Announced in 2018, the 246km North Downs Way riders' route was finally completed in November. Simply because everyone else is probably waiting for kinder weather, our VecchioJo recently became one of the first to ride the full official route... cycling
I probably should have been paying more attention when I got sent the information about a new trail being launched, as I didn’t realise I would be test riding it right away... in December, in the UK.
Work began on creating the Riders’ Route in 2018, and it’s recently benefitted from investment thanks to funding from the European Regional Development Fund EXPERIENCE project allowing for improvement and enhancement works to be carried out by Kent Downs Area Of Natural Beauty, which should make it even more accessible for those on two wheels.
We’ve assigned three days to do the trip as we have to juggle daylight, possible weather, slower riding conditions, booked accommodation and days off.and the incredibly popular King Alfred’s Way, these routes aren’t just about getting from the beginning to the end as fast as possible. It’s also about enjoying the riding and the countryside, and stopping frequently to enjoy what you’re pedalling past.
While the South Downs Way is one of the classic mountain bike rides to do, it’s 100 miles of undulating whaleback hills, and under a sea of blue sky it's a doable challenge in one long day in the summer; for the hardcore, a there-and-back double could even be a thing. Crucially it's all rideable bridleway, while the North Downs Way, a mere 30 miles to the north, never really gets much of a look in.
Heading out of town the wiggly way and then hitting dirt seems to be a traditional start to any adventure, and our first day is a feisty 100km. Luckily both Claire and I are used to longer hours in the saddle and facing up to a bit of just-getting-on-with-it, and we’ve packed our bags with kit to cope with anything the weather might surprise upon us. And plenty of snacks, of course.
Either bike would be fine, ride what you have and all that, but in the summer with drier trails a gravel bike would be good for the whole ride. A bit of tongue-out concentration might be required in places, and I’d suggest the biggest tyres you can fit for some of the more technical sections, but if you’d still prefer a mountain bike then you’ll appreciate some quicker rolling tyres over your sticky gnarfest rubber.
We drop down through Denbies Wine Estate, but miss the turning for the underpass so fumble across the busy A24 to the base of Box Hill. We avoid the road bike stravafest of the popular climb and turn right onto the steeper, rougher and harder off- road chalk track.
The route climbs harshly out of the town, and from here to where we’re staying for the night is lumpy Wealden terrain that doesn’t care how tired you are. We’re off and pushing several times, the steepness of the hills, depth of sticky fallen leaves and frequency of stuttering hidden ruts putting pay to any pedalling.
This bed doesn’t come with breakfast, so it’s a quick google and a mini detour off route after a few miles of pedalling into the next morning to the Teal Cafe for a Full English, all the hot drinks and not quite ready for the cold quite yet. Lunch was instantly absorbed into our bodies, which was lucky as immediately afterwards we had to face two of the steepest climbs of the trip in quick succession.
The proximity to Canterbury means the paths are very friendly under the tyres, as we follow the Pilgrims Way that undulates easily along field edges, and for large parts tunnels through tree cover designed to keep the devout in the shade over the last few centuries. It also keeps the weather off waterproof-layered cyclists, as we discovered, and is a path that’s been trodden deep into the countryside.
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