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Summary

White cliffs Dover self guided walking

Discover rolling green hills, ancient villages and coastal landscapes. Routes are flexible to allow time for visiting nearby beaches.

No of Nights: 2-3

Stay: Hotel or B&B

Grade: Easy

Information

Gentle walking over the scenic white cliffs of Dover. Take a break from a Channel crossing to discover rolling green hills, ancient villages and coastal landscapes, plus the historical and literary context. Routes are flexible to allow time for visiting nearby beaches.

Enjoy

  • a choice of accommodation: highly recommended hotels or B&Bs
  • varied and expertly-crafted self-guided walks in some of the most beautiful countryside of the Kent Downs & Coast
  • contrasting walks, one in the hidden Vale of Elham, one on the famous 'White Cliffs of Dover'
  • easy, flexible routes through tranquil and beautiful scenery
  • numerous places of interest to visit incorporated into the routes
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Tour review scores and score breakdown

10 / 10

Based on 2 reviews

Guest reviews are written by our customers after their tour of White cliffs Dover.

Guest reviews

  • A most enjoyable stay, a pity it was but for three days. The countryside is beautiful and the coastal path wonderful. The walking guides were accurate so recourse to maps was not necessary. Lenox House was very comfortable and well situated for the walks. Thank you for all your help. We will certainly recommend Country Walks to friends who are thinking of walking holidays in the UK.
    - David Haljan, Leuven, Belgium

  • I really enjoyed the two days at St Margaret's, with the lovely hotel and the wonderful coastal and inland walks and the perfect weather. Thank you so much for organising it all so very well.
    - Caroline Farey-Jones, Reigate, Surrey

Itinerary

Day One
Having settled into your comfortable accommodation, have a read through your walks pack and enjoy dining at the White Cliff Hotel's excellent restaurant.

Day Two
The Vale of Elham awaits you, one of the Kent's loveliest, set in unspoilt East Kent hills, an area of outstanding beauty with sweeping downland slopes and extensive views. Two circular walks are centred around the delightful downland village of Elham, lined with wonderful old timber-framed buildings. The morning walk takes you to the east of the village through a landscape that is shallow, green and gentle, the Nailbourne stream intermittently flowing through it. After lunch at a remarkable 15th C Inn, once the HQ of the Duke of Wellington and a refuge for King Charles II, you can if you wish continue walking to explore the western side of the valley with its combes, ancient hamlets and farmsteads and little valleys moulded from the downs themselves. Finish with a walk around the village itself, perhaps visiting the church or enjoying a cream tea at the teashop.  (two 4-mile/6.4 km walks; easy with very few gradients)

Day Three
The White Cliffs of Dover, gateway to England, an iconic image maybe, but this heritage coastline has some of the best coastal cliff walking imaginable. In summer clouds of butterflies dance over a multi-coloured carpet of flowers while skylarks sing overhead and Exmoor ponies graze freely. Contrast this with the distant port of Dover, a seascape dotted with ferries, cargo ships, fishing boats, pleasure craft and, on the horizon, the French coast just 21 miles distant! The lighthouse provides more spectacular views, the Bluebird Cafe delicious refreshments. There’s more to come: beautiful gardens complete with lakes and waterfalls, a fascinating little museum and poignant Dover Patrol Memorial. An ancient church, former homes of Noel Coward and Ian Fleming - all are packed into this one wonderful day out. The routes are both circular, both starting from St Margaret’s, providing an option if required to walk just one.  (two 4-mile/6.4 km walks; easy walking)

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Hotels

Stay at the popular White Cliffs Hotel, St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe, originally an historic Kentish weather-boarded inn. It nestles comfortably in the heart of St Margaret’s village, a short distance from the sea and 4 miles North-East of Dover. Recommended by Alastair Sawday, it has a stylish contemporary feel and in the summer months you will be able to relax in the sun in the rose-filled walled garden. You can enjoy the spa facilities at the sister hotel, Wallett’s Court (1 mile away) with indoor pool, sauna, steam room.

We can also recommend several excellent B&Bs including Lenox House, a lovely old Victoria property with sea views. We can also recommend award-winning Strathmore and Holm Oaks.

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Grade of the walks

The routes are suitable if you enjoy average fitness and are able to walk between 4 and 9 miles (6.5 and 14.5 km) for between 2 and 4 hours with a break for lunch. The walks can be organised in two loops so that you have the choice of walking only in the morning or afternoon or all day; the choice is yours. The gradients on all walks are gentle and the footpaths are suitable for wearing walking shoes or ‘trainers’, providing relatively easy walking throughout.

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Tour price and costs

Price per person:  

from £239 for 2 nights, depending on choice of accommodation, room and season, based on 2 people sharing a twin/double room. Please enquire for single or car-free rates or for more nights.

Price includes:

  • Personalised itinerary
  • High-quality en-suite accommodation
  • Buffet breakfasts at the hotel (optional English breakfasts extra); full English breakfasts at the B&Bs
  • Recommendations for lunch and dinner and, where applicable, coffee or tea breaks
  • Detailed route directions in easy-to-handle A5 format
  • Marked-up Ordnance Survey map and map case
  • Commentary notes on features of interest along the way
  • Details of places to visit
  • Nature guide to help identify common species
  • Travel information
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Flights

By road: Total mileage from central London: 76 miles (1.45 hours). Ample car parking at the hotel.

By rail: From London Victoria to Dover Priory, one train an hour (journey time 1 hour, 34 minutes) or two trains an hour from London Charing Cross to Dover Priory (journey time 1 hour 50 minutes) with onward travel by taxi (4 miles).

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