Folkestone to Dover

The walk: Start from Folkestone Harbour. Walk along the front past Folkestone Beach and ascend past the lower Martello Tower. Rather than taking the official coast path along the clifftop, the route descends to the beach, and then follows an adventurous course along the massive sea wall for two miles until it ends, at which point you must descend a ladder onto the foreshore, and walk along Abbot's Cliff and Lydden Spout Beaches to Samphire Hoe. Escape through the tunnel, and join the official coast path over Shakespeare Cliff. Finally, climb through the fortifications of the Western Heights, and descend to Dover station for the train back to the start.

Map

NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely.

Why do it: Folkestone Harbour (struggling to reinvent itself as a 'destination' following the loss of cross channel traffic: the old railway 'swing bridge' has become a pedestrian bridge across the harbour). Folkestone Beach (aka Sunny Sands). Martello Tower. Folkestone Warren Nature Reserve. Impressive and substantial sea wall and concrete apron extending for 2 miles at the base of the white cliffs. Tricky descent from the sea wall onto the shore using a ladder. Surprisingly remote beach under Abbot's Cliff. Samphire Hoe, a nature reserve created using spoil from digging the Channel Tunnel, accessed via a long tunnel through the chalk cliff. Dover Western Heights fortifications.

The sea wall

Distance: 10 miles (excluding any walk from Folkestone station to the Harbour)

Logistics: Park at Folkestone station and head down to the harbour (I treated myself to a short taxi ride). Get the train back from Dover Priory station.

Challenges:

This walk requires an awkward descent of some 10 feet from the sea wall onto the foreshore on a DIY ladder. The ladder has been placed there unofficially, apparently to enable naturists to access the isolated beach, and is secured by a rope. Use it at your own risk. Were it to be removed, it would be very difficult to make the necessary descent, and you would have to head back and pick up one of the paths up the undercliff and over the railway to join up with the official coast path.

Ladder at the end of the sea wall

The walk along Abbot's Cliff and Lydden Spout Beaches to Samphire Hoe should only be attempted at low tide: they may be covered and impassable at high tide.

Samphire Hoe tide warning sign

Samphire Hoe and it's access tunnel should be open for public access at any reasonable time, but check the website.

The coast path along Shakespeare Cliff has been badly eroded by cliff collapse: follow any diversion signs (tip: if in doubt, stay on the landward side of any fences).

Shakespeare Cliff path

The official coast path meandering through the fortifications of Dover Western Heights is not easy to follow, and involves some steep ascents and descents.

Steps through Western heights

There are mobile phone 'not spots', and you may find your phone logged on to your provider's French services. Apart from the risk of unexpected roaming charges, you may be moved to continental time, disrupting the sequence of any photos you take, and causing you to miss your train. Set your phone to use time as determined by your GPS location.

Refreshments:Numerous pubs, cafes etc round Folkestone Harbour. Kiosk at Samphire Hoe.

Nearby Walks

To the West: Hastings to Pett Level

To the East: Dover to Deal

Also, Cycle Ride along the coast on the Cantii Way, from Dover to Rye, including Folkestone and Dungeness

Photos

May; cloudy but dry.