The North Downs are a range of hills that run east-west from the south-east tip of England, at Dover in Kent, to Farnham in Surrey. They skirt the southern edge of London, so for a long time have offered Londoners beautiful countryside to escape to, or for a home to commute to work from. A hundred years ago, they were still quite remote, but London has grown, spreading onto Downland, and rail and road links have ensured that the many towns across the hills have also grown substantially in size. Despite development there is still a lot of unspoilt landscape, from farmland, to deep woods, to open grassland ridges with fantastic views across the weald of Surrey and Kent; and it is these places that are the focus of this book. North Downs Landscapes takes the reader on a journey from the White Cliffs of Dover, through the rolling Kentish farm land with its open vistas and small villages, across the River Medway at Rochester, with its' castle and cathedral, on to the wooded ridges past Sevenoaks, into Surrey and across the River Mole to explore Leith Hill, then to Guildford and the River Wey, and over the Hogs Back to Farnham.

The core of this book are beautiful full-page colour photographs illustrating the beauty and distinctive landscapes of the Downs. The text explores the history, geography, geology and ecology of the countryside and some of its towns and villages. Together photographs and text capture the character and atmosphere of a special part of the British Isles.


About the Author
Doug Kennedy is a photographer and life-long lover of nature and the English countryside. He has been a biology teacher, writer and performer of guitar music, and latterly a computer programmer. He has walked through great swathes of Britain, Ireland and also the United States, France and Australia and is a talented landscape and nature photographer. He now concentrates on his photography and campaigning on environmental issues, and has previously published two books on the English countryside: Chiltern Landscapes and An English Village Idyll.

Reviews
It will increase everyone's little bit of knowledge about Kent and Surrey's background - you might think you know your county - think again. And if you do buy this book (and I do recommend it) you will find yourself going back to it again and again because... the images of towns and villages, rolling hills and woods, wild flowers, fruits, and butterflies, and, yes, even a motorway are exceptionally reviewable. * Kent History Journal *



Book Information
ISBN 9781909686588
Author Doug Kennedy
Format Hardback
Page Count 104
Imprint Windgather Press
Publisher Windgather Press