Pilgrims' Way Walking Holiday, Kent, England
Explore hidden Kent, walking Belloc's 'Old Road' along the North Downs Ridge to Canterbury. Discover neolithic megaliths, castle ruins, iron-age forts and the fact and fiction of this pre-historic trackway and its links with medieval pilgrimage.
From £438 based on two people sharing (£21 per day single persons supplement)
Greentraveller's Top Tips: If you arrive early in Rochester and have time to spare before starting this historic walking holiday, we recommend exploring the Rochester Castle. One of the finest and best-preserved examples of Norman architechure in England! If you fancy it, the castle grounds are a great place for a picnic lunch. In Canterbury, the Good Food Cafe above the Canterbury Wholefoods is a excellent choice for a tasty lunch of fresh organic and local produce before your train onwards.
Details of Pilgrim's Way Walking Holiday
This is by far, Walk Awhile's most popular walking holiday with walkers coming from all over the world to walk the 'Old Road' to Canterbury. Staying in old Inns and Guest Houses along the trail, the walk commences from the cathedral town of Rochester with its Norman Castle and Cathedral and follows the steps of ancient travellers through the ages.
Along the trail you will visit the Neolithic megaliths at Bluebell Hill, explore the ruins of Thurnham Castle; you can visit Leeds Castle - considerd to be England's most beautifull moated castle - and detour through the grounds of Godmersham Park where Jane Austen kept house for her brother and was inspirational for works such as Mansfield Park.
On the last day you pass through the earth works of Bigbury Iron-age fort, where Ceasar defeated the Belgic tribes in 54BC; visit the Black Prices Well from where Henry II commenced his penitent walk to Canterbury and meander through the village that Chaucer mentions in the Manciple's Tale as 'Bobbe-up and Down'.
Your final night is spent in accommodation situated in the heart of medieval Canterbury close to the cathedral and its city walls. Self-led or guided staying in historic Inns and Guest House along the trail, commencing on any day of your choice with 5 nights accommodation; 4 days walking ( approx' 45 miles); 6 days inc arrival and departure day.
Walk Awhile also offers a 14 day Trekker option weighted towards B&B accommodation for those wishing to walk the whole 130 miles between Winchester and Canterbury.
What price includes
- Accommodation in inns and guest houses
- Cooked breakfasts & locally sourced packed packed lunches
- Explorer maps, guidebooks for duration of walk
- Luggage transfer, morning route talk , mobile phone support
Location
Plan your journey by train
Meeting point:
Rochester train station where guests can take short taxi ride or walk to first night's hotel. Someone from Walk Awhile meets you at the station to help with luggage.
Rochester
Transfer to meeting point:
Guests make their own way to meeting point
Very short taxi ride or walk to and from accommodation. We meet walkers at station and help with luggage transfers.
Plan your journey by train
Finish point:
Falstaff Tap Hotel Canterbury situtated within 5 minsutes walk from Canterbury West railway staion or 15 minutes walk from Canterbury East railway station.
Canterbury East and Canterbury West as above
Transfer to finish point:
Guests make their own way to station
Very short taxi ride or walk to and from accommodation. Walk Awhile will help guest with luggage transfers.
