NCN 18 - Canterbury to Royal Tunbridge Wells

102.8 km 1218 m climbing About 2 days 16% off road Road cycling London & South East

The route runs from Canterbury west to Royal Tunbridge Wells across the Kent Downs and the High Weald, so the terrain rises as you go.

The Kent Downs section is relatively contained, but by the time you reach the Weald the climbing comes in repeated short pitches through Pembury, Brenchley and Riseden. About sixteen percent of the surface is off road. The line passes through a long run of small settlements before the towns close in at Ashford and again at Tunbridge Wells.

The figures

Distance	102.8 km
Climbing	1218 m
Off road	17 km, about 16% of the route
Riding time	about 7 hours, roughly 2 days at a moderate pace
Region	London & South East
Route from	Sustrans

Worth knowing before you go

Ashford is the main resupply point and sits roughly three-quarters of the way along from Canterbury; Wye, Chilham and Chartham are on the line before it and carry you through the quieter eastern half. The stretch between Iden Green and High Halden is the longest gap between settlements and the one place where the route is genuinely remote. Navigation through the Tunbridge Wells end is more involved, with Groombridge, Nevill Park, Ramslye and Hawkenbury all close together in a short distance.

Put your own dates on this and TourTrax splits it into days at your pace, finds somewhere to sleep at the end of each one, estimates what it will cost and gets you to the start without flying.

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Other route guides

NCN 18 - Canterbury to Royal Tunbridge Wells is an official route from Sustrans (their website).