Kent

White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre to Langdon Stairs Trail

Follow this walk to discover Langdon Stairs - most likely an ancient smuggling trail that was also used by coastguards in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Your walk will take you to the 6-section zig-zag path down Langdon Cliff and the 7-metre near-vertical iron-rung ladder leading to the stony beach. There's lots of wildlife around, so see if you can spot kestrels, peregrines and buzzards all of which live nearby.

Near to

The White Cliffs of Dover

Start point

TR 3363 4221, www.what3words.com/clip.spray.repeat, postcode CT16 1HJ

Trail information

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Difficulty*

Accessibility**

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 1.0 (km: 1.6)

Duration 40 mins

Dog friendly***

*Langdon stairs is a zig-zag path of 6 stages, with a 35-metre tunnel and a 7-metre, near vertical iron-rung ladder at the bottom. The path descends approximately 85 metres (285 feet). For further details please see section marked Terrain.
**This trail is not suitable for wheelchair, or mobility scooter users, or those with impaired mobility. For further details please see section marked Access.
***Dogs are welcome on this trail, but please ensure they are on a short lead when close to the cliff edge or on the zig-zag path. They may not be able to negotiate the ladder at the bottom. For further details please see section marked Facilities.

Important information before you set out

Ask in the Visitor Centre for tide times before setting out, as the beach and the bottom of the iron rung ladder are submerged at high tide. This walk takes you close to the cliff edge. Once at the viewing point and on the zig-zag path there is a hand rail in places, but other parts of the cliff edge are not fenced and some people may need assistance. Check where the waves are breaking before descending the ladder. Stay in sight of the ladder all the time when on the beach as there is a risk of being cut off by the tide. You may not have a mobile phone signal on the zig-zag path or on the beach.

Address
National Trust The White Cliffs of Dover Langdon Cliffs Off Upper Road Guston Dover CT16 1HJ
Directions via Google Maps
On foot
There are signed pathways from the port, railway station and town centre. We’re on the Saxon Shore Way path but there’s a steep climb to get to the cliff top.
Downloadable map of walking route
By train
Our 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.
Downloadable map of walking route
Cycling
National Cycle route 1 passes through the car parks. Bikes are welcome around Visitor Centre and we have bike racks available. No cycling is allowed on the cliff path.
By ferry
We're very close to the Port of Dover. You can drive here within a few minutes, or there is a signed footpath directly from the port.
By road
From Canterbury/London on the A2. We have brown signs from the A258 Duke of York’s roundabout; 3rd exit towards Dover town centre, after 1 mile turn left into Upper Road. Our 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. At the bottom of Castle Hill at the next set of traffic lights, take a right uphill, you'll see our 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. National Trust Members and Blue Badge Holders can park for free. Please have your 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: we have speed bumps on our roads which may require care with low-bodied cars. Sat Nav: Our postcode may take you to the Eastern Docks ferry terminal, use CT15 5NA following our brown signs and turn into the car park before you reach your destination at the sharp bend.
Assistance dogs only
Assistance dogs only are welcome in the visitor centre café and shop.
Dogs
The zig-zag path has projecting flints, which are sharp and may injure dogs with delicate pads. Please keep your dog on a short lead when close to the cliff edge and at all times on the zig-zag path. Dogs will have difficulty with the near-vertical iron-rung ladder and we do not recommend taking them down the ladder. Please ensure you take fresh water and dog waste bags for your four-legged friend as there are no facilities on this trail.
Car park
Please see our dedicated 'Arriving at The White Cliffs of Dover' page. During busy times we may need to redirect you to our additional parking facility. If you are using the additional parking facility, you may wish to photograph the map on the pedestrian gate that shows the coast path and the location of Langdon Stairs. Once you reach the surfaced coastal footpath, turn so that the sea is on your left hand side and continue walking until you reach a pedestrian gate that is on a downslope with a view of the port of Dover and the Castle. This is point 5 on this trail.
Information point
If you need help, please speak to any member of staff or volunteer.
Toilet
Toilets, including accessible toilets are available at the back of the Visitor Centre. These are the only toilets on this route.
Café
There is a café at the Visitor Centre serving hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, cakes and biscuits and hot pies. Hot meals are served between 12 pm and 2.30 pm. The café is open from 10 am to 5 pm during summer time and 10 am to 4 pm during winter time.
Picnic area
You can picnic on any of the outside benches at the Visitor Centre and there are some benches on the route to Langdon Stairs. Or you can just spread a blanket out on the grass. Please take all rubbish home with you. BBQs and any form of open fire (including portable gas stoves) are not permitted anywhere on National Trust land.
Play area
There is a play area just off the coach park. We do not supervise this area, so please ensure there is a responsible person with your children.
Cycle parking
Cycle parking is available outside the visitor centre.
Shop
We have a shop at the Visitor Centre that provides a selection of White Cliffs souvenirs, as well as outdoor and indoor products and even some treats for your four-legged friend.
The first 400 metres of the route up to and including the viewpoint is accessible, although will be challenging for manually-propelled wheelchair users. Beyond this point, the surfaced path continues onto some steep slopes with steps. The unmade path off the main coast path at point 5 is only accessible on foot and is narrow and contains steep slopes and stairs. The zig-zag path is very narrow (40 cm in places) and steep (approximately 1 in 4 or 25%) and there is a 7 metre near-vertical ladder at the end of the zig-zag to access the beach. We do not recommend this trail for those with limited mobility.
20240114 White Cliffs of Dover access statement
Designated parking
There is dedicated disabled parking available outside the Visitor Centre and in the parking area on the opposite side of the road to the Visitor Centre.
Accessible toilet
Accessible toilets are available at the Visitor Centre. These are the only toilets on this route.
Shop accessible
The Visitor Centre cafeteria, shop and toilets offer step-free access from the disabled parking. If you have parked in the disabled bays on the opposite side of the road and require level access to the Visitor Centre, make your way along the road with the Port of Dover on your right hand side, then turn in to the disabled parking facility outside the Visitor Centre.
Induction loop
We have induction loops fitted at the cafeteria servery and the shop.
Steps/uneven terrain
This route involves steep slopes with stairs and narrow and uneven paths and may not be suitable for those with impaired mobility.
Total stages: 8
Total stages: 8
Start point
TR 3363 4221, www.what3words.com/clip.spray.repeat, postcode CT16 1HJ
Stage 1
Stand at the shop end of the Visitor Centre with your back to the shop and the harbour on your right hand side. Walk through the disabled car parking to the road. Bear slight right to join the road walking in the same direction, keeping the sea on your right hand side. Walk to the gate in front of you.
Stage 2
Go through the pedestrian gate and stay on the gravel path to go up the hill in front of you, keeping the sea on your right. Continue until you reach the gate at the top of the hill.
Stage 3
At the top, you can admire the classic view of Langdon Cliffs and you may be able to make out the iron-rung ladder at the bottom of the cliff, which forms part of this trail, and the shipwreck. Now go through the gate and stay on the surfaced path.
Stage 4
The path will now start to descend steeply into Langdon Hole. Continue down the slope and steps to the bottom of the hill, then stay on the surfaced track. As you reach the far side of Langdon Hole, you will start to ascend and will reach a pedestrian gate.
Wild birds and flowers
Langdon Hole is a wonderful place to connect with wildlife. During Spring, Summer and early Autumn we have a huge selection of wildlife. See if you can spot butterflies and moths. Wild birds include meadow pipits, skylarks, kestrels, peregrines and even buzzards. On the ground look out for orchids, vipers bugloss, kidney vetch, marjoram and greater knapweed as well as a host of insects. Why not pause for a few minutes and listen? With so little road noise, it's amazing what you hear. If you need help identifying wildlife, go to our 'Things to See and Do' page where you can download some information sheets.
Stage 5
Go through the pedestrian gate then immediately turn right and leave the surfaced path. Head down the hill on the unmade path on the seaward side of the fence, seen on the right in the photo. Keep left, go down the steps, and still keeping left, look out for the concrete viewing platform with a hand rail in front of you.
Historic remains
As you join the unsurfaced path, look out for some brickwork and concrete remains on the cliff edge. This is all that is left of a small electricity generating station that supplied power to the searchlight positions, far below. The rest of the building has been lost to coastal erosion. In the field opposite was a coastguard station that was in use in the early late 1800s and early 1900s, but little remains of this structure.
View of pedestrian gate approaching step 5 | © National Trust/Richard Meadows
Stage 6
At the viewpoint, when facing the sea, the entrance to the zig-zag path is on your left. There is a handrail in some sections and the path is eroded in places - some people may need assistance. Some of the turns at each end of the zig-zag paths are steep and may require hand-holds. On the final zig-zag you will enter a tunnel. At the end of the tunnel is a World War I searchlight position.
The tunnel
The tunnel was cut by the National Trust in early 2019, to bypass a cliff-fall that had made access to the beach impossible. Take care in the tunnel as there is limited headroom and it's quite dark. The searchlight position dates from around 1909 and was used to illuminate the eastern arm of the harbour. You can look into the searchlight room, but please do not try to enter as the concrete roof is in poor condition.
The zig-zag path at Langdon Stairs | © National Trust/Richard Meadows
Stage 7
Go outside from the searchlight position onto the landing for the iron-rung ladder. Please ensure you know the tide times and where the waves are breaking before starting to descend, as the bottom of the ladder can be completely submerged at high tide. When descending, we recommend facing the cliff and going down backwards as this will give a better foothold. Depending on how the sea has shifted the shingle, there may be a large step off the ladder onto the beach.
Stage 8
While on the beach, be aware that the high tide can come right up to the cliff and there is a risk of being cut off. Please keep the ladder in sight at all times. Unusually large waves can occur, caused by weather or shipping movements. At low tide feel free to explore the wreck and the beach.
The wreck of the Falcon, beached in 1926 following a fire. | © National Trust Images/Solent News and Photography Agency
End point
TR 34501 42478, what3words.com/towels.dangerously.taker. There is no postcode for this location.
Trail map
Map of the route from the White Cliffs Visitor Centre to Langdon Stairs | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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