Kent

Additional parking to Fan Bay and South Foreland Lighthouse circular trail

A man in a red coat and a boy in alight blue jumper walker through a grassy meadow in front of a lighthouse on a sunny, autumnal day — Visitors walking their dog at South Foreland Lighthouse, Kent | © National Trust Images/John Miller

This easy circular walk will take you to Fan Bay, then follow the coast path along the cliff-tops to South Foreland Lighthouse where you can enjoy some much-needed refreshment. As you enjoy your walk, look out for peregrine falcons, kestrels and buzzards as well as rabbits, butterflies, bees and a host of other creatures. You may even see one of the recently re-introduced choughs. See if you can spot some of the orchids that grow quite close to the path.

Near to

The White Cliffs of Dover

Start point

Your start location is at www.what3words.com/constants.servicing.pads, Ordnance Survey map reference TR 3492 4324. On fine summer days the sun is very strong on the cliff tops - remember your sun cream, hats and water.

Trail information

View route

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1.8 (km: 2.88)

Duration 45 mins

Dog friendly***

*This walking route has mostly gentle slopes throughout with a steeper slope at Fan Bay. Some parts of the walk are on grass which may be wet and slippery in wet weather. For further details please see the Terrain section.
**Parts of the route close to the car park are on grass, which may be wet, muddy and slippery in wet weather. The Fan Bay Deep Shelter compound may not be accessible by wheelchairs or mobility scooters due to steps and a moderate slope. The route to the lighthouse via the road in both directions is feasible with a mobility scooter in dry weather, but would be challenging for a manually propelled wheelchair due to the uneven ground, incline and distance. For further details please see the Access section.
***The route is dog-friendly throughout and your dog is welcome in the grounds of South Foreland Lighthouse. Dog water bowls are provided at both Fan Bay Deep Shelter and the lighthouse when open. Dog treats are available to purchase in the shop.

The cliff edge is close by

The coast path passes quite close to the cliff edge in places. Please ensure that children are supervised and that dogs are kept on a lead. Some areas off the path can be slippery. In windy, wet or icy conditions, you may choose to use the tracks that are more inland, instead of the coast path.

Address
National Trust The White Cliffs of Dover, Additional Parking Area, Reach Road, St Margaret's at Cliffe, Dover. CT15 6HY
Directions via Google Maps
By train
We do not recommend this walk when travelling to Dover by train - please use the Visitor Centre to South Foreland Lighthouse trail instead.
By bus
We do not recommend this walk when travelling by bus - please use the Visitor Centre to South Foreland Lighthouse trail instead.
Cycling
National Cycle route 1 passes through the car parks and connects with Upper Road through the level 4 car park and via the the Maritime and Coastguard Station entrance road towards Upper Road. Turn right onto Upper Road and continue in the direction of St Margaret's village for approximately 2/3 mile (1 km). The additional parking entrance is opposite the entrance to Sherley's Farm and is signed when open. What3words location: www.what3words.com/fidelity.book.approve. If you wish to take your bicycle on this trail route, please be aware that cycling is not permitted on pubic footpaths in England.
By road
From Canterbury/London on the A2. There are brown signs from the A258 Duke of York’s roundabout - 3rd exit towards Dover town centre. After 1 mile turn left into Upper Road. From Ashford/London on the A20. We’re not far from Dover Castle, so coming into Dover keep going until you see a left turn into Woolcomber Street at the traffic lights (look for the Travelodge on the corner), there’s a handy filter lane and it’s signed for Dover Castle. At the next set of lights go straight over passing the retail park on your left. At the bottom of Castle Hill at the next set of traffic lights, take a right uphill, you'll see the brown sign. Keep going past the Castle entrance. When you get to the top of the hill there is another brown sign for the right turn opposite the entrance into Upper Road. For the additional parking facility, please check that this is open before attempting to use it, as it is locked at other times - see our Arriving at the White Cliffs of Dover page, linked below. Ignore the sign to the entrance to White Cliffs and continue on Upper Road, up the hill. The additional parking entrance is approximately 1.3 miles (2 km) from the White Cliffs entrance, opposite Sherley's Farm and is signed when open. What3words location: www.what3words.com/fidelity.book.approve Parking: Car parking is charged as follows: £5.00 per car, motorhomes £7.00 and coaches £10.00. National Trust Members and Blue Badge Holders can park for free. Please have your membership card ready to be scanned at the entrance gatehouse. If you arrive when the car parking booth is closed, you can pay for your parking using the Pay by Phone app our location code is 803460 for cars (£5) and 803462 for motor homes (£7). Please note: the car park surface is uneven and may require care with low-bodied cars. Sat Nav: Use postcode CT15 6HY.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome on this trail and in the grounds of Fan Bay Deep Shelter and South Foreland Lighthouse. We're sorry that we cannot allow dogs into the Deep Shelter as the steps and darkness are likely to cause dogs anxiety. Assistance dogs are welcome in the Lighthouse tea rooms.
Car park
Your parking fee also covers parking at the main White Cliffs of Dover site. Please ask for a ticket when you pay for your parking, which you can show at the either car park entrance.
Information point
There is a map on the gate from the car park that covers the whole site, which you can photograph and use throughout your visit.
Toilet
Toilets are available at South Foreland Lighthouse. We're sorry, there are no toilet facilities in the additional car park or at Fan Bay Deep Shelter.
Picnic area
There are plenty of picnic benches in the grounds of South Foreland Lighthouse, or you can picnic anywhere on the land. We're sorry - BBQs or portable cooking stoves of any kind are not permitted on National Trust property.
Shop
There is a shop in the grounds of South Foreland Lighthouse that sells cold drinks, snacks, ice cream, and a variety of souvenirs.
Tea-room
Why not visit Mrs Knott's tea room on your walk. Set in one of the Lighthouse keepers' cottages, the tea room is themed on the 1950s and sell a variety of cold and hot food and drinks.
Guided tour
Guided tours take place at Fan Bay Deep Shelter and the Lighthouse tower and are free for National Trust members. Please check the website for latest opening hours. The last tour leaves at 3pm at the Deep Shelter and 5pm at the Lighthouse
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
Your start location is at www.what3words.com/constants.servicing.pads, Ordnance Survey map reference TR 3492 4324. On fine summer days the sun is very strong on the cliff tops - remember your sun cream, hats and water.
Stage 1
Stand with the car park hut behind you - the field exit gate is in the lowest corner of the field, slightly to your right. There is a map on the gate with many of the features at White Cliffs marked. You may wish to photograph the map for your walk.
The additional parking facility at the White Cliffs of Dover | © National Trust/Chris Tapley
Stage 2
Go through the pedestrian gate and follow the fence down the hill on the grass path to the gravel track. Cross the gravel track and continue up hill on the grass path to the surfaced track.
Stage 3
Across the surfaced road, ahead is the gravel track to Fan Bay Deep Shelter. If the gate is closed, please use the pedestrian gate alongside. The Deep Shelter is marked with a flagpole. Livestock may be grazing these fields, so please keep your dog on a short lead. Toilet and refreshment facilities are at the lighthouse - there are no facilities at Fan Bay Deep Shelter. If you wish to go directly to the lighthouse, turn left onto the surfaced track and the lighthouse is 10 minutes walk away. If you wish to visit both sites, we recommend heading to Fan Bay Deep Shelter first, as the last tour there is at 3pm, whereas the last tour at the lighthouse is at 5pm.
Road crossing with Fan Bay Deep Shelter straight ahead and track to the lighthouse on the left. | © National Trust/Richard Meadows
Stage 4
Fan Bay Deep Shelter was constructed early in the Second World War to accommodate the troops serving on the gun battery nearby. You can take a guided tour of the tunnels, which also includes the two First World War sound mirrors - one of the earliest means of aiding detection of incoming enemy aircraft. When you have finished at Fan Bay Deep Shelter, exit via the pedestrian gate at the lowest part of the site and join the surfaced path with the sea on your right hand side. Now stay on the path to head to the lighthouse.
The Officers' accommodation tunnel in Fan Bay Deep Shelter, which you will see on your tour. | © National Trust Images/Chris Tapley
Stage 5
You will approach the lighthouse up a slope from the cliffs. Continue to walk alongside the white wall and enter the lighthouse grounds via the small gate on your right. The lighthouse grounds, toilet, shop and the tea rooms are free to enter; guided tours of the lighthouse tower are free for National Trust members with a valid membership card.
Lighthouse guided tours
Constructed in the early 1840s, South Foreland Lighthouse guided shipping past the treacherous Goodwin Sands for nearly 150 years before it was decommissioned in 1988 and acquired by the National Trust in 1989. Today, you can visit the lighthouse tower on one of our guided tours, where you can hear about the history of the lighthouse, you can see the lamp and lens mechanism dating from 1902 and, weather permitting, go out on the balcony for some superb views of the Dover Strait and much of southeast Kent.
South Foreland Lighthouse | © National Trust Images/Arnhel de Serra
Stage 6
When you have finished at the lighthouse, exit via the large gates near the shop and turn left onto the surfaced track to walk slightly uphill. Continue for approximately 0.5 miles (0.75 km) until you reach the gate and gravel track to Fan Bay Deep Shelter on your left. What3words location www.what3words.com/scramble.corn.headers.
Stage 7
At the junction with the Fan Bay track, turn right so that you have your back to the sea and head along the grass path. You will shortly start to head downhill towards the car park. At the bottom of the hill, cross the gravel track then walk slightly uphill to the pedestrian gate entrance to the car park.
Stage 8
Go through the pedestrian gate into the car park, which is the end of your walk. We hope you have enjoyed your time at The White Cliffs of Dover.
End point
Your walk ends in the Additional Car Park at www.what3words.com/constants.servicing.pads, Ordnance Survey map reference TR 3492 4324.
Trail map
Trail map of circular walk from the additional parking facility to Fan Bay Deep Shelter and South Foreland Lighthouse | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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