Cycling the Garden of England – orchards, cliffs and maritime history

Fruit trees laden with ripe treasures line fertile farmland, castles stand proudly in acres of cultivated parkland, wildflowers bring colour to sprawling marshlands by the sea – Kent is called the ‘Garden of England’ for good reason.

The Garden of England Cycle Route takes you from the heart of London to Hastings, exploring beautiful corners of the South East. This diverse region offers everything from flat grasslands to towering cliffs as you ride 193 miles (311 km) over 7 stages.

The stages in this Collection average 28 miles (45 km) in length, which should give you plenty of time to explore the sites along the way. Of course, if you want to complete the route in fewer days, you can easily adjust them as you wish.

You are never far from a hotel, train station, or hot coffee so you can be completely flexible and hop in a pub if the weather turns. There's also plenty of accommodation available, ranging from hotels to hosts on Warmshowers (warmshowers.org/).

Your adventure takes you through green countryside inland to the dramatic coastline overlooking the Channel. Cycling along the spectacular White Cliffs of Dover, which have welcomed travellers to England for centuries, is a unique experience on a bicycle.

You can ride the Garden of England Cycle Route at any time of year, although summer is your best bet for sunny days – perfect for enjoying an ice cream on one of the many beaches.

With only a few hillier sections along the coast, this route is fairly flat most of the way, so it is the perfect choice for all ability levels, even if your muscles need awakening from hibernation.

If you plan to cycle with your kids, you may want to consider avoiding central London. Instead, you could start from stage 2 in Gravesend. Although the route avoids roads where possible, your children should have some experience riding in traffic.

The route follows traffic-free trails, bridleways, and gravel tracks such as the Crab and Winkle Way almost half of the way. Whilst most of the cycle paths are paved, you will encounter some gravel and mud, so leave your thin racing tyres at home. Other than that, any type of bike is up for the job. There are also plenty of bike shops en route in case you experience a mechanical failure.

Thanks to its location on the south-easterly tip of the British Isles, Kent has a uniquely diverse history. The towns of Hastings, New Romney, Dover, Rye, and Sandwich, which once formed the Cinque Ports, lie en route. Once important trading and military ports, these towns were rife with smugglers many centuries ago. Further inland, you visit the UNESCO city of Canterbury, known for its cathedral and Roman heritage.

Your adventure begins in central London, making it convenient to reach by train from across the UK. You can also easily catch a train home from Hastings, the finishing point, too. Alternatively, how about following the Downs and Weald Way all the way back to London to finish on two wheels?

For more information about the Downs and Weald Way, visit: komoot.com/collection/905482/from-london-to-the-sea-a-great-adventure-on-the-downs-and-weald-way