Background information on White Cliffs of Dover

Firstly, the White Cliffs of Dover are located along the south coast of England, about 120 km (75 miles) southeast of the London capital. The closest town is Dover, which is reachable from London either by a 2-hour drive or a 1-hour train ride.

What makes the cliffs white? 

In essence, the cliffs are made up of chalk, a soft and white limestone. They are formed due to the accumulation of the shells of tiny microorganisms (planktonic green algae) that have been compressed together on the seabed over millions of years. Geological processes then lifted the seabed above ground to form the white cliffs. These cliffs remain bright white because of the constant erosion of wind and rain, thus continually exposing new layers of white chalk.

Role in World War II

As I have said above, the White Cliffs of Dover was part of the British frontline during World War II. Dover and the White Cliffs therefore endured numerous battles and heavy bombardments during the war. In fact, Dover played a huge part in Operation Dynamo, which was the evacuation of the Allied troops from Dunkirk following advancements from German troops. The White Cliffs was therefore a symbol of hope for these rescued troops, as it was the first thing they saw as they arrive at British shores.

More specifically, the Fan Bay Deep Shelter is a network of tunnels that was constructed in the White Cliffs to house the army troops of the Fan Bay Artillery located at the White Cliffs. It also was equipped with sound mirrors and equipment to detect enemy ships and aircrafts.

South Foreland Lighthouse

The South Foreland Lighthouse on this hike was built in 1843, so that ships can be warned about the Goodwin Sands (a nearby sandbank that caused numerous shipwrecks in the area). It was where Michael Faraday was overseeing the trials of using electric light in a lighthouse, which subsequently led to South Foreland Lighthouse being the first lighthouse to shine an electric light in the world.

Also, this was where Guglielmo Marconi first experimented with wireless radio transmissions.

Planning considerations for the White Cliffs of Dover hike

Since the White Cliffs of Dover is within walking distance from the town of Dover and its train station, planning for a hike to the White Cliffs of Dover is actually very easy and straightforward.

Getting to Dover and/or the White Cliffs

Firstly, you can easily reach Dover via the Dover Priory train station. This is only a 1 hour journey from either the London Kings Cross station or the London Stratford International station. The town of Dover, the Dover Castle as well as the White Cliffs of Dover can then be easily reached on foot from the Dover Priory train station.

This article can guide you on the complete walk from the train station, past Dover and then to the White Cliffs of Dover.

Otherwise, you can also reach Dover and the White Cliffs of Dover hike by car. If doing so, drive straight to and park the car for £6 at the National Trust car park (marked ‘National Trust – The White Cliffs of Dover‘ on Google Maps). Starting the hike from here will allow you to skip the walk from the train station, thus cutting the walk by up to 5.2 km (3.2 miles).

Getting around Dover

The train station, town centre of Dover, its pebble beach as well as the Dover Castle and White Cliffs of Dover are all in very close proximity to each other and can easily be covered on foot. Therefore it can’t get any easier trying to get around. This is also why we can easily integrate all these into a single hike.

When to visit

As long as you don’t mind the cold of winters or the heat of summers, the White Cliffs of Dover hike can be done at any time of the year. Due to its location along the south coast, the area hardly gets much snowfall. Neither do we expect any prolonged icy conditions.

Springs and summers are particularly more popular among visitors mainly because of the flowers and wildlife.

What else to do

If you intend to take the guided tours of the Fan Bay Deep Shelter as well as the South Foreland Lighthouse, expect to complete the full hike and both activities in about 5-6 hours. And if you are intending to make this a day trip from London, then you will need to factor in another 2 hours of two-way travelling time. Depending on the speed of your hike, you may still be able to fit in one more activity at Dover.

1. Dover Castle

A visit to Dover Castle generally takes around 3-4 hours, covering the Great Tower, WWI Fire Command Post and the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Particularly, included within your Dover Castle ticket is a guided tour into the Secret Wartime Tunnels. When on the tour, you see not only the headquarters of Operation Dynamo, but also the Underground Hospital that operated during the war. These 50-minute tours operate on a regular basis during the castle’s opening hours.

I’d suggest that if you want to visit Dover Castle and hike the White Cliffs of Dover on the same day, cover Dover Castle in the morning before going on the hike in the afternoon. This is so that you can make the opening hours of all three activities. The Dover Castle opens the earliest at 10am, while the last tours of the Fan Bay Deep Shelter and South Foreland Lighthouse are at 3pm and 5pm respectively.

Take note that Dover Castle, Fan Bay Deep Shelter and South Foreland Lighthouse do not open everyday. Check opening days and hours: Dover Castle | Fan Bay Deep Shelter | South Foreland Lighthouse.

2. White Cliff Boat Tours

One of the best ways of viewing the white cliffs is of course from the sea! You can take a White Cliff Boat Tour, zipping you through the dramatic landscapes on board a speed boat, all the way past the villages of Kingsdown, Walmer and finally to Deal.

The boat tour is operated by Dover Sea Safari, generally takes 1.5 hours and costs £40. It operates from the Dover Marina which is just a short 5-minute detour from this hiking route and so can easily be an add-on for the day.

3. Road trip along the south coast

Dover can also form part of a south coast road trip. I find the south coast to be one of the best scenic places in England and totally enjoyed a couple of road trips I did there.

Due to Dover’s location, it can be a good starting or ending point of a south coast road trip that includes places such as Hastings, Eastbourne, the incredible white cliffs of Seven Sisters, and Brighton. You can also carry on further west to the scenic Jurassic Coast. I’d say a road trip from Dover to Brighton via Hastings, Eastbourne and the Seven Sisters can be comfortably covered in about 5 days.

How long do you need at Dover

While it is possible to visit Dover Castle and complete the White Cliffs of Dover hike within a day, this is a plan that can potentially be quite rushed. You may also run into the risk of missing either one of the last guided tours for the day.

For this reason, I’d recommend that you split the visit to Dover into two separate day trips (if you live in London), or stay in Dover for a night. Staying in Dover for the night is a good idea especially if you are on a south coast road trip. In this way, you can explore the Dover Castle, hike on the White Cliffs of Dover, and even take a White Cliffs boat tour at a comfortable pace.

Are the guided tours worth it? 

I have to say that both the guided tours were very informative and eye-opening. For one thing, I could almost vividly imagine the life of a WWII soldier in the underground tunnels, looking at the sound mirrors and carvings in the chalk walls, and navigating through the sometimes low or narrow tunnels. It was a very unique and somewhat immersive experience.

Also, I got a comprehensive overview of what life was like at the South Foreland Lighthouse – how they operated the lighthouse using whale oil lamps before switching to electric light. I got to appreciate the lighthouse a lot more after understanding its significance in contribution to modern science.

Therefore, I’d recommend you to do both tours if possible.

Now that we have discussed the background and planning considerations around the White Cliffs of Dover hike, let’s get on to the directions of how to hike this trail!

The White Cliffs of Dover hike (about 6 hours)

Altogether, the trail starting from the Dover Priory station to the White Cliffs of Dover, Fan Bay Deep Shelter, the South Foreland Lighthouse and back measures 12.2 km (7.6 miles). It should generally take you about 3-4 hours, excluding the guided tours held at the shelter and lighthouse.

Town of Dover (about 15 mins)

Once you exit from the train station, turn immediately to the right and then follow the road bending to the left. After that, the town of Dover is only half a kilometre from the station. As you approach the roundabout, the Dover Castle slowly comes into view, and the town centre of Dover is on the opposite side of the roundabout.

After you have gotten to the opposite side of the roundabout, turn into one of the lanes and they will eventually lead you into the town centre. Specifically, this is Biggin Street and Canon Street and is clearly marked in Google Maps.

Canon Street is a pedestrianised area with shops, British pubs as well as cafes lining it. If you need food to fuel you on your hike, this is the best chance to grab water or have a bite before proceeding on.

You can also pop into St Mary’s Church to have a quick look if open, or take the chance to ask some questions at the Visitor Information Centre at Market Square.

Walk straight past Market Square and you will shortly arrive at an underpass. Take the underpass for the quickest and safest way to cross the busiest road in Dover and then you will arrive close to the beach.

The Beach (about 10 mins)

After that, exiting from the underpass will lead you to an Indian War Memorial, erected in 1861 by the First Battalion of the Royal Rifles to commemorate fallen comrades of the Indian campaigns of 1857-1859.

Then head towards the waterfront. Unlike most beaches, many along the south coast of England are made up of pebbles instead of sand. Have a walk along the unique beach and head towards the white cliffs, which will be well visible by this time.

Along the walk, you can see parts of the Dover Castle’s underground structures as well as the observation deck hanging over the cliffs. This is when you are nearing the end of the walk along the waterfront. Especially when you see the Premier Inn hotel to the left, because shortly after this hotel, you should cross the road (using the traffic lights) to the white cliffs.

Then, head behind the row of houses, up the road named ‘East Cliff’. You should then be following the signs leading you to the ‘National Trust – White Cliffs of Dover‘.

To the National Trust visitor centre (about 15 minutes)

Walk along the row of houses along East Cliff until you reach a small pathway at the end of it. This pathway is beautifully named Dame Vera Lynn Way after the British singer because of her famous recording of the song ‘White Cliffs of Dover’. It was also written as a war song to lift the morale of the Allies, making it even more befitting to the history of the place.

This path leads you uphill right next to the Port of Dover and under a motorway, so don’t expect a very pretty walk here. But keep going on until you see a long series of steps and the views start getting better.

Once you get to a good height, the views of the Port of Dover get much better to your right. At the end of the flight of steps, follow the road and past the National Trust carpark and you will then arrive at the National Trust visitor centre. Here, you can make use of the toilet facilities, ask questions about the trail as well as fuel yourself with food and water.

If driving, then this is where you start the White Cliffs of Dover hike. 

Along the cliffs (about 45 mins)

From the National Trust visitor centre, continue on eastwards and you will be greeted by large areas of grassland with the cliffs by your right. You can either choose to walk on the main designated pathway, or on the smaller dirt tracks by the side. Taking on the side trails give you the better views and bring you closer to the white cliffs, but be mindful of the cliff edges and avoid being too close to them.

Some of the best views on this hike can be viewed along this part and from walking on the side tracks. So you should take all the time to capture the best pictures you can. The best thing is, there is not very much variation in the hiking elevation, making it a rather easy and scenic hike.

Along the way, you may notice another route running parallel to your right, at a lower elevation and by the side of the white cliffs. Keep this route in mind which you can take during your return hike.

After about 2 km, you will then arrive at the Fan Bay Deep Shelter.

Fan Bay Deep Shelter (about 1.5 hours)

To repeat, Fan Bay Deep Shelter is a network of tunnels that was constructed in the White Cliffs to house the army troops of the Fan Bay Artillery located at the White Cliffs. It also was equipped with sound mirrors and equipment to detect enemy ships and aircrafts.

A visit to the Fan Bay Deep Shelter includes a 1-hour guided tour to the tunnels as well as a self-guided visit to a gun emplacement and shell storage for a fee of £15. It is very important to note that the Fan Bay Deep Shelter does not open daily and also, its last guided tour normally operates at 3pm. You will also be required to walk up and down 125 steps in order to visit the tunnels. Tickets can be purchased on the spot and tours operate every 30 minutes during its opening hours.

The guided tour

During the tour, you will be able to see carvings into the chalk walls made by soldiers in the 1940s, along with the sound mirrors and interior of the tunnels.

For more information about the Fan Bay Deep Shelter visit and guided tour, visit the National Trust website. Also, check the opening days and hours for the Fan Bay Deep Shelter.

Including the waiting time as well as the logistical ticketing and issuance of helmets and torches, expect to spend up to 1.5 hours on the Fan Bay Deep Shelter tour.

More white cliffs (about 20 mins)

After that, continue on the trail towards the South Foreland Lighthouse and enjoy more scenic views of the white cliffs. Walk towards the lighthouse as you get closer to it.

South Foreland Lighthouse (about 1 hour)

To repeat, South Foreland Lighthouse was built in 1843 so that ships can be warned about the Goodwin Sands. This sandbank caused over 2,000 recorded shipwrecks over the years and thus highlights the importance of the role this lighthouse had.

Going on the guided tour of the South Foreland Lighthouse not only gives you the chance to explore the interior and mechanisms of the lighthouse, but also understand the significance of its history in the development of electric light and wireless radio transmissions. More significantly, the South Foreland Lighthouse is also the first in the world to shine an electric light.

It costs £8 to go on this 45-minute guided tour and experience the mechanisms involved in the now-defunct lighthouse. Tours depart throughout the days that the lighthouse is open, until the last tour that starts at 5pm. Check if the lighthouse will be open on the day of your visit. You do not need to make reservations prior to your visit and you can purchase your tickets from the shop outside the lighthouse.

At the lighthouse, you can also visit Mrs Knott’s Tea Room for some tea and snacks, or just enjoy the sea breeze at the outdoor benches.

Return to the National Trust Visitor Centre (about 1 hour)

After that, you can either choose to retrace your steps back along the white cliffs, or take an alternative route inland on the tarred road. I took the latter but to be honest, there was really nothing much to see along this road. So it’s up to you to choose between both routes. Do keep in mind to rejoin the route back to the Fan Bay Deep Shelter if choosing the latter, otherwise the road will lead you further inland.

Once you are back to the Fan Bay Deep Shelter, retrace your steps back towards the National Trust visitor centre.

You may wish to take another alternative road that avoids the uphill climb and takes you by the side of the white cliffs. This is the same one that I have highlighted earlier in this article as one to consider taking during your return.

This other route offers alternative views on the hike and gives you a clearer view of the Port of Dover. Then, keep an eye for directions to head back to the National Trust visitor centre or the town centre of Dover.

Return to Dover and train station (20 minutes)

From the visitor centre, you can then retrace your steps back to the town centre of Dover and Dover Priory train station. You can adjust your route back to the town centre of Dover accordingly if you do not wish to walk along the beach or waterfront again.

If the shops and cafes are still open, take the opportunity to shop around, have a nice drink or have a meal to end a day of hiking, before returning to the train station for your journey back to London.

How I visited Dover

Because I live in London, it is fairly easy for me to reach Dover by a 1-hour train. Altogether, I have visited Dover four times.

First visit

My first time in Dover was by a day tour from London covering Leeds Castle and Canterbury together with the White Cliffs. I took a day tour because I wasn’t living in London at that time and wanted to maximise my time by visiting more places. However, I didn’t enjoy my time at Dover on the day tour. Neither were we given time at Dover Castle, nor did we get to walk along the cliffs. All we did was a 10 minute stop at the pebble beach and looked at the white cliffs from there.

If you wish to take a day tour to Dover, do make sure to choose one that specifically states a visit to Dover Castle or a walk along the cliffs. Usually these are the tours that do not include Leeds Castle, or any places other than Canterbury.

Second visit

Then, my second visit was done after I moved to London. During this trip, I did only part of this White Cliffs of Dover hike. This is due to the looming thunderclouds which led me to turn back before even reaching South Foreland Lighthouse. Furthermore, the Fan Bay Deep Shelter was closed on the day (I should have checked!).

Third visit

I visited Dover Castle on my third visit, which included the guided tours to the Secret War Tunnels, exhibits at the Great Tower, the fire command post as well as the ruins of the oldest lighthouse in the UK. All of the above took me well over half a day and so made it difficult for me to also complete the White Cliffs of Dover hike.

Fourth visit

And so, I returned for a fourth visit to make sure I complete the full White Cliffs of Dover hike and go on the guided tours to the Fan Bay Deep Shelter and South Foreland Lighthouse.