Heroes, Romans and countrymen
The many characters of White Cliffs country
The iconic White Cliffs of Dover have always marked the Gateway to Britain for would-be invaders and countrymen returning home. Since Iron Age man dug his earthworks on their heady heights, this enticing part of England's coast has been fortified to hold its own.
Nicknamed the "Key to England", formidable Dover Castle can trace 2000 years of subsequent comings and goings, from the Roman lighthouse and Saxon church within its Norman walls to the secret tunnels, hospital and operation centre of WWII gouged out of the chalk below.
Passing centuries added new defences to share its guardian's role. Henry VIII's contribution included austere Deal Castle, with its vast battlements and dark passages, and Walmer Castle - official home of the Lord Wardens of the Cinque Ports, towns that supplied medieval monarchs with ships and fighting men.
Wars with France gave us Deal's quirky Timeball Tower, built as a shutter telegraph and converted to carry a semaphore in the anti-smuggling campaign. The Timeball, which still falls from top to bottom once a day, was installed in 1855 to give an accurate time signal to vessels in the Straits of Dover, the world busiest shipping lane.
The Gateway Visitor Centre (NT), set high on Langdon Cliffs near Dover, is now one of the best places to watch the traffic in the Channel and from which to climb the South Foreland Lighthouse, built to warn sailors of the "Widow Maker", the treacherous Goodwin Sands.
Your country escape
A 3-mile walk which takes you up onto Dover's famous white cliffs to discover Ice Age plants and other fascinating flora and fauna. Starting from Dover Priory Railway Station, turn left from the station onto Folkestone Road. Cross the road at the Roundabout, turn left into Priory Street and then right onto the shopping precinct to Market Square, passing Dover Museum with its fabulous gallery housing the Bronze Age Boat that crossed the Channel over 3,000 years ago. Cross the dual carriageway via the underpass along Newbridge to Marine Parade. Alternatively, park at Russell Street Car Park and cross the dual carriageway at the Leisure Centre. Turn right and then left into Camden Crescent to Newbridge, where these two starting points meet. Turn left here and walk along the elegant promenade past statues gazing out to sea, which include the figure of Captain Webb, the first cross-Channel swimmer. Cross the promenade and walk up Atholl Terrace. Follow the footpath, under Jubilee Way and up the steps for a fabulous view of Dover Docks - and of France, on a clear day. Passing the Old Coastguard Cottages, the footpath brings you to The Gateway to the White Cliffs (NT), with coffee shop and toilets. No admission charge is made for walkers. To extend your route, walk on along the cliff tops (approx 40mins) to the South Foreland Lighthouse (NT) where Marconi made the first ship-to-shore radio transmission in 1898 and the world's first international radio transmission to Wimereux, in France. En route, keep your eyes pealed for skylarks, kittiwakes or peregrine falcons and for unique chalk downland plants such as the Pyramidal Orchids whose presence here dates back to the last Ice Age.
Fact file
Distance 3 miles or 7 miles return; time 1 - 3 hours. Full details of this and other walks in White Cliffs Country are given in a free leaflet available from Dover Tourist Information Centre or by calling 01304 214806. You are reminded to take great care near the cliff edge and please note that some steep inclines and steps make this route suitable for wheelchairs or prams.
To complete your break you might also visit:
The Roman Painted House, Dover;
Western Heights fortified trenches and ramparts, Dover;
The Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne;
Samphire Hoe, Dover, a nature park created on spoil from the Channel Tunnel.
Visitor Information Centre
Dover:
The Old Town Gaol,
Biggin Street,
Dover
CT16 1DL
Tel: 01304 205108
Email: tic@doveruk.com
www.whitecliffscountry.org.uk
Travel by train: to Dover Priory
More walks in White Cliffs country
Front Line Britain - South Foreland
Discover this stunning section of a dramatic and strategic coastline. The Newest Piece of England - Samphire Hoe
Family and wheelchair friendly: explore the White Cliffs at sea level in this unique nature reserve created on reclaimed land.
