Kent

White Cliffs Visitor Centre to Fan Bay Deep Shelter and South Foreland Lighthouse circular trail

Image showing the brilliant white South Foreland Lighthouse illuminate by the early morning sun — South Foreland Lighthouse in the early morning sun | © National Trust Images/Joe Cornish

This walk will take you from The White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre to Fan Bay Deep Shelter and South Foreland Lighthouse and back. You'll get some great views of the cliffs and the busy Dover Strait and you may even see France on a clear day. You'll encounter a wide variety of wild plants, insects and birds, and you can take a different route for the return journey.

Near to

The White Cliffs of Dover

Start point

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

Trail information

View route

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Difficulty

Accessibility*

Full trail

DistanceMiles: 3.5 (km: 5.6)

Duration1 hour 40 mins

Dog friendly**

*The path is surfaced. One short section is steep and contains steps and may not be suitable for some wheelchair or mobility scooter users. For further details, please see section marked Access or ask any member of staff.
**The route and the grounds of the lighthouse are dog friendly. Due to the close proximity of the cliff edge on parts of the route, please keep your dog on a lead at all times. For further details please see section marked Facilities and our dedicated page: 'Visiting White Cliffs and the Lighthouse with your dog'.

Beware of cliff edges

Please pay attention to the warning signs and stay away from the edge of the cliff, particularly in wet, windy or icy weather.

Address
1 Centenary Cottages Langdon Cliffs Guston Dover 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.
Assistance dogs only
Assistance dogs only in the tea rooms, shops and cafeteria, please.
Dogs
The White Cliffs of Dover and South Foreland Lighthouse are two-pawprint places. For more information please see the 'Visiting White Cliffs and South Foreland with your dog' page.
Car park
Please see our dedicated 'Arriving at The White Cliffs of Dover' page. Also, please check this page for open dates of our additional parking facility that is closer to the Lighthouse and Fan Bay Deep Shelter. Parking is free for National Trust members.
Toilet
There are toilets at the Visitor Centre at Langdon and at South Foreland Lighthouse. There are no facilities at Fan Bay Deep Shelter.
Café
There is a cafeteria in the Visitor Centre at Langdon and tea rooms at South Foreland Lighthouse.
Picnic area
There are picnic benches in the car park at Langdon, and at South Foreland Lighthouse. There are also some benches on the route. You can picnic anywhere on the trail, but barbeques, gas appliances and open fires are not permitted anywhere on the White Cliffs or South Foreland site. Please take all your rubbish home with you.
Play area
There is a play area close to the coach park at Langdon. At South Foreland Lighthouse, there are large grassy areas where children can play and there are a number of outdoor games and kites to fly.
Shop
There are shops at the Visitor Centre at Langdon and at South Foreland Lighthouse, where you can buy ice cream, snacks and gifts and reminders of your visit.
Access to paths is via pedestrian gates, which are necessary for livestock control.
20240114 White Cliffs of Dover access statement
Designated parking
There are 14 accessible parking spaces with level access at the Langdon Visitor Centre. There are further accessible parking points with clifftop views, however these do not have level access to the visitor centre or toilets.
Accessible toilet
There are accessible toilets at the Langdon Visitor Centre and South Foreland Lighthouse.
Shop accessible
The shops at Langdon Visitor Centre and South Foreland Lighthouse have level access.
Induction loop
Induction loop facilities for those with impaired hearing are provided at the Langdon Visitor Centre and the Lighthouse tea rooms servery.
Steps/uneven terrain
Beyond the viewing point, the path becomes steeper and there is a short section with steps. The path has been recently resurfaced and although it is generally less muddy and slippery than previously, we advise wearing appropriate footwear. Countryside access points beyond the access path are gated and not suitable for wheelchair users.
Accessible route and/or map
From the Visitor Centre there is an accessible path that leads for 400m to a viewing point of the cliffs and channel. The path has rest sections and seating at the top and may be suitable for motorised wheelchair users and mobility scooters. Unfortunately this path can be a real challenge for self-propelled wheelchairs because of the terrain.
Total stages: 10
Total stages: 10
Start point
TR 3363 4221, www.what3words.com/clip.spray.repeat, postcode CT16 1HJ
Stage 1
Start at the east end (shop end) of the Visitor Centre. Walk away from the Visitor Centre across the parking area, keeping parallel to the road with the cliff to your right hand side. At the end of the parking area, turn slight right to join the road, following the same direction. There will be a notice board and pedestrian gate to the access path, approximately 100 metres in front of you.
The access path gate | © National Trust/Richard Meadows
Stage 2
Go through the pedestrian gate and take a slight left at the fork in the path to continue up the hill to a gate.
Stage 3
You are now at the upper viewpoint, which is level and has two seating benches. You can pause to admire the view and take your photographs, then continue through the pedestrian gate and follow the surfaced path. Keeping to the path avoids disturbing the natural plants and creatures that live on the chalk downland. The path continues downhill and becomes steeper after the pedestrian gate with some steps for a short section. Continue towards Fan Bay Deep Shelter with the sea on your right hand side for 0.9 miles.
Shipwreck and the cliffs
At low tide, the remains of the SS Falcon are exposed and are visible from the viewpoint. The ship ran aground at the foot of Langdon Cliffs in 1926, following a fire and only the ribs of the hull and a small piece of the engine room structure remains. After Langdon Hole, the path comes closer to the cliff edge. Please keep your dog on a short lead and ensure you supervise children.
Coast path at Langdon hole with Langdon cliffs in the background | © National Trust/Chris Tapley
Stage 4
As you near Fan Bay Deep Shelter, look for the white flag pole that marks the tunnel entrance, just to the left of the path. The Deep Shelter's opening hours are on The White Cliffs of Dover home page. Why not take a guided tour of the tunnels and the sound mirrors? When you are ready, re-join the path and continue in the same direction to South Foreland Lighthouse, with the sea on your right hand side.
The information panel
The tunnels were used to provide safe accommodation for the soldiers serving on Fan Bay gun battery close by, built on the orders of Winston Churchill. They were in use throughout the Second World War. When the shelter is open, water bowls are provided for dogs and we can refill your water bottle for free. If the tunnels are closed when you visit, you can find out more about them on the illustrated information panel near the pedestrian gate.
National Trust guide explaining a wartime watercolour of the tunnels at Fan Bay Deep Shelter | © National Trust/Chris Tapley
Stage 5
As you approach the lighthouse, the path forks. Take the left-hand fork towards the lighthouse, go through the gate, walk up the hill parallel to the wall and enter the Lighthouse grounds. The grounds are free to enter and your well behaved dog is welcome in the outside areas.
Stage 6
The lighthouse was built in 1842. The present lantern was installed in 1902 and was attended by lighthouse keepers until it was automated in 1969. The lighthouse was in daily use until it was decommissioned in 1988. It was acquired by the National Trust in 1989.
Tower tours and Mrs Knott's Tearoom
The lighthouse opening hours are on the South Foreland Lighthouse home page. While at the lighthouse, why not take a tour of the newly-conserved and restored tower? The view from the balcony is spectacular. The tea room is in one of the lighthouse keeper's cottages. It is decorated in the 1950s style with contemporary furniture and serves leaf tea in china tea pots, cups and saucers, as well as a selection of other hot drinks, soup, sandwiches and cakes, etc. If you're young, or young at heart, why not play some of our games. You can even borrow a kite to fly, which is no. 7 in our list of 'Things you can do before you're 11 3/4'.
Walking towards South Foreland Lighthouse | © National Trust Images/John Miller
Stage 7
When you're ready to leave the lighthouse, head for the shop to pick up any gifts or refreshments. Now go through the double gate and turn left, so that the lighthouse is behind you. You are now walking on a surfaced track. Please be aware that cyclists and pedestrians share this route. Continue for 0.9 miles, past the two track junctions on the left. After the second junction, the track bears steadily round to the right. After the bend, look out for a small sign to Visitor Centre and Car Parks and an entrance with a field gate and pedestrian gate that are set back from the road on your left.
Grazing, field margins and wildlife
The chalk downland on the coastal side of the track is maintained by grazing and you may see cattle or ponies helping us to maintain this site of special scientific interest. Please keep your dog on a lead if there are livestock in the compartment and always during the bird nesting season. The land on the right hand side of the track is sown with a variety of crops with wide field margins. This is being done to help the land revert to a more natural state after decades of intensive farming. See if you can spot kestrels, peregrines, skylarks, buzzards, and red kites as well as a variety of butterflies, moths and many other species that we see regularly.
Signpost to Visitor Centre and Car Parks | © National Trust/Richard Meadows
Stage 8
Turn off the surfaced track and go through the pedestrian gate onto a cinder track. You are heading towards the Coastguard Station with the sea on your left. Stay on the track and go through the next pedestrian gate. Continue in the same direction until you come to the same surfaced footpath you walked out on.
Stage 9
Join the surfaced footpath, keeping the sea to your left hand side and follow the path up the hill. Continue through the pedestrian gate and head down the hill towards the visitor centre.
The footpath near Langdon Hole. | © National Trust/Chris Tapley
Stage 10
Your journey ends at the National Trust Visitor Centre. There are toilets at the back of the visitor centre and a cafeteria that serves hot and cold drinks, a variety of hot food at lunchtime and sandwiches and cakes throughout the day.
Your journey end - the car park and visitor centre in the background | © National Trust/Chris Tapley
End point
TR 3363 4221, www.what3words.com/clip.spray.repeat, postcode CT16 1HJ
Trail map
Trail map - National Trust Visitor Centre to South Foreland Lighthouse | © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey
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