Kent

White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre to Dover Castle trail

Image showing Constable's Tower at Dover Castle on a clear sunny day with a blue sky — Constable's Tower, Dover Castle, Kent | © National Trust/Richard Meadows

This walk will take you from the National Trust White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre to Dover Castle. As you follow this recommended route, you'll get some excellent views of Dover, Dover Castle and the Dover Strait. Please check the Castle's opening and closing times before setting out and be aware that last admission to the Castle is one hour before closing time.

Near to

The White Cliffs of Dover

Start point

This trail starts at the National Trust Gateway to the White Cliffs Visitor Centre, Dover CT16 1HJ. Ordnance Survey Grid Reference TR 336 422. Latitude/Longitude: 51.131567N, 1.337233E.

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1.25 (km: 2)

Duration 30 mins

Dog friendly***

*The route uses surfaced paths throughout. For further details, please see the Terrain section.
**The route is steep in places and there are flights of steps at both ends of the route. It is unsuitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters and may not be suitable for buggies. For further details, please see the Access section.
***Dogs are welcomed on this route. Some footways for this route run alongside busy roads. For more details see the Facilities section.

Hazardous road

Please use this route to walk to Dover Castle from the White Cliffs Visitor Centre. Although the road outside of the White Cliffs site appears to be the shortest route, the road is busy and narrow with no footway, fast traffic and limited visibility. There is no access to the Castle from the White Cliffs side and the road route is longer than this trail. Dover Castle is operated by English Heritage and normal admission prices apply unless you hold a valid English Heritage membership card or pass for everyone in your party.

Address
National Trust The White Cliffs of Dover Langdon Cliffs Off Upper Road Guston Dover Kent CT16 1HJ
Directions via Google Maps
By train
The closest station is Dover Priory which is about 2 miles away. You can get an hourly high-speed train service from London St Pancras or slower services from London Victoria or London Charing Cross. We’re a 40-minute walk away following the brown walking signs. Taxis are available from outside the station and we're happy to call a return taxi for you, just ask in the Visitor Centre.
By bus
Take the Stagecoach Diamond 15, Canterbury to Dover, to Deal. Alight at Castle Hill then 1 mile walk, via Upper Road. There's no footpath on this road, so please be careful. You could also take the 15a, alight at Dover Docks and follow the cliff path.
Cycling
National Cycle route 1 passes through the car parks. Bikes are welcome around the Visitor Centre and we have bike racks available. If you wish to take your cycle on this trail route to the Castle, please be aware that cycling is not allowed on pubic footpaths or footways 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. The entrance is on the right after 1 mile, at the sharp bend in the 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. Our car park entrance is 1 mile further down Upper Road, at the sharp bend in the road. 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 803459 for cars (£5) and 803461 for mobile homes (£7). Please note: there are speed bumps on our roads which may require care with low-bodied cars. Sat Nav: The postcode may take you to the eastern docks ferry terminal. Use CT15 5NA following the brown signs and turn into the car park before you reach this destination at the sharp bend. Note for Google Maps users: your device may show that there is a route to the White Cliffs through the Coastguard Station. This is incorrect. Please ignore this instruction as this is controlled space with a barrier across the road and there is no through route.
Dogs
The White Cliffs of Dover is a two pawprint rated place. For more information please see the the 'Visiting the White Cliffs of Dover with your Dog' link at the bottom of this page or https://bit.ly/3EY9YMW.
Car park
There are 300 parking spaces in levels above the Visitor Centre. There are disabled parking spaces available close to the Visitor Centre.
Toilet
Toilets including an accessible toilet are available behind the Visitor Centre. There are no public toilets on the route, but toilet facilities are readily available at the Castle.
Café
A full café service is available at the Visitor Centre, serving a selection of sandwiches, cakes and hot drinks, with hot meals available at lunchtime.
Play area
There is a well equipped and secluded children's play area near to the coach park. At the Castle there are large open grassed areas for children to play.
Cycle parking
There are places to park your bicycle alongside the Visitor Centre.
Shop
We have a shop selling gifts, items of clothing, blankets, snacks and cold drinks items at the Visitor Centre. At the Castle, there is also a shop with a wide variety of gifts and produce.
This route contains a number of steep paths, some with steps and may not be suitable for wheelchairs, mobility scooters or buggies. We recommend that if you have a wheelchair, mobility scooter or buggy, you request a taxi. Our shop staff will be pleased to call one for you. We do not recommend walking on the road from White Cliffs as this is a busy, fast, narrow road with limited visibility and no footway.
20240114 White Cliffs of Dover access statement
Designated parking
There is designated disabled parking close to the Visitor Centre.
Accessible toilet
There is an accessible toilet at the rear of the Visitor Centre and there are accessible toilets at the Castle.
Shop accessible
The Shop and Café are provided with level access.
Induction loop
Induction loop technology is available at the National Trust Visitor Centre and at the Castle. A member of staff is trained to BSL level 3 and is available if booked in advance.
Seating available
Seating is available inside and outside at the Visitor Centre. There is no seating on the route. The Castle has plentiful seating available in the grounds.
Steps/uneven terrain
The route contains a number of steep hills with steps in places.
Total stages: 10
Total stages: 10
Start point
This trail starts at the National Trust Gateway to the White Cliffs Visitor Centre, Dover CT16 1HJ. Ordnance Survey Grid Reference TR 336 422. Latitude/Longitude: 51.131567N, 1.337233E.
Stage 1
Start at the west end of the Visitor Centre - the end furthest from the shop. Exit the Visitor Centre and turn right once outside the door. Proceed across the seating area, keeping parallel to the road, to the gravel footpath. Stay to the left on this footpath to join the road and keep the Port on your left hand side. Continue past the National Trust's entrance gate hut to the road junction and stay on the footpath on the left side of the road. The path will rise gently to be slightly above the road.
Stage 2
Stay on the slightly elevated footway alongside the sharp bend in the road and proceed straight down the footpath marked 'Dame Vera Lynn Way'. Note the brown sign 'Castle avoiding busy road' on the left pointing down the path. The path is steep in places and there are a number of flights of stairs along the route of the path. Stay on the footpath until you reach the road.
Joining Dame Vera Lynn Way from the National Trust White Cliffs of Dover site | © National Trust/Colin Aldridge
Stage 3
At the end of the footpath, go past the vehicle barrier and continue onto Athol Terrace. Walk to the junction with East Cliff at the end of Athol Terrace. Bear left alongside the low wall, then immediately cross the road to the footpath, following the blue sign for 'Town Centre'. Follow the footpath down as it bears right in front of the houses and joins Marine Parade. Take care as the path is shared with cyclists. Don't cross the dual carriageway.
Athol Terrace to Marine Parade | © National Trust/Colin Aldridge
Stage 4
Marine Parade runs alongside the busy dual carriageway to the port. Continue to walk in the same general direction as you were on the footpath, with the dual carriageway and the sea on your left. Cross the minor road (East Cliff), but stay on the same side of the dual carriageway and continue to the next major road junction marked by the Travelodge Hotel on the opposite side of the road.
Stage 5
At the junction, do not cross the road but follow the footway around the corner to the right into Woolcomber Street. The sea is now behind you. Walk to the next road junction, St James Street.
Townwall Street to Woolcomber Street | © National Trust/Colin Aldridge
Stage 6
Turn right into St James Street, cross the entrance to the car park and continue towards the White Horse public house. Don't walk past the pub.
Woolcomber Street to St James Street | © National Trust/Colin Aldridge
Stage 7
Immediately before the White Horse pub you will see a narrow passageway with a sign 'Hubert Passage Leading to the Castle'. Turn right into Hubert Passage. Walk through the passage and up the steps, to where the passage joins Castle Hill Road and turn right. If you wish to avoid the steps, you can walk past the White Horse public house to the road junction and turn right into Castle Hill Road.
Entrance to Hubert Passage | © National Trust/Colin Aldridge
Stage 8
Continue to walk uphill on Castle Hill Road and you will see the road bends to the left ahead of you. Ensure you keep to the footway side of the barrier on the bend. Do not walk on the road as this will cause you to miss the next step of the route. The footway now becomes a footpath and deviates from the road. Follow the footpath. As you walk along the footpath, you will walk past the English Heritage sign for Dover Castle, near the railings.
Castle Hill Road to the castle footpath | © National Trust/Colin Aldridge
Stage 9
Stay on the footpath, which bears sharply right then rises steeply uphill. Make your way up the steps to the road. You will see the entrance gate ticket hut, downhill to your left. Cross the road on the pedestrian crossing, then make your way downhill to the ticket hut on your right.
Entrance gate ticket hut at Dover Castle | © National Trust/Colin Aldridge
Stage 10
Please purchase your ticket(s) or show your English Heritage membership card(s) or valid pass(es) at the entrance gate ticket hut. English Heritage staff will then direct you to the Castle.
End point
Entrance gate ticket hut, Dover Castle, Castle Hill, Dover CT16 1HU. Ordnance Survey Grid Reference: TR 324 416, Latitude/Longitude: 51.126961N, 1.320701E.
Trail map
Walking route from National Trust Visitor Centre to Dover Castle | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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