page_title: North Downs Way
section_title: Geology
hierarchical_section_title: North Downs Way / Geology
caption_attribution_description: English: This is part of File:Geological map of Great Britain.jpg.
context_page_description: The North Downs Way National Trail is a long-distance path in southern England, opened in 1978. It runs from Farnham to Dover, past Guildford, Dorking, Merstham, Otford and Rochester, along the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Kent Downs AONB.
context_section_description: As the pathway runs through the higher parts of the downland, the trail and surrounding countryside are characterised by chalk-based soil and calcareous grassland with broadleaf woodland on the upper slopes. It reflects the underlying sedimentary chalk deposits on the highest parts of the trail. There is livestock grazing on the lower slopes with clay soil and crop agriculture predominant in the valleys.
caption: Geology of the South East: chalk is light green