Walking Above History at the White Cliffs of Dover: Dover, England

Discover is half the adventure of traveling.

We headed out of London by train to a small costal town on the English Channel.  We were set to explore Dover, England.  Dover Castle and the White Cliffs were our first adventure across the pond.  

To set the scene, Dover sits at the narrowest point of the English Channel between England and France.  This location became the entry to England, and many battles between the Island and the mainland took place here.

The castle sits atop white cliffs made of natural chalk, giving them the name "The White Cliffs of Dover".  The cliffs became a natural defense against those crossing the channel.  The castle dates back to the 11th century, and was added on to become one of the largest castles of England.

Additionally, it served as a defense center through World War II.  Moden defenses of the time brought bunkers and radios underground.  Dover played key roles in a variety of WWII battles. (You can see the bunkers.  It's a tour we did not know about until we got home.  Highly recommend to find it!)

We spent a couple of hours walking around the castle, before beginning the hike out to the White Cliffs.  We found ourselves along narrow roads with winding curves.  The English countryside is incredibly beautiful, but can be tricky at times to navigate on foot.  We try to save a lot of money, so walking it was.

You can drive to the entrance of the cliffs, pay a fee to park, and walk along the top of the ridge.  This is an easier hike that allows you to see the cliffs and enjoy their beauty.

​We did not do that.

The other hike you can do asks you to follow the trails along the edge of the cliffs.  You find yourself traveling up and down steep climbs and narrow paths.  The edge is close, and the pictures are worth it.  But we do caution you.  The hike is incredible.  Know your own limitations and be mindful of the edge to keep yourself safe.  You hike at your own risk across the cliffs.  

One of the paths takes you to a secluded rock beach.  You do have to time it correctly, as the tide coming in and out makes traveling down the ladder a little tricky.  Once you step on the beach, look around.  You are now on the edge of hundreds of years of history.  

In front of you spans the English Channel.  The shipping lane that connects to multiple parts of the world.  Countries have crossed this channel for years attempting to explore, conquer, trade, and change the world.  Adventures swimmers make the trek across the channel to be part of the fame.  Swimming the channel is a challenge that that chosen few take in order to put their names in history.

Looking up, the wall of England is at your side.  Buried into the walls are tunnels, bunkers, and secret passages used for years to protect the shores of England.  Men dedicated country spent their lives digging, living, and protecting the shores from those who sought to destroy it.  

The hike ends at a lighthouse, which has food and small tokens available for purchase.  And when you sit on the edge, in the modern world, you just might get a message on your cell saying "Welcome to France".  You are that close to the next country.

Hiking out was a little simpler, as you can stay along the ridge and watch the cliffs come and go in front of you.  They change as you walk, and you realize you change a little bit as well.  As cliffs and the castle sit in front of you, and you get the chance to marvel at how the two coexist as part of England's history.

And if you're lucky enough, look down after your hike.

History covers your shoes, and you get to take just a little bit of it with you on the way out.

We highly recommend good hiking shoes and water bottles for the hike across the White Cliffs.  You can find both on our Amazon Storefront by following the button below. 

Recommended for Hiking