The Very Edge of Great Britain – The White Cliffs of Dover
Immortalised in movies and books, these iconic cliffs are among the main landmarks of Great Britain. Perhaps one of the most popular attractions in the whole of England, the White Cliffs of Dover form part of England's coastline and are the closest part of the country to France. They reach up to 110m in height and the high amount of chalk in their composition gives them their stunning white appearance.
These cliffs have played a major role in Britain's history as they overlook the narrowest stretch of the English Channel where many important battles took place, like the Battle of Britain during World War II. At the same time they formed a symbolic guard; a wall that made invasion by sea almost impossible.
The Cliffs are located about 130 km from London. The easiest way to reach them is by using a comfortable high-speed train from St Pancras Railway Station, which takes about an hour to reach Dover.
Once you reach Dover, you have to walk for around an hour to reach the Cliffs. The city of Dover itself is quite small and there are maps everywhere so don't worry about getting lost. Do, however, prepare yourself for some hard uphill walking. The Cliffs are pretty high and you have to walk all the way up.
On your way you'll see the famous Port of Dover. This is the world's busiest passenger port, with 16 million travellers and 2.8 million cars a year.
If you're afraid of heights, this might not be the place for you. In some places, you'll be walking quite close to the edge and there are no fences at all.
The view that will take your breath away…
We suggest checking the weather before you start your journey. It would be a shame if this staggering view were covered in clouds and mist. A sunny day is a must for this trip.
If you are brave enough, you can walk right to the very edge of the Cliffs, with a sheer drop that will bring you back to sea level...
And don't forget to bring your camera! After all, this is the ideal place to take some stunning photos.
At the very end of the trail, a reward awaits you - a beautiful Victorian South Foreland Lighthouse at the very top of the Cliffs, complete with a classy tea house.
After a long walk, there's nothing better than a wonderful hot cup of milky English tea, served with muffins, in such a beautiful setting.
This was the first lighthouse to be powered by electricity and is the site of the first international radio transmissions, in 1898.
It really feels like you are visiting your grandma's place and this was exactly what we needed at this point.
If the weather is nice, you can even organise a small picnic on the Cliffs themselves.
There was also the possibility of climbing down the Cliffs to the beach but... oh well, what a shame.
So, we decided to do something else instead – how about a little “acroyoga” on the Cliffs?
Every journey is about having fun, isn’t it?
Don’t forget to visit the Fan Bay Deep Shelter. For years it lay forgotten, deep within the White Cliffs of Dover. Rediscovered in 2013, you can now take a special tour through a labyrinth of long-forgotten tunnels. Are you ready to descend 125 steps, 23 metres deep into the Cliffs, wearing a hard hat and holding a torch?
After you return from the tunnels you will feel …free!
It’s hard to believe that such a beautiful place is located so close to the busy streets of London.
The City of Dover itself is also a very nice place to explore. Impressive Dover Castle is not to be missed. It holds 2,000 years of rich history, and recently became the backdrop for the latest “Avengers: Age of Ultron” movie.
The town itself is very classy and very English and we absolutely loved it.
After spending a wonderful six hours in Dover, it was time to head back to London for dinner.
We really encourage everyone to visit this wonderful place; you will definitely remember it fondly.
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Written by Ingus Kruklitis
I’ve been travelling ever since a was a child but my first large trip was at the age of 13 when I was sent to live for a couple months to London. This trip has changed me and ever since I just want to see more and more of our beautiful world. Every trip gives me new emotions, charge and strength to keep going further.
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