"Chalk downs and shingle shores near the Lord Warden’s residence."
Walk directions
Cross Kingsdown Road from the car park and walk briefly left towards Walmer Castle. Before you reach it, take the footpath through a gate to your right, walking along a field-edge beside the castle grounds.
At the far end, take the gate onto the road and turn left, taking the left-hand fork at the junction (stay on the road here, don’t take the footpath). Carry on past Meadowside (a modern complex on your right) and turn left up Hawkshill Camp Road.
Head half-left uphill on the signed footpath ‘ED46’. Take the gravel track past an electricity substation into open meadow. Follow the path diagonally to the far corner, following the gappy hedgeline to the right past benches and information boards about the area. Pass a little lychgate memorial to World War I pilots on your right. Carry on over more fields, descending gently towards Kingsdown village on a clear track. Buildings are visible in the woods ahead. Cross the access drive to a house called Channel Haven, bearing left when the path forks at the end.
Go out to Church Cliff road and follow it uphill past houses (Coppice Lodge, El Nido, etc), passing a small church to your right at the end.
Turn left at the junction, heading down towards the sea. Continue over the junction, following signs for the Saxon Shore Way, towards the beach. (The Rising Sun pub and Kitty’s Tea Rooms lie to your left here.) Follow the pebble driveway past cottages.
Turn left along the seafront past the Zetland Arms pub. Now simply proceed along the tarmac path, following the shore back past seafront houses and green spaces to the car park by the castle.
This energetic walk showcases Walmer’s assets, starting at its landmark castle and heading to the breezy downland high above the coast. Walmer’s more rustic neighbour Kingsdown stands at the northern end of the famous white cliffs that stretch down to Dover. The return journey is a scenic, gentle... stroll along the long shingle beach, where a surprising number of plants flourish, including sea kale, yellow horned poppy, sea bindweed and vipers bugloss. The hilly ridge just south of Walmer is an ancient stretch of chalk grassland. Bronze Age remains have been excavated here. It has been used as a military training ground for troops since Deal and Walmer were first fortified in the 16th century, and became an aerodrome in World War I. A memorial on the walk route commemorates pilots killed in action in France who flew from here. In World War II Hawkshill Down was used as a secret radar base, giving early warning of enemy planes as they headed across the Channel. The land is now a public open space and has amazing views of the Channel, with clear views of the Goodwin Sands at low tide. Since 1708, Walmer Castle has been the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. This ancient office was first established in the 11th century, and exerted great power and influence in the defence of the realm. Today it is a purely ceremonial role. The Queen Mother held the title for many years until her death; other famous Lord Wardens have included the Duke of Wellington, Winston Churchill and Henry VIII (before he acceded to the throne). It was Henry who built Walmer Castle in 1540, as part of his chain of Channel artillery defences. Walmer Castle is now an elegant, comfortable home surrounded by beautiful gardens. Wellington’s campaign bed and a pair of his boots (the original wellies) are on display in the museum.
Kent is home to the White Cliffs of Dover, an English icon that marks the point where the Kent Downs AONB stretches from the Surrey Hills down to the sea. Visitors can explore historic parklands, including Knole Park and Sir Winston Churchill’s former home at Chartwell, or beautiful nature reserves, such as the coppiced woodlands of Denge Wood and Earley Wood and the ancient fine chalk woodland of Yockletts Bank.
"Chalk downs and shingle shores near the Lord Warden’s residence."
Walk details
2hrs
Difficulty:
Easy
Gradient:
Gentle
Distance:
2.75 miles (4.4kms)
Ascent:
99ft (30m)
Walk directions
Cross Kingsdown Road from the car park and walk briefly left towards Walmer Castle. Before you reach it, take the footpath through a gate to your right, walking along a field-edge beside the castle grounds.
1 of 6
At the far end, take the gate onto the road and turn left, taking the left-hand fork at the junction (stay on the road here, don’t take the footpath). Carry on past Meadowside (a modern complex on your right) and turn left up Hawkshill Camp Road.
2 of 6
Head half-left uphill on the signed footpath ‘ED46’. Take the gravel track past an electricity substation into open meadow. Follow the path diagonally to the far corner, following the gappy hedgeline to the right past benches and information boards about the area. Pass a little lychgate memorial to World War I pilots on your right. Carry on over more fields, descending gently towards Kingsdown village on a clear track. Buildings are visible in the woods ahead. Cross the access drive to a house called Channel Haven, bearing left when the path forks at the end.
3 of 6
Go out to Church Cliff road and follow it uphill past houses (Coppice Lodge, El Nido, etc), passing a small church to your right at the end.
4 of 6
Turn left at the junction, heading down towards the sea. Continue over the junction, following signs for the Saxon Shore Way, towards the beach. (The Rising Sun pub and Kitty’s Tea Rooms lie to your left here.) Follow the pebble driveway past cottages.
5 of 6
Turn left along the seafront past the Zetland Arms pub. Now simply proceed along the tarmac path, following the shore back past seafront houses and green spaces to the car park by the castle.
This energetic walk showcases Walmer’s assets, starting at its landmark castle and heading to the breezy downland high above the coast. Walmer’s more rustic neighbour Kingsdown stands at the northern end of the famous white cliffs that stretch down to Dover. The return journey is a scenic, gentle... stroll along the long shingle beach, where a surprising number of plants flourish, including sea kale, yellow horned poppy, sea bindweed and vipers bugloss. The hilly ridge just south of Walmer is an ancient stretch of chalk grassland. Bronze Age remains have been excavated here. It has been used as a military training ground for troops since Deal and Walmer were first fortified in the 16th century, and became an aerodrome in World War I. A memorial on the walk route commemorates pilots killed in action in France who flew from here. In World War II Hawkshill Down was used as a secret radar base, giving early warning of enemy planes as they headed across the Channel. The land is now a public open space and has amazing views of the Channel, with clear views of the Goodwin Sands at low tide. Since 1708, Walmer Castle has been the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. This ancient office was first established in the 11th century, and exerted great power and influence in the defence of the realm. Today it is a purely ceremonial role. The Queen Mother held the title for many years until her death; other famous Lord Wardens have included the Duke of Wellington, Winston Churchill and Henry VIII (before he acceded to the throne). It was Henry who built Walmer Castle in 1540, as part of his chain of Channel artillery defences. Walmer Castle is now an elegant, comfortable home surrounded by beautiful gardens. Wellington’s campaign bed and a pair of his boots (the original wellies) are on display in the museum.
Kent is home to the White Cliffs of Dover, an English icon that marks the point where the Kent Downs AONB stretches from the Surrey Hills down to the sea. Visitors can explore historic parklands, including Knole Park and Sir Winston Churchill’s former home at Chartwell, or beautiful nature reserves, such as the coppiced woodlands of Denge Wood and Earley Wood and the ancient fine chalk woodland of Yockletts Bank.
