The Walk: Starting at Canterbury Cathedral, this section of the North Downs Way heads South East following the Via Francigena, the ancient pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome, passing a number of pilgrimage churches along the way..
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| There are helpful Via Francigena info boards at key locations |
Route
NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely.
From Canterbury Cathedral, where we left off the previous stage of the NDW, head down Burgate passing through the city walls and on down Church Street to emerge on Longport beside the modern brick wall bounding the ruins of St Augustine's Monastery. Carry on along Longport (A257) and take Spring Lane on the right.
Here you pick up NDW signs (also signed as Via Francigena), and follow the route on metalled roads and tracks to the village of Patrixbourne. Here, the NDW climbs across country, following close to, or overlooking, the A2 for some way.
Having crossed the (busy) Adisham Road, calm returns and byways are followed through the hamlet of Womanswold and village of Woolage before finally ascending to Shepherdswell village green.
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| Signing of the Via Francigena in Canterbury, though today you will go only as far as Shepherdswell, rather than Rome |
Why do it?
Numerous historic buildings record the history of the Pilgrimage route. In Canterbury you start at the Cathedral (can't miss it; £18 entry charge), then pass the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey (English Heritage) and St Martin's Church, said to be "the oldest church in the English speaking world", with walls dating back to Roman times and the base from which Augustine started his missionary work in 597 CE.
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| Ruins of St Augustine's Monastery |
There are pilgrimage churches at Patrixbourne and Womenswold, with attractive villages to match.
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| Norman Romanesque carved South doorway, Patrixbourne Church |
Whilst not as scenic as the main NDW along Wye Downs, there are some good views.
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| Looking back to the Cathedral |
There are two commissioned art works along the way. A welcome bench, "Sedile Francigena", comprises a relief map of the Pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome.
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| Sedile Francigena bench |
On the village green at Woolage, "After The Black Gold" is a wooden shelter with carved panels dedicated to the mining communities of the long-gone Kent coalfields. It is quite strange to think of this being a mining area, and Woolage being a 'mining village'.
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| Wood panels, Woolage |
Logistics:
Start: Canterbury Cathedral, a half mile walk from either of Canterbury's two stations (East or West). If coming by car, it may be most convenient to park at Canterbury East station, to which you will return by train from Shepherdswell. Note that the station car park can be full, in which case try one of the other public City car parks. Longport next to St Augustine's Monastery is conveniently on the route, and has no time limit. Like all rail and city car parks these days, expect high parking charges (capped at £20 in Longport in Spring 2025).
Finish: Shepherdswell village green. Get the train back from Shepherdswell Station direct to Canterbury East.
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| Train arriving at Shepherdswell |
Distance: Say half a mile to get to the Cathedral from the station or your parked car, about 12 miles along the NDW from Cathedral to village green, plus about a half mile from the village green to Shepherdswell Station.
Challenges:
There seem to be no NDW signs in Canterbury, so check the route map carefully. Signs for the Via Francigena start at St Augustine's Monastery, and the route is signed jointly from Spring Lane on.
The scenery is perhaps a little disappointing compared to the main route along Wye Downs. The terrain is 'rolling' agricultural fields, rather than a scarp slope with far reaching views over patchwork fields, orchards and vineyards. The route is on tarmac through the City suburbs, then metalled lanes and tracks all the way to just before Patrixbourne, albeit traffic- (and mud-) free.
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| Metalled track leading out of Canterbury |
Just before Patrixbourne, you must walk at the edge of the busy road on a blind bend which is quite dangerous, take great care.
Between Patrixbourne and the Adisham Road, the route is beside or near the busy A2 trunk road, although latterly climbing away from the noise on open downland. There are views Southwards over the A2 and the valley of the diminutive River Nail Bourne, although the slope and/or hedgerows block views Northwards, until, nearing the Adisham Road, far reaching views finally open out over North Kent.
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| Some of the route is near the A2 trunk road |
Adisham Road is very busy: cross with care.
Refreshments:
Plenty of options in Canterbury town centre.
Pub on the village green at Shepherdswell. Also Tea and snacks at nearby Fry's Farm Shop
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| Fry's Farm Shop, Shepherdswell |
Nearby Walks:
For an overview map of all my walks along the North Downs Way see this page.
Previous section: Wye to Canterbury
Next section: Shepherdswell to Dover
More Photos
Bright but cold day, mid-March
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| Longport Car Park |
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| St Augustine's Abbey |
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| Canterbury City Walls |
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| St Martin's Church |
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| Suburbs of Canterbury |
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| NDW leaves Canterbury along this lane |
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| Typical countryside en route |
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| Route signing: top blue roundel = joint NDW/VF; middle roundel: Elham Valley Way; lower sign: Cycle Route 16; side roundel: bridleway (blue), or Byway (red) |
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| Catkins |
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| Lane dwon to Patrixbourne |
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| Nasty blind bend with no pavement, Patrixbourne |
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| Old oast houses, Patrixbourne |
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| Side door, Patrixbourne Church |
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| Patrixbourne Church |
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| NDW leaves tarmac just after Patrixbourne |
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| View over Bifrons Park |
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| Path above the A2 cutting |
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| A2 trunk road |
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| NDW climbs away from the road |
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| Tree line |
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| NDW takes the less pronounced path to the left, leading to the Sedile Francigena Bench |
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| Sedile Francigena Bench |
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| Sedile Francigena Bench: detail showing the pigrimage route heading South from England |
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| View across North Kent from footpath behind the bench |
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| Hedgerow |
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| View over N Kent |
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| Spring blossom |
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| More spring blossom |
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| View over N Kent from near the Adisham Road |
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| Womenswold Church |
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| Womenswold |
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| After the Black Gold, Woolage |
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| Panels depicting coal mining in the Kent coalfields |
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| Woolage, former coalmining village |
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| Panel depicting coal mining in the Kent coalfields |
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| Long Lane up Three Barrows Down |
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| One of the Barrows on Three Barrows Hill |
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| Crossing the Dover-Canterbury railway |
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| Shepherdswell Heritage Railway (served coal mines) |
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| Shepherdswell Church |
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| Shepherdswell village green |
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