Shepherdswell to Dover – North Downs Way Rail Trail

ROUTE STEPS 

1. From Platform 2 take the main exit from the Shepherdswell Station, bearing right to a narrow path following metal railings. Carefully cross the road and pick up the same path running behind houses. 

2. Turn left uphill onto Church Hill. At the top, with the pub and the green on the right, bear left keeping the church in front. Keep left on Mill Lane, then turn right onto the North Downs Way (NDW) and Via Francigena (VF). Keep ahead through another 2 gates, turning right keeping to the hedge line along this field. 

3. Cross two fields and keep ahead between some small trees into the next field heading diagonally left up the next field to a small, wooded area. Pass through this following NDW/VF signs to Coldred Court Farm. Turn left through the gate with the farm and Coldred Church parallel on the right. Pass through a gate in the field bearing right to a gate in the corner of this field and onto the road, turning right. 

4. At the crossroads, cross directly over onto Singledge Lane, turning immediately left up a bank into woodland on the Waldershare Estate. Follow this path through the woods on the NDW and VF to Monumenta Romana, part of the North Downs Way Arts Trail. Keep on this path through the woods, and onto a long path, which gradually ascends across a large field. At the end of this field, bear slightly left into another large field with old trees. Head diagonally left towards the main Waldershare House buildings ahead. Follow this path, crossing the service roads to a junction of tracks and paths. Keep ahead downhill with the main building to the right. 
5. At a junction of paths with the main building now behind, turn hard right through a small avenue of trees. DO NOT follow the NDW/VF signs. This is now the alternative route to Dover. Keeping the main house and gardens on the right, follow this bridleway through a series of fields. At a gate turn left then right to follow a path between two fields. Follow this long straight path to a hedge line, turn left then right through the hedge following the path to Newsole Farm. Bear left on the bridleway behind a hedge to the right to the corner of a field where the path meets Singledge Lane. 
6. Turn left onto Singledge Lane and follow this quiet road for a few hundred yards, keeping an eye out for traffic. 

7. Pick up a footpath on therightheading up a bank into a field. Cross the field diagonally to the left (passing a house with a tall hedge) towards Temple Farm. Exit the field between trees and stay on the path with the farm on the right, bearing right on a wide track heading towards the A2. Follow this track to the underpass under the A2 and onto Lydden Temple Ewell National Nature Reserve (NNR). 

8. Turn hard left, exiting the underpass and walking parallel for a short period alongside the A2. After a short while, the fence to the right turns downhill. Follow it to a wide field gate into the main NNR. The NNR is open access with numerous paths and tracks leading down to the village. Whichever route taken, aim to exit the NNR onto London Rd to Lower Road to pick up the remainder of the route. 

9. Continue downhill through the NNR, bearing slightly left and picking up a track running behind allotments and out onto London Rd, Temple Ewell.

10. Cross the road carefully and take a right down Templar Road to Mill Street, bearing left to a junction. Turn right onto Lower Road, under the Railway Arches and onto Alkham. Either cross directly ahead into Kearsney Park or turn right and follow the pavement to the crossing. 

11. Cross the road into Kearsney Abbey and Park and follow the path to the left of the car park over the stream with the cafe and tea rooms ahead. Follow this path, keeping the buildings to the left and the lakes ahead to the right. Walk alongside the lake to the end of the park and follow the Blue River Dour Greenway signs into Dover. Take the path that leads down out of the park and into the village of River. 

12. Exit Kearsney Park by the old mill pool onto Lower Road. Pass terraced houses and the Royal Oak pub and reach Crabble Road. Cross the road right, then immediately left passing the Cricketers pub with a sports ground to the right. 

13. At the end of this road, take a left under the railway arches onto a path that runs alongside the site of the old Buckland Mill with a church on the right.

14. At the end of this path, turn left crossing the river and turning right after the old toilet block onto Buckland Avenue. Pick up a path that joins Brookfield Place then bear right onto a path between houses onto Alfred Road. Follow this down to Lorne Road. The Breakwater Brewery, Taproom & Pizzeria is on the right. 

15. Turn left on Lorne Road away from the brewery then right onto Buckland Avenue. Cross Cherry Tree Avenue and bear right, picking up the River Dour path on the left.

16. Follow the riverside path, carefully crossing a number of roads to Morrisons Supermarket. Take the path alongside the car park and pick up the path on Dour Street, turning right onto Park Street/Ladywell.

17. To visit Maison Dieu follow Ladywell to the end of the road, turn left, then follow the High Street from Maison Dieu to rejoin the route.  

If not visiting Maison Dieu take a left at the Police Station to pick up the riverside path again past the bowling club. Bear left over a bridge behind a college and exit onto Pencester Gardens, rejoining the main NDW/VF route. Follow signs through Pencester, turning right out of the park and then left at the church to come out onto Church St. Keep an eye out for the NDW/VF floor plaques through the town centre. 

18. Bear right on Castle Street with Market Square and Dover Museum to the right. Follow the pavement over Queen Street to the subway under the A2.

19. Exit the subway and head for the sea, crossing Cambridge Rd roundabout, then Marine Parade to the North Downs Way Start/Finish marker on the Seafront.

20. To get to Dover Priory Station, retrace the route to Market Square. Keep left on the pedestrianised Cannon St, continuing straight to Biggin Street until reaching a narrow lane on the left. Turn down here to St Edmund’s Chapel then turn left to the lights to cross the main road safely.  
21. Turn left towards the roundabout and head up Folkestone Road, with the road to the left, passing Dover College, the site of the old Dover Priory, until reaching Priory Station Approach Rd. Take the right branch and follow to the train station.