The best walks and hikes around Dover

Explore the White Cliffs

Gateway to the realm, a symbol of hope and freedom, the last glimpse of home shores, however you define the White Cliffs it’s certain that they are a joy to walk amongst. Many of the finest hikes around Dover explore these quintessentially British landmarks. Stretching for 16 miles (26 km), there are various paths and trails to be found.

Set back from the clifftops, South Foreland lighthouse is a popular objective. This striking Victorian landmark was the site where Guglielmo Marconi received the first international wireless radio transmission in 1899. On a clear day, you can see France from up here, as well as stirring views of one of the world’s busiest strips of water. There’s historical interest aplenty, as trails often take you past the remnants of gun emplacements and other structures left over from the Second World War.

Picturesque seaside towns and villages

There are some lovely seafront towns and villages to discover on your walks around Dover. Nestled beneath the cliffs, the lovely seaside village of St Margaret’s Bay is worth a visit, with its delightful rock pools and shorefront walks. Hike up the steps to gain the clifftops, where ponies roam and breathtaking sea views present themselves.

Experience the birthplace of the sandwich in the wonderfully preserved medieval town of – you guessed it – Sandwich. Stroll south along its shingle and sand beaches to the charming towns of Walmer and Deal, the latter boasting a picturesque leisure peer.

The ‘garden of England’ – discover the Kent Downs

Some of the best hiking routes around Dover explore the fruitful grasslands of the Kent Downs. Known as the ‘garden of England’, the virtues of Kent’s colourful countryside are well documented. This is a region where wildflowers flourish, abundance of fruit leads to harvests of plenty and birdsong is a constant in the broad river valleys.

This is also one of Britain’s most wooded landscapes, with ancient forests and wood pasture making up about one fifth of the land. Lowland beech and yew are particularly distinctive of the Kent Downs. The tranquillity found here is sure to have your spirits soaring.