views across the Weald, the English Channel, and the surrounding countryside, creating journeys closely connected to the history and character of Kent.

Whether following an ancient pilgrimage route, exploring chalk escarpments, or walking between villages and historic towns, the Kent Downs rewards time spent on foot. Seasonal landscapes, rich heritage, and a remarkable network of routes make it one of England's most rewarding destinations for self-guided travel.

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Trails

Greensand Way

Wooded hills, heathland commons, and quiet ridge paths across southern England, following the Greensand Ridge from Haslemere in Surrey to Hamstreet in Kent.

Saxon Shore Way

Saltmarsh estuaries, shingle beaches, white cliffs, and historic ports shape the Saxon Shore Way, following England’s ancient coastal frontier between Gravesend and Hastings along Kent and Sussex shores.

Pilgrims’ Way

Walk the Pilgrims’ Way from Winchester to Canterbury through the North Downs, linking historic towns, churches, and chalk landscapes on a long-distance self-guided travel route.