Known as The Garden of England, this corner of Kent is a pretty and rural area dotted with orchards and small farms. But on this tour you will discover it offers so much more. From the chalk downs to the coast, medieval towns to trendy seaside spots, vineyards to art galleries and castles to gardens your route leads you through all the wonderful variety of this unhurried region and includes a stay in stunning Leeds Castle.
Cycling along valleys, beside the sea, atop the downs and across ancient marshland, there's bundles to explore with characterful overnight stops brimming with local colour. We are great fans of this locale and so we can't recommend it enough!
Holiday details
Price
- Classic
-
from £1,695 per person
Monday start - Luxury
-
from £3,200 per person
Thursday start
Based on two people sharing a room
What’s included?
Entrance to Leeds Castle and grounds on days 7 and 8. Luxury tour includes 1 dinner. See what’s included as standard
Duration
8 nights
Start & Finish
Classic starts Monday, luxury starts Saturdays and is circular from Canterbury. Other start days maybe available.
Hotels
- Classic
-
Three small hotels, an inn and a stay within Leeds Castle grounds
- Luxury
-
Two 4 star hotels, a very special boutique hotel, a restaurant with rooms and a stay within Leeds Castle grounds
Holiday type
Self-guided
This tour is priced without a guide and you are free to explore on your own. If you would like a guide for part or all of your trip, we are happy to provide a knowledgeable, local guide
Activity level
Not so gentle cycling. More info...
Electric bikes
Available
Mileage
7 days of cycling 20 - 42 miles (32 - 67 km) per day
Terrain
A few hills on most days
Traffic-free
Very little traffic
Options
- Additional nights enroute
- Cycle on to London
Itinerary day-by-day
Classic
-
1. Day one
Canterbury
Arrive in Canterbury and check into your hotel in the heart of the city. There's so much to explore in this astounding heritage city with its magnificent cathedral, and many museums. Collect your bicycles from our base nearby so if you wish, you can enjoy the main sights by taking our city centre bike tour. )
3 miles (5 km
-
2. Day two
Canterbury to Sandwich
Your host will meet you after breakfast and run through your tour itinerary. Then you are off to cycle east to the coast. Ride through orchards and a rolling landscape of villages to reach the characterful old ports of Deal and Sandwich. Cycle adjacent to the shore, take in the castles, and explore the fascinating history of these Cinque port towns. Your stay for the next two nights is in a riverside hotel in the heart of medieval Sandwich.
32 miles (51 km)
-
3. Day three
Circular Ride from Sandwich Around the Coast
Today's ride is a fantastic breeze around the coast cycling adjacent to the sea for most of the day. Although you pedal inland to begin with, breakwaters, beaches, cliffs and stunning views are the order of the day. Take in the new Turner gallery at Margate, delightful Broadstairs and the regency charm of Ramsgate before returning to Sandwich.
Optional 32 miles (52 km)
-
4. Day four
Sandwich to Chartham Hatch
Heading towards Canterbury, there's flat riding above the Stour marshes and dotted villages to enjoy. Visit a vineyard to taste the local product and swan around the gardens of Goodestone Park. As you approach the Kent Downs and some hills, the scene changes, ever rural and charming. Then cross the River Stour and reach your hotel where you will stay for the next two nights.
34 miles (54 km)
-
5. Day five
Circular Ride from Chartham Hatch
Riding through woodland bridleways and valleys within the South Downs you will experience another unique landscape. The rolling and often steep chalk downs house pretty villages and hamlets in their cosy valleys with Wye a lovely destination. Turn around here if you are not a serious cyclist who loves steep hills or do not have an E bike! Beyond Wye there's a long and steep climb, glorious hidden valleys dotted with hamlets and a remote church, sheltered by woods. Enjoy great views too and stop in attractive Elham for a well earned refreshment before climbing up the Minnis and heading home through woodland downs.
Optional 18 or 31 miles (29 or 49 km)
-
6. Day six
Chartham Hatch to Faversham
Today is full of variety as you cycle along the willow filled meadows of the River Stour and skirt Canterbury. Then pedal along the old Crab and Winkle railway line which leads you to Whitstable where you can savour their catch of oysters and enjoy a craft shop or two. There's wonderful seaside cycling from there for a while before you pick up the old Saxon Shoreline to arrive in Faversham. With 500 listed buildings, a brewery and a fascinating creek at its heart, this is a historic town with much to explore.
20 or 36 miles (32 or 57 km)
-
7. Day seven
Faversham to Leeds Castle
This day is another different scene with a very gradual and beautiful ride into the Downs along forgotten back lanes. Villages are well spaced amongst the orchards but there are some cracking pubs with The Ringlestone Inn a triumph. Tear yourself from lunch for a refreshing freewheel down to Leeds Castle where you spend a magnificent night in the stable courtyard. Today's shorter distance gives you time to explore the castle and after the crowds have left, enjoy the grounds and a knight's dinner.
18 miles (28 km)
-
8. Day eight
Leeds Castle to Canterbury
Pedalling back to Canterbury takes you cross country through the downs and their leafy lanes and tiny villages to the stunning and historic village of Chilham, a good place to pause for lunch. The rolling landscape is often wooded and always beautiful with the final few miles along the Stour valley being flat and traffic free. You will return to the heart of Canterbury having experienced all the wonderful variety that Kent and its 'garden' have to offer.
27 miles (43 km)
-
9. Day nine
Depart Canterbury
Depart at your leisure.
Luxury
-
1. Day one
Canterbury
Arrive in Canterbury and check into your hotel in the heart of the city. There's so much to explore in this astounding heritage city with its magnificent cathedral, and many museums. Your bicycles will be waiting for you at the hotel so if you wish, you can enjoy the main sights by taking our city centre bike tour.
3 miles (5 km
-
2. Day two
Canterbury to Sandwich
Your host will meet you after breakfast and run through your tour itinerary. Then you are off to cycle east to the coast. Ride through orchards and a rolling landscape of villages to reach the characterful old ports of Deal and Sandwich. Cycle adjacent to the shore, take in the castles, and explore the fascinating history of these Cinque port towns. Your stay for the next two nights is at The Bell, overlooking the River Stour in the heart of medieval Sandwich.
32 miles (51 km)
-
3. Day three
Circular Ride from Sandwich Around the Coast
Today's ride is a fantastic breeze around the coast cycling adjacent to the sea for most of the day. Although you pedal inland to begin with, breakwaters, beaches, cliffs and stunning views are the order of the day. Take in the new Turner gallery at Margate, delightful Broadstairs and the regency charm of Ramsgate before returning to Sandwich.
Optional 32 miles (52 km)
-
4. Day four
Sandwich to Bridge
Heading towards Canterbury, there's flat riding above the Stour marshes and dotted villages to enjoy. Visit a vineyard to taste the local product and swan around the gardens of Goodestone Park. As you approach the Kent Downs and some hills, the scene changes, ever rural and charming until you arrive at your characterful manor house hotel where you will stay for the next two nights.
26 miles (42 km)
-
5. Day five
Circular ride from Bridge
Riding along two valleys within the South Downs you will experience another unique landscape. The rolling and sometimes steep chalk downs house pretty villages and hamlets in their cosy valleys with Elham a lovely destination. Climb up the Minnis beyond and enjoy views from the top of the downs. Those who are not serious cyclists, enjoying steep hills or an E bike should pass on the detour to Wye and head home along peaceful country lanes and idyllic dry valleys. Those speeding down into Wye will enjoy this lovely destination before a long and steep climb back up the downs through woodlands and hamlets to rejoin the route home in Petham.
Optional 22 or 32 miles (35 or 51 km)
-
6. Day six
Bridge to Faversham
Today is full of variety as you cycle along the willow filled meadows of the River Stour and skirt Canterbury. Then pedal along the old Crab and Winkle railway line which leads you to Whitstable where you can savour their catch of oysters and enjoy a craft shop or two. There's wonderful seaside cycling from there for a while before you pick up the old Saxon Shoreline to arrive in Faversham. With 500 listed buildings, a brewery and a fascinating creek at its heart, this is a historic town with much to explore.
24 or 40 miles (38 or 64 km)
-
7. Day seven
Faversham to Leeds Castle
This day is another different scene with a very gradual and beautiful ride into the Downs along forgotten back lanes. Villages are well spaced amongst the orchards but there are some cracking pubs with The Ringlestone Inn a triumph. Tear yourself from lunch for a refreshing freewheel down to Leeds Castle where you spend a magnificent night in the stable courtyard. Today's shorter distance gives you time to explore the castle and after the crowds have left, enjoy the grounds and a knight's dinner.
18 miles (28 km)
-
8. Day eight
Leeds Castle to Canterbury
Pedalling back to Canterbury takes you cross country through the downs and their leafy lanes and tiny villages to the stunning and historic village of Chilham, a good place to pause for lunch. The rolling landscape is often wooded and always beautiful with the final few miles along the Stour valley being flat and traffic free. You will return to the heart of Canterbury having experienced all the wonderful variety that Kent and its 'garden' have to offer.
27 miles (43 km)
-
9. Day nine
Depart Canterbury
Depart at your leisure, your cycling equipment will be collected from your hotel.