Canterbury Visitor Guide 2020- DIGITAL

Be inspired
BY THE ‘YEAR OF THE
PILGRIMAGE’
2020 is the ‘Year of the Pilgrimage’ and walking
trails are heartily embraced by locals and holiday
makers, with or without religion. A modern
pilgrimage is about taking time to tune into the
outdoors, fresh air, beautiful countryside and
enjoy a slower pace of life.
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There are so many trails in
Canterbury, its coast and
beyond, that you are spoilt
for choice.
The 250-mile ancient trail, called
‘The Old Way’ has recently been
re-discovered and is thought to
have been the pilgrimage King
Henry II followed, barefoot, from
Southampton to Canterbury
to repent for the murder of
Thomas Becket.
The famous ‘Pilgrims Way’
from Winchester to Canterbury
connects to the North Downs
Way and the 19-mile-long
England section of the Via
Francigena Pilgrimage Route
from Canterbury all the
way to Rome.
For shorter walks why not try…
➜ Queen Bertha’s Walk
(1.5 miles) Within Canterbury
city centre connecting the
UNESCO World Heritage
sites of Canterbury Cathedral,
St. Augustine’s Abbey and St.
Martin’s Church.
➜ Whitstable to Herne Bay
(5 miles) Walk coast to coast
for this easy going walk in either
direction and enjoy the views
out to the sea.
➜ Crab and Winkle Way
(7.5 miles) Walk the old railway
route between Canterbury and
Whitstable, (mostly off-road).
➜ Canterbury to
Shepherdswell (10.4 miles)
Walk along part of the ancient
Via Francigena Pilgrim route
to Rome, passing historical
landmarks and crossing
picturesque villages and open
fields along the way.
Leave only footsteps…
There are many public
footpaths, nature reserves
and sites of special scientific
interest surrounding
Canterbury, Whitstable and
Herne Bay and the Garden of
England title lends itself well
to walkers. Countryside walks
include Herne and West Blean
Wood walk, Reculver walk,
Thornden Woods, Stour Valley
Walk and more. Check out
these websites to find your
perfect walk!
➜ canterbury.co.uk
➜ nationaltrail.co.uk/northdowns-way
➜ explorekent.org
Tips from the locals...
Ancient Burial Mounds –
Canterbury to Sheperdswell
“On the trail approaching
Shepherdswell along Long
Lane are a series of what
appears at first glance as
humps in the tree line. On closer
inspection, you will find a line of
burial mounds thought to date
back to the Bronze Age.”
Julia Lewis, Confraternity of
Pilgrims to Rome.
Many cite the ‘Pilgrim
stone’ (or ‘zero stone’),
found in Canterbury
Cathedral precincts,
as the start or finish
of their pilgrimage
Ale on the Trail
“A good walk often ends with a
pub! For Canterbury, I like The
Foundry Brewpub and Thomas
Tallis and along the North Downs
Way, check out The Wrong Turn
(if you can find it) at Barfrestone
or the Tipsy Gardener at
Shepherdswell, which also offers
accommodation.” Peter Morris –
North Downs Way Trail Manager.
➜ DO YOU KNOW...
You can get your Pilgrim
passport stamped at the
information centre at
the Cathedral precinct?
visitcanterbury.co.uk
visitcanterbury.co.uk