The White Cliffs of Dover walking and hiking route

Walk Instructions

Start Point

From the Visitor Centre head towards the eastern end of the car parking area (walking away from Dover) and locate a Saxon Shore Way marker post. This invites a manoeuvre slightly left, away from the gravel path, passing beneath the modern coastguard station on the left with Langdon Bay to the right. Watch out for the Exmoor ponies, which have been introduced to graze the chalkland grasses. Also, note the cabbage-like plants seen along the clifftop throughout. Sea Kale?

Stride out along the cliff top route walking above Crab Bay and Fan Bay before veering away from the sea, passing to the far side of South Foreland Lighthouse, erected in 1843 to warn shipping of the hazardous Goodwin Sands. From this location on Christmas Eve 1898 Guglielmo Marconi made his historic ‘ship-to-shore’ radio transmission. Some time later he made the first ever international radio transmission to Wimereux in France - a distance of 28 miles! Tours around the lighthouse are available during the season!

Twenty paces beyond the lighthouse turn right, and right again at the next opportunity, heading in the direction of the windmill.

The rooftops of St. Margaret’s at Cliffe will appear in the distance as a solitary house on the left is encountered. At that point leave the main track, passing through a kissing gate on the right with a National Trust sign for Lighthouse Down and a White Clifs information board. A well-used grassy path leads towards the cliff edge (Lighthouse Down) and continues towards an isolated building. At that location leave the coastal path and pass through a gate to follow an uneven way, turning right at the first opportunity to walk alongside the impressive Pines Gardens.

The gardens contain a statue of Sir Winston Churchill, donated by the St. Margaret’s Bay Trust and unveiled by his grandson Winston Churchill MP, on 20 November 1972.

At the junction soon after, swing right, descending towards St. Margaret’s Bay.

Along the way notice a Victorian letter box and a section of ancient wall on the right. The wall formed part of a defence system during the threat of invasion in Napoleonic times. See affixed plaque.

At the beach there’s a public house, The Coastguard, a tea bar (in season), public toilets and an unusually shaped wooden construction sponsored by the Prince’s Foundation and erected in 1999. See affixed plaque.

Another interesting feature at this picturesque seafront location is a house formerly owned by the late Noel Coward. It is the red roofed cottage situated alongside the sea at the far end of the beach.

If continuing to the War Memorial and Bluebird Café (closed Monday) ascend the 141 steps! (signpost close to the public toilets). At the top swing right and follow the Pilgrim Way markers through a paddock where more Exmoor ponies graze. The way is obvious. Head towards the imposing War Memorial that acknowledges ‘the fallen’ in two wars and the men of The Dover Patrol in particular.

Whichever destination you select, retrace your footsteps for the return to the White Cliffs car park, via St. Margaret’s Bay, the Pines Gardens, Lighthouse Down, the windmill, South Foreland Lighthouse etc.

Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the ‎level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.