White Cliffs of Dover: An Easy Coastal Walking Trail

You know me, always on the lookout for day trips from London. A couple of weekends ago, I went to the White Cliffs of Dover Walking Trail for an afternoon of easy rambling. It’s one of the best coastal walks in the UK with rewarding views as far as France, on a clear day. 

Walking on the White Cliffs of Dover

The circular route starts from the Visitor Centre and it takes about 50 minutes to get to South Foreland Lighthouse. Well, it took us a bit longer because we stopped, as one would, many times for photos.

How to get there

Car: It took us a little under 2 hours to reach the Visitor Centre from London and there was a car park right at the entrance. We paid £4 as parking charges but please note that National Trust members can park for free.

Public Transport: From London, you can catch a fast train from St Pancras or a slow one from either Victoria or Charing Cross to Dover Priory station. From there, the only option is to follow the signs and walk (about 40 minutes) to the Visitor Centre which is 2 miles away.

Address: National Trust The White Cliffs of Dover, Upper Rd, Guston, Dover CT16 1HJ

The Walk and the Views

The car park was quite busy by the time we reached (around noon), not surprising though considering it was a beautiful day, weather-wise. The sun was shining brilliantly and the azure sky had only a smattering of white streaks of clouds. We had only walked for a few minutes and had to stop and admire the calm blue sea, dotted with a few sailboats. To be honest, I had never seen the sea so blue on this side of UK, always a dull grey!

We could see the hustle-bustle of the Port of Dover, the busiest ferry port in Europe. Dover Castle stood tall and proud on our right.

As we continued on the trail, our eyes were constantly treated to a panoramic view comprising of the blue sea, the rolling lush greenery and wildflowers covering the clifftops and the white edges of the cliffs dropping sharply into the sea.

If you are a bit short on time or not in a mood to walk all the way to the lighthouse, consider the shorter trail to the Viewpoint for dramatic and imposing views of the White Cliffs of Dover. You can find a nice spot to have a picnic and then return to the starting point at the Visitor Centre. Here’s the map for reference.

Read: In mood for more English countryside near London? Check out my post on Summer picnic on Devil’s Dyke.

After the Viewpoint, we continued on the longer trail. There were a few ups and downs but overall, it was a gentle stroll.

In another 30 minutes or so, we reached the South Foreland Lighthouse. It’s a Victorian lighthouse and was the first to use an electric light. There is a guided tour to go up the lighthouse however we skipped it.

We did go to Mrs Knotts Tearoom housed in the lighthouse for a late lunch instead. It’s a lovely tearoom with vintage wallpapers and china cups and it felt good to relax for a while in the charming setting after the long walk.

After the refreshments, it was time to walk back to the Visitor Centre. Instead of taking the same route back, we took the shorter path on the other side of the lighthouse. It is possible to take a bus back to Dover but the frequency isn’t great. It would be best to enquire at the South Foreland Visitor Centre about your options.

We were lucky to visit the White Cliffs of Dover on such a beautiful day. A perfect afternoon spent in English countryside!

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Cheers,
Ameeta xx

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