White Horse Folkestone – UK Walking Routes

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Folkestone White Horse Walking Route

After a great nights sleep at the Southcliffe Hotel I awoke to torrential rain and the screech of seagulls. However, after breakfast the weather cleared and it actually turned out to be a rather glorious day for a walk in Kent. I sketched out a 10 mile walking route from Folkestone heading straight up to the North Downs joining a circular walk around the downs and back through Folkestone to get the train back to London.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Folkestone White Horse Walking Route Map

From the hotel I walked right along The Leas turning right up Clifton Road where I then turned left along Sandgate Road past the Holy Trinity Church walking right up Earls Avenue turning left at the footpath on the bend of William Avenue around Cheriton Road Sports Ground following it left and then right in to Fairway Avenue walking right up Cherry Garden Avenue. I followed The Countryside signposts that read Follow The Kestrel To The Downs crossing over the A20 and M20 walking left to then follow the edge of the Eurotunnel railway tracks and fencing by the open gate and stile.

I walked along this track until it’s end where I then walked through the gate to continue my walk by the side of Ashford Road and underneath the railway lines and A20 emerging the other side where I turned right by the footpath signpost for the Elham Valley Way. I then walked left at the next Elham Valley Way signpost to join School Lane walking right up Newington Road turning right through the gate signposted the Elham Valley Way to walk up parallel to the road turning right to follow the pathway all the way until a gate and stile in to the “corridors to the countryside”. I know it’s only a gate but I thought this really signified a traditional Great British landscape of lush green countryside, no wonder they call it the Garden of England!

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Folkestone White Horse Walking Route – Garden Of England

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Folkestone White Horse Walking Route – Looking to the Folkestone White Horse

I walked through the gate and cut across the field to find a stile to Hill Lane walking right to Danton Lane all the way to a Crete Road West where I caught my first glimpse of the White Horse. Now I really had the sense of being in the Kent countryside and looked forward to the rest of the walk with anticipation. I continued along the road until I found a right hand turn in to the North Downs Way turning left and then crossing above the White Horse where I then looked back to see it. At the end of Crete Road West I walked right in to Castle Hill following the North Downs Way Folkestone (A260) 1 Mile signpost walking left around Castle Hill, Caesar’s Camp Ring and Baileys, which offered great 360 degree views over Folkestone and Kent.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Folkestone White Horse Walking Route – Folkestone White Horse

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Folkestone White Horse Walking Route – Caesar’s Camp

I continued my walk back up to rejoin Crete Road West where I spotted a track before the road on my right hand side heading down the side of Sugarloaf Hill. I then followed the steps all the way down following the main track to a gate where I walked right and then straight across to Churchill Avenue where I walked right before turning left down a track behind the buildings of an industrial area. I then checked the trains times to see there was a London train in 36 minutes, I checked my distance to the train station and it said the station was 30 minutes away. I upped my pace turning left on to Park Farm Road following it round to the right all the way down to join Radnor Park Road where I climbed uphill to the roundabout by the entrance of Folkestone Central Railway Station with 10 minutes to spare! This walk covered 10 miles taking me 3.5 hours, it’s a great walk and I really look forward to more walks in Kent.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Dover To Folkestone Walking Route

I have been working in Sandgate, Folkestone, for the last few months and have been itching to get out for a walk in the area. Every day my train enters the Garden of England and as I look up at the North Downs I can hear them calling me! This weekend I decided to leave work on Friday and get the train to Dover Priory, then walk back to Folkestone along the coastal path. On Saturday I plotted out a 10 mile walk to visit the White Horse Folkestone and Caesar’s Camp up on the North Downs, which I’ll post as my next walking route.

As I had plenty of time I had a bit of a meandaer at the beginning of this Kent walk trying to find some good views of the Kent coast but you can just get straight in to the coastal path by heading down to the cliffs, turn right and then keep walking until you reach the Martello Towers at Folkestone.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Dover To Folkestone Walking Route Map

My walk started at Dover Priory Railway Station where I exited to the main road turning right and crossing the road up to turn left in to Clarendon Road where I walked up taking a left up the lane to a pathway that climbed up to North Military Road over to a gate where I continued to climb up through woodlands to the top of the hill. I then walked right along the track to rejoin North Military Road where I walked left up the road to the next set of signposts taking me left in to more woodland and an area known as Western Heights, with a fairly decent view of Dover Castle and docks.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Dover to Folkestone Walking Route – Looking Back To Dover

I then turned right down steps following the path as I continued my walk turning right uphill in to the woodland turning right to then rejoin North Military Road again through a small car park. It was here that I just missed my next pathway so after a short walk down the road I turned back up North Miltary Road to the signpost by the Dover Immigration Removal Centre where I joined the North Downs Way signposts.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Dover to Folkestone Walking Route – The North Downs Way Capel Le Ferne

Keeping to the North Downs Way signposts I then continued my walk until I turned left to briefly join Kings Rope Walk keeping ahead to cross over the A20 using the underpass to the next signpost for the North Downs Way Capel le Ferne.

I then climbed up to Shakespeare Cliff following this pathway across Samphire Hoe through The National Trust Round Down to Abbot’s Cliff following the signposts for the North Downs Way until I reached the white house. The lane was leading me down to the road so I thought I’d walk around the house to try and join a path on the cliffs but I couldn’t get down there so I walked back down to the B2011 road and turned left. With the caravan park on my right hand side I then walked down a path to a stile and back to the coastal path around another caravan park and views down the cliffs to the sea.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Dover To Folkestone Walking Route – Cliffs Near Folkestone

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Dover to Folkestone Walking Route – Martello Towers Folkestone

Continuing to follow the North Downs Way I then joined Old Dover Road to the Cliff Top Cafe and after a while walked right and then left along the pathway to the Battle of Britain Memorial where I had a quick look around before continuing my walk along the North Downs Way to Capel le Ferne where I eventually turned right to join Dover Hill by the Valiant Sailor pub. I then left the North Downs Way to walk down the hill turning left at the next track in to woodlands which lead me to Dover Road where I walked left down to Harbour Way and Radnor Bridge Road where I then walked down to the beach turning right along the Marine Parade passing the Cliff Lift to the Lower Leas Coastal Park. I then walked back up the zig-zag path to the road where I then walked right to find my bed for the evening, The Southcliffe Hotel, after an exhausting 10 miles and 3.5 hours.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Dover to Folkestone Walking Route – Southcliffe Hotel Folkestone