North Downs Way: Tolsford Hill to Capel-le-Ferne

The Walk:We rejoin the NDW where we left off, at Tolsford Hill. The Trail traverses the open downland atop the scarp slope, a great natural corridor overlooking the manic activity at the Channel Tunnel Terminal and the town of Folkestone, and finishes at the moving National Battle of Britain Memorial overlooking the English Channel.

Channel Tunnel Terminal

Route

NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely.

Why do it?

From the map, you might think this section of the NDW has little to recommend it, passing as it does so close to the mayhem of the Channel Tunnel terminal and the outskirts of Folkestone. In fact, this is one of the most interesting walks. The path winds around several impressive dry valleys, to emerge on the steep scarp of the Cheriton Downs Nature Reserve, overlooking the Channel Tunnel rail complex, which is an impressive sight (and sound) in its own right. The downland is largely tree-free and views are expansive out to the Dungeness Nuclear Power Stations across Folkestone Bay.

NDW path contouring around to Cheriton Down

The ancient mounds on Castle Hill and the trig pillar on Crete Down are further viewpoints.

Castle Hill

The path is close to the Crete Road lane, but this is mainly shielded by hedges.

Crete Road

The NDW finally meets the coast on the cliffs at Capel-le-Ferne with views Eastwards over the Warren undercliff.

Clifftop path at Capel-le-Ferne

The walk ends at the National Battle of Britain Memorial, where a statue of a seated airman looks wistfully out across the Channel.

Airman, Battle of Britain Memorial

Logistics:

I parked in the small car parking area next to the Tolsford Hill Transmitter, reached via Westfield Lane in Etchingham.

Car park, Tolsford Hill

From the bus stop outside the B of B Memorial, the regular 102 bus will take you to Folkestone Bus Station, where you can change to the 17 bus (to Canterbury), which stops at the bottom of Westfield Lane in Etchingham.

Folkestone Bus Station, Bus to Etchingham waiting

You could also combine this section with the previous one from Wye.

Distance:

8 miles along the NDW from Tolsford Hill to the B of B Memorial. (20 miles in total if combined with the previous section from Wye.)

Challenges:

Expect mud in winter and after rain. In summer, sections of the path get overgrown. As well as impeding progress, this increases the risk of a tick bite, so it may be wise to wear long trousers and short sleeves if you can bear it on a hot day.

Overgrown path (after passing under dismantled railway; easily bypassed in this case by grassy meadow)

The path follows close to Crete Road West: this is a quiet lane most of the time, but if Dover and Folkestone are suffering one of their holiday traffic melt-downs, this road is used as a rat-run by vehicles following satnav, and gets hopelessly gummed up.

Refreshments:

Pub near the start in Etchingham. Cockpit Cafe at the B of B Memorial, and numerous places in Folkestone (especially around the harbour). Otherwise, no options in between.

Nearby Walks:

For an overview map of all my walks along the North Downs Way see this page.

Previous section: Wye to Tolsford Hill

Next section: Capel-le-Ferne to Dover

More Photos

Sunny day in early August