Experience Kent by bike

The ‘Garden of England’ is densely packed with trails, quiet lanes, big-ticket sightseeing, quirky coastal towns, salubrious towns and villages, and curious one-offs. Whether you fancy an invigorating ride along the cycle paths linking colourful seaside towns, or prefer to head inland and explore the rolling green countryside of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there's lots to discover. It's a haven for food and drink connoisseurs, with a wealth of local produce to sample, vineyards galore and the pointed white tops of hop-drying oast houses peeking through the trees. 

As part of the European Regional Development Fund EXPERIENCE project, Cycling UK is working with the Kent Downs AONB to develop an official riders' route for the North Downs Way National Trail through Kent (based on Cycling UK's suggested riders' route from 2018). We're also creating cycle hub locations along the North Downs Way, with promoted routes which showcase the varied riding in the area, and supporting businesses within these hubs to become accredited Cycles Welcome locations so you know you’ll have great options for places to eat and stay.

Discover the first two hubs in Wye and Dover, with more to follow soon in Canterbury, Deal and Otford.

Wye

The medieval village of Wye, located just north-east of Ashford, has a modest 2,500 residents, yet still warmly welcomes visitors and cyclists.

With a train station and easy access just off the M20 motorway, it is well positioned to offer some wonderful adventures through the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, providing a welcome feeling of peace and tranquillity in the otherwise busy and bustling south-east corner of England.

‘Wye’, coming from the Old English Wēoh, means ‘idol’ or ‘shrine’ and Wye became an important ancient communications center because of the ford that crosses the River Great Stour. The Romans had a camp here, and through this gap in the North Downs, built roads connecting to Canterbury and Hastings.

By the time of the Saxons, Wye had become a royal manor and many of the village buildings are medieval, although often concealed by more modern facades. Until 2009 it was also home to London University’s agricultural college, with laboratories working on ground-breaking developments in plant molecular biology and gene sequencing amongst other things. It was even internationally famous for developing new and successful varieties of hops.

The village offers ample visitor facilities, providing a great base from which to explore the surrounding countryside and the rich history that the area has to offer. Our three routes from here provide a range of riding and experiences to suit leisure riders, explorers and off-road enthusiasts alike.  

Getting there

By train, Wye village has a train station just over the river, linking it with Canterbury to the north and Ashford to the south.

By road Wye is easy to access from the M20 motorway, exiting at junction 9 for Ashford. There is plenty of roadside parking, but follow the road around the village to get to a free car park, shortly before the church and Co-op.  

By bike, Wye is on Sustrans Route 18. 

Routes

Chilham (15 miles)

Exploring both sides of the River Stour valley, this is a ride that offers some lovely quiet and picturesque riding, along with a great refreshment stop in the gorgeous village of Chilham half-way around the route. 

Wye Downs (and ups) (16 miles)

This route links together a fabulous collection of off-road rights of way and quiet country lanes, to provide a lovely exploration of the countryside to the south-east of Wye village. With stunning far-reaching views from on top of the Wye Downs, to lovely woodland tracks and quiet villages, plus a thrilling descent back off the Downs, there is also the opportunity to step back in time to marvel at how this land was farmed.

Wye woodland mountain bike loop (11 miles)

Although not very long, this route packs quite a punch, with some tricky trails and 455m of steep climbs and descents along the way placing it firmly in the mountain biking category. It may only explore a small compact area, just east of Wye village, but the trails wiggle around, searching out the more fun and challenging riding, whilst also exploring some beautiful quiet countryside and some wonderful views too.

Dover

One of Britain’s best-known south coast ports, Dover stands proudly between its famous white cliffs.

Initially named Dubris by the Romans, it has long been a strategic port, located just 33km from the coast of France. During the Saxon period, Dover became a fishing port and was one of the Cinque Ports that homed England’s first long-serving Royal Navy. With its majestic castle as a coastal fortress once used to protect the whole country, along with unique wildlife and ancient woodland, Dover certainly is worth exploring beyond its busy ferry terminals. 

Our three routes explore both the rich history and countryside that this area has to offer, using ancient pilgrim routes and byways, Roman roads and new cycle paths to visit the numerous historic sights, castles and world war memorials that link long spans of history and sights together using the power of the bicycle. 

Getting there

By train, Dover Priory is the main station for Dover, a terminus of the South-east Main Line from London, with further lines connecting it with other towns along the coastline, and inland to Canterbury. 

By road, Dover is about eight miles east along the A20 from Folkestone, which sits at the end of the M20 motorway. 

By bike, Wye is on Sustrans Route 18

Routes

A Dover-Deal Sandwich (25 miles)

The ride starts from an amazing high point with wonderful views overlooking the busy Dover docks below, with boats and vehicles coming and going. You’ll be heading inland first, past Dover Castle and joining an old Roman road for a dead-straight journey northwards through the quiet countryside to Betteshanger.

Once you reach the coastline your journey becomes busy and bustling as you follow a well-surfaced cycle track southbound, alongside miles of lovely shingle beach. With plenty of worthwhile distractions along the way, from castles to ice cream and afternoon tea in china cups served from a lighthouse, it’s a quintessential English journey back to Dover, which shouldn’t be rushed.     

Kearsney and Alkham (11 miles)

This route is ideal for a gravel, touring/hybrid bike or hardtail mountain bike, with quiet single-track roads guiding you along the River Dour, and wonderful old mill, before elevating you up into the rolling hills. You will pass the local banger car racecourse, before pressing onwards to explore some quiet valleys and rougher tracks of your own, following byways and back-lanes, crossing the Alkham Valley.

After rising to the top of a hill once more, you are rewarded with a thrilling descent to finish the ride back at Kearsney Abbey, where refreshments and discovery of the beautiful gardens awaits you, to round off a wonderful day of exploring. 

Samphire Hoe (8 miles)

This route is suitable for any type of bike, including a road bike, as it follows a hard and well surfaced cycle path along the tops of the cliff, to the edge of Folkestone. With a good all-weather track and an out-and-back ride to provide easy navigation, once the climb up through the tunnel at the start is done, it is easy riding, so suitable for novice riders.

The route turns around at the Battle of Britain memorial, to provide a thought-provoking rest stop, before returning back along the coast. There is also an option at the start or finish to add a short, easy loop around the Samphire Hoe Country Park, along a cycle track, to enjoy the wildlife and plants found there too.