The North Downs Way, the 153 mile long National Trail which passes through Surrey and Kent, recently celebrated its 30th birthday with a special event at Withersdane Hall near Wye on Saturday 13 September 2008.

The celebrations included a series of guided walks which showcased the range and beauty of the landscapes waiting to be discovered along the North Downs Way. Visitors also had the opportunity to sample the fitness benefits of Nordic walking.

There was a challenging part to the day where visitors could take part in an attempt to break two Guinness World Records. In the first case 115 people took part in a "simultaneous cartwheels" record attempt. Although short of the world record, they made an impressive sight on the large lawns of Withersdane House. The second challenge was to beat the record for the "most snails on a human face". There was great response, especially from youngsters and brave Evie Burton, aged 12, from Stanford, managed 20 on her face, just short of the current record of 25.

An enormous acorn shaped birthday cake was cut by Kent County Council’s Lead Member for Environment and Waste, Charles Hibberd, with Tony Gowers, North Downs Way National Trail Officer. Other entertainments on the day included face painting, live music and storytelling.

The celebrations were successful and significantly helped to raise the profile of both the North Downs Way National Trail and the wonderfully varied Kent countryside. Support for the event came from Natural England, Explore Kent, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Kentish Stour Countryside Project, Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Kent Ramblers, Canterbury Archaeological Trust, Cotswold Outdoor and Walkawhile Holidays.

There are lots of other walks waiting to be discovered along the North Downs Way, with some stunning views to take in. Take your pick from circular walks or linear sections of the trail, many of which are accessible by public transport - or choose a longer walk or even a pilgrimage – the choice is yours. For more information on all walks and any future events please visit: www.nationaltrail.co.uk/northdowns