South Foreland Lighthouse

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Difficulty: Easy
Length: 4.0 miles / 6.4 km
Duration: 1-3 hours

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Overview: 4 miles (6.4km) approx. 8,000 steps
Allow 3 hours

About the walk:
Experience some fantastic views along the high chalk cliffs at the edge of the North Downs which form part of the famous White Cliffs of Dover. Starting at the entrance to the White Cliffs Visitor Centre, the marked route follows around Langdon Hole and Fan Point towards South Foreland Lighthouse. Built in 1843 to mark dangerous
offshore banks and also used by Marconi for the first successful trials in radio navigation, the Lighthouse is open to the public between April and October.

Tips: Distance: 4 miles (6.4km) allow 3 hours
Start/Finish: ‘Gateway to the White Cliffs’
visitor centre
Stiles: 1
Gates: 1
Terrain: Cliff top paths and tracks. Undulating
with some short, steep slopes
Toilets: At visitor centre
Refreshments: At visitor centre

Height Information

How to get there:

By Car: From A2- follow signs for Dover Castle from roundabout on to A258 (Castle Hill Road), turn left in to Upper Road. From M20 and Dover - follow signs for Dover Castle on to A258 (Castle Hill Road), turn right into Upper Road
Postcode: CT16 1HJ
Parking: Car parking is available at the 'Gateway to the White Cliffs' visitor centre. There is a charge payable for parking - please observe signs. Note: Car park closes later in summer
Bus: 15/15x (Canterbury-Deal) hourly, Mon-Sat. 2 hourly, Sun.

Mon-Sat Traveline: 0871 200 22 33.

Please note that route shown may not accurately follow public rights of way and waymarking on ground should be followed at all times.

Walk provided by Explore Kent
Explore Kent is a Kent County Council Initiative

Points of Interest

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Visitor Centre to Langdon Hole

The ‘Gateway to the White Cliffs’ visitor centre introduces you to five miles of coast and countryside through imaginative displays and interpretation. Admission is free. Refreshments and toilets are available.

The National Trust offer a guided walk from the
visitor centre to the lighthouse between
April - October.

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Point 1

With the visitor centre on your left, follow the wide surfaced path up a slight incline. Proceed for approximately 200 metres and then go through a narrow gap.
From here bear slightly left at the milestone and waymarker to walk along a grassy path that goes up a long moderate slope for around 300 metres. (You can also take the surfaced path on the right which becomes grassy and links up to the main path).

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Point 2

At the top of the hill go through kissing gate. Along this section you can admire excellent views across the White Cliffs and Langdon Hole.

Langdon Hole
After passing through the kissing gate there are a number of narrow paths that can be followed as you walk downhill with a number of benches if a rest is required.

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Point 3

After 150 metres head down a long flight of steps. From here follow waymarkers for about 300 metres around Langdon hole. This section of undulating path has some short steep gradients, and can become narrow in places.

Take care: The sections of bare earth and bedrock can be very slippery when wet.

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Point 4

After walking around Langdon Hole, cross over a stile where you can enjoy some stunning views across the white cliffs.

Cliff top path to South Foreland lighthouse
From here all the way to South Foreland Lighthouse (approx. 2km) the path winds its way along the top of the white cliffs. Throughout this long section gradients are generally slight to moderate. There are multiple paths that can be walked, but these all
tend to follow the same direction.

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Point 5

At Fan Point, the path runs alongside some farm land. There are good views of Fan Bay below.

Along this section there are also numerous viewpoints across the English Channel and to France beyond.

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Point 6

Nearing the end of the outward part of the walk the route bends inland up a moderate gradient along the edge of some farm land before going through a gap. Here you have the option to visit the fantastic South Foreland Lighthouse before retracing your steps back along the cliffs to the visitor centre where you started.

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South Foreland Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is maintained by the National Trust and is open from March-October. There is
an admission charge to the lighthouse:

Adult £4.20, Child £2.10, Family £10.50 (correct as of April 2011).

Call 01304 852463 to check opening times
before your visit.