Beautiful coastal walk from Folkestone to Dover (4K)

[@Unicorn-on9to]

I like the talk about being spontaneous. Am 55 and have owned cars since 1987. Now that I don't have children to take here and there and don't need a large living space, I've sold the car and the house. Moved into an apartment 3 minutes walk from a train station. No more fighting with the garden, I just go out and enjoy the outdoors. Now I finally have time for spontaneity

[@dutchbobson3183]

Thank you John. Folkestone is my hometown. The town had a hard time after the tunnel was completed and we then lost the port and catamaran across the water. But the town is coming back big time. Beautiful walk ❤

[@morriganwitch]

Near my old stomping ground Folkestone always had the best bands in the late 70 s 80 s xxx

[@Liberté-bell]

This is my home. Thank you. But you didn't mention the beautiful castle clearly visible. I can see car headlights in France from my garden.xxxxx

[@touriel8943]

Thanks for that. I used to live in Kent and explored the coastline. Kingsdown and St Margret's Bay are a little further up the coast and very lovely too.

[@martinturner2309]

stumbled across this life enhancing video. How wonderful if all the internet was full of such positive informative enjoyable sharing Joy. Thanks John

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks so much Martin

[@Steveoaudioandstuff]

What an absolute cracker John. Thank you for taking that decision to say 'yes' at 11.38. We appreciate you! 🙏

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Steve - it was a tough climb

[@marycharliehodson1072]

@@JohnRogersWalks 111-1

[@AngelaHavey]

Did the entire length of the North Downs Way. Enjoyed the section between Folkestone and Dover and it's military connections.

[@marcpaters0n]

Isn't it always amazing how a sudden decision can completely transform your day? Great video.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

So true Marc

[@susanrybak7192]

My daughter moved to Folkestone during the pandemic and loves walking and running the paths with her dog and her friends. I am looking forward to visiting soon.

[@sianwarwick633]

The light and colour off those cliffs is really golden. just beautiful

[@kestrel230]

That chimney thing is probably a ventilation shaft from the railway line that you show a little earlier running parallel with the cliff into a tunnel.. We have something similar (although grander) nearby for the Chipping Sodbury tunnel

[@motorheadmalc]

Shakespeare Tunnel which has around 7 of these shafts, named after the cliff it runs through.

[@TorDrums]

This just came up on my suggested. I live in Dover and it made me realise really what is on my doorstep. Never done this walk but maybe I should!

[@merxeddie6474]

For us walkers who now cannot this channel is a wonderful approximation.Sincere Thanks John.

[@michaeldillon3113]

Walking the flatlands of Essex and Herts has softened you up John 🙂 ! I have done that very walk and very interesting it is too . Big shout out to the people who have renovated Folkestone Harbour . It really is transforming the town for the better .✌️🌞

[@RubbishGimpy]

Its nice to hear about this renovation.

[@michaeldillon3113]

@@RubbishGimpy Yes Folkestone, like Hastings and many coastal towns , had all the problems you normally associate with inner cities . I think the Folkestone Harbour project is a good one . Even Giles Coren was complimentary about it !!! Sadly , some of the renovation is a reminder of the thousands of young men who embarked from there to fight in the hell that was the trench warfare of WW1 .

[@anthonydefreitas6006]

19:50 that looks like the Butts where the targets are marked on a rifle range.

[@Plentisaki]

You are right mate. They are indeed a Rifle Butts to the Rifle Range that was on the cliffs. The building of the range still stands just off the lay-by at the top of the A20 as you come out of Dover.

[@AngelaStone5678]

So lovely to see you in my neck of the woods. I'm just the other side of Dover. I grew up in St Margaret's so I was so very lucky to have the clifftop and beaches as my playground. I got married on the cliff top and so I had to tell all the guests to switch off data roaming on their phones 😂

[@TheRedPolyhedral]

I used to live in Dover and now I live in Folkestone. I did the walk in the opposite direction...35 years ago. Let's just say it has changed a bit over the years. Still a spectacular walk, though!

[@joegrey9807]

Excellent video that the KZbin algorithms have decided i should watch! As a resident of Folkie for many years, and having walked to Dover quite a few times, it's good to see someone else's take on it. Not the most beautiful views, but one of the more interesting walks. It's possible to walk along the undercliff all the way if you're careful with the tides (extremely careful for the section from Samphire Hoe to Dover) and the path you went down ends up in an almost primaeval feeling woodland (but actually only 150 years old when the railway came along). And I've also ended up doing that bit alongside the barrier into Dover, there's bad way finding and a total lack of understanding of desire lines etc by the council and highways agency at that point. If you've not done it yet, then Dover to Deal is also worth a go.

[@whobrewing]

On a hot day such as this one, I imagine the finest view in England would be in a pub with a cold pint.

[@hoof2001]

the tower at 22:30 looks like a ventilation shaft for a deep railway tunnel. The Victorian railway engineers sank these primarily for the extraction of spoil from the excavation works but these were retained after the lines opened for ventilation. Thus the nice tower added later

[@mattheginger]

What a gorgeous sunny day. Really enjoyed this walk John! Regards from NZ 🇳🇿

[@petewebb6952]

Lovely John. I now regret not doing that walk whilst I lived in London years ago. A favourite escape from London of mine was Seaford to Eastbourne: Seven Sisters is iconic. We’ll be seeing you in all the old familiar places…

[@t-rocks1960]

Hey John, Great Vid Mate, 27c that's a bit chilly here in Brisbane mate, time to break out the jumper, What a glorious place, Thanks for bringing it to us - T-Rocks.😎

[@janetsherwood7210]

Mr. John Rogers ~What a beautiful walk! Watching from East Tennessee.🇺🇸 Enjoy seeing & hearing about anything England!🇬🇧 Especially with your personal reflection and description. Thank you for this "spontaneous" walk. Looking forward to the next video. ❤ White cliffs of Dover. Respect for all the warrior pilots.💔

[@marty9011]

What a fabulous walk. Coastal walks are always great and to be on the edge of England, looking towards where all possible foes can come from... doesn't get better.

[@nige_breaks_bikes9782]

Inspiring to just get up and head out of the urban jungle to such a fine walk … 😊

[@meccapi]

Great to see this, I've done the walk many times myself. I was amused when you descended the path from the cafe and had to go back up again - there is actually another way back to the clifftop, you could follow the path alongside the railway line, go past the concrete footbridge and eventually the path climbs back up the cliff face and emerges at the end of the mobile homes, just before the railed section of path that's right on the cliff edge (it's just as steep though). A couple of suggestions if you do the walk again: Samphire Hoe is a nature reserve built on spoil from the Channel Tunnel - it's at the base of the cliff and you have to go through a road tunnel which you can access roughly below the spot where you encountered the cows. Also, you can avoid the unpleasant road section when you get near to Dover - when you do the last cliff descent there is a path that goes under the dual carriageway and then climbs the cliff on the other side. You can then explore the fortifications on the cliff, or make your way down towards the station and into the town.

[@jazzychris123]

I was going to advise John that as well. I have walked from Folkestone all the way along the beach as far as Samphire Hoe which is an alternative/makes a change to walking the cliff top path.

[@BaronMichaelDeBlone1066]

Thanks both of you for sharing.

[@martinjames9250]

John. --- Your walks, in my opinion, are the perfect balance of humour, information and ...... There's something else..... Oh yes! The way you film it all. Panning around smoothly, no jerks, and the way you talk to the camera; makes it almost personal. Jolly good show. Thank you.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thank you so much for that Martin

[@helenfawcett9685]

One very recognisable vessel in Folkestone harbour that my son works on! Brilliant walk! (I must try this one... as an addendum- this has possibly saved the lives of the crew. I shared the link with son, who noticed from your shot of the harbour, that when the automatic life raft was replaced on the MM- the communications wiring had not been routed around, but over the top of the unit. Had it activated, as they sometimes do, a bright orange inflatable larger than the boat itself....the people inside the wheelhouse would have been severely compromised- the cables ripping out the comms equipment, tearing the roof off the wheelhouse....if not destroying it altogether....

[@jimmylawson6014]

Great walk again John, Seeing the wartime lookout post reminded me of reading one of Spike Milligans wartime books when he had done some of his signalling training in Bexhill, believe for him to return to the same lookout post to see a message on the wall stating Spike was here as written by himself many years earlier, Haunting past for Spike indeed.

[@janelithgow7727]

Beautiful walk. If you enjoy these views may I suggest adding the south west coast of the Isle of Wight to your list. 400,000 year’s uninterrupted occupation apparently, from Stone Age barrows to the invention of the rocket, Tennyson to Jimi Hendrix, Hooke to Marconi. You would be most welcome here.

[@lixxyman7839]

I really wish I knew you was in my part of Kent I would of loved to of walked here the warrens s my wild camping spot hope you enjoyed the walk ohh and I'm originally from walthamstow born at whoops cross.

[@Ben_Mdws]

I think you caught our very brief summer this year John, well done!

[@sjsull]

Hey John. I worked in both Folkestone and Dover in my time, and had a thoroughly miserable time in each, so was not enthused about the video… but what a stunning stretch of coast, and a beautiful day. I’m with you on the sound mirrors, they are real monuments and so enigmatic of past endeavour. Adding them to my list…. Thanks again.

[@delboy1727]

19:43 That structure is the butts of an old firing range. It's where the targets would have been managed from. To the right you can see the backstop that was there to catch the bullets, and if you had been able to look to the left over the top of the butts, you would have seen the firing positions.

[@grandmasterbeats9732]

Brillant walk my man John love you brother

[@derekt5026]

Another wonderful walk John. I think the Dengie walk is the best one though, a very special walk, would have beeen nice done during the light nights. Many Thanks

[@markriley4665]

I have done a substantial part of this walk John so great to revisit it with you. The two sound mirrors beyond Dover at Fan Bay are well worth a visit too. I always seem to see and hear a Spitfire when I walk this part of the coast. I love the sound mirrors along this part of the British coastline and plan to visit one on the east coast north of Hull later this year.

[@majorbossman]

That was such a scenic walk John and weather to suit. So much history on our coasts! Another fantastic Sunday video you deserved those libations at the end.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Bossman

[@garphykeks]

That was a belter John👌👏I spent a year and a half in Dover as a young soldier '73-'75 at Old Park Barracks. It was like the bloomin Wild West😂😂 Wonderful memory jogs. Thank you🖤

[@lumpyfishgravy]

The view really is tremendous! I've run a couple of times from Folkestone to Aycliffe along the beach and back along the clifftops. It's half marathon distance but a bit tougher with beach and elevation. My body's not up to it right now .. I miss running. If you want to walk along the beach between Folkestone and Dover, check the tide.

[@beverleys3812]

I'm just back from a hike and relaxing by watching your lovely walk, thanks 😁

[@xScooterAZx]

I used to camp out in the Warrens and I've walked the upper path when it was just a path to Dover along the sea side. No barriers. Done it a few times,its so peaceful. Once at night as well,coming from dover after a pub crawl. lol

[@TXMEDRGR]

That was a wonderful walk with lots of natural beauty and history. Thanks for showing the Battle of Britain memorials, I agree with Churchill's stirring words about the RAF during the battle.

[@ShallowDepression]

I just did the Seven Sister walk from to Seaford to Eastbourne. You forget sometimes that it's all just a few miles away.

[@JTTW1455]

Thank you John the walk was stunning in particular seeing how the breeze moved the grasses and peppered with poignant anecdotes of England’s battle history. Loved that sea view. What a gorgeous day.

[@jenniferlevine5406]

That was a heavenly path! So much variation and some of it a little daunting so close to the edge. Thank you for the great video.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Jennifer glad you enjoyed it

[@steelm00]

My spirits have been raised aloft. Thank you😊

[@michaelessig6376]

The walk is the walk. I love when things align perfectly and I just make a bus or a train. I had a similar experience last week, landing at the airport and catching the metro as it was preparing to leave the station and then the bus home 2 stops later within 3 minutes. Thanks for sharing.

[@waynehiggins16]

Loved this video John, probably one of my favs so far. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Wayne - it was such a great walk

[@minijames2777]

A walk isn’t a walk unless you get lost 😳. Thanks John for a fantastic walk as always.

[@sonic-factory]

"Welcome to France" haha! Love it. Wonder how many people have had that message like you.

[@idealjohn]

At 22.26 John, as you thought they might be, those brick towers are Ventilation Shafts from Shakespeare Cliff tunnel, which was directly under your feet at that point !.

[@BazzaHSpeccymad]

Try walking dymchurch to new Romney and beyond. Only a few miles but absolutely lovely

[@derekpyne]

Hi John. Enjoyed the walk. Was very interesting and nice weather even though it was all bit warm. Done this same walk many years ago and was before all the Battle of Britain's thing's go see which would have been right up my street. Will have to do this one again some day soon. Keep well John and carry on walking 👍

[@lizohagan8233]

Thanks John for your wonderful video. I used to love walking but I have chronic Sciatica, which makes walking even a very short distance very painful. I enjoy walking through your eyes/camera very much.

[@markbaker666]

I did this earlier this year as a challenge post heart attack. Like you I picked a lucky perfect day. As you noted it is quite stunning. Its just perfectly peaceful.

[@lesleysmith51]

The perfect ending to a hot day. Lying in bed, in bed watching your video in the dark on my turned to one side phone. Just a beautiful walk. Always look forward to your posts.

[@AmandaBrown-nu7wo]

20.30,sunday.lovely video john and great filming.thankyou.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Amanda

[@markjlacey]

Well that was an adventure! A joyous watch as ever.

[@jharris947]

Excellent walk, most enjoyable.😎

[@SaiOnLee]

Thanks for your film John. I've done this walk a few times and always find something new each time. The structure at 19:46 is the butts of a rifle range. And the 'chimney' at 22:28 is indeed the top of a ventilation shaft for the railway tunnel below. I can recommend walking from Dover to Deal, making sure to stop off for lunch at the Coastguard Pub in St Margaret's Bay. And further on at Kingsdown there's another watering hole where you can rest your weary legs and re-hydrate before the final push to Deal.

[@anthonyconte400]

John - one of your best walks. Those aircraft listening structures are most likely designed as closely as possible to a parabolic curve to focusvthe sound. My wifev and I walked along the cliff on the northen side of the port of Dover prior to boarding a 14-day cruise. We stayed in Dover 3 nights and visited the fort. Cheers from.warm Paanama - Tony

[@tracyfryer8153]

Absolutely fantastic I'm glad to see the coastal path less disjointed. The chimney stack near the end was from the train tunnel beneath Dover to Folkestone. Thank you so much ❤

[@GeorgeChoy]

Looks like a perfect day for a dip in the sea

[@no_soy_rubio]

Currently hiking the Kent Coast, have made it from Woolwich round to Margate so far and am especially looking forward to getting to this section by the White Cliffs. Lovely area ❤

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Brilliant walk! lovely coast.

[@ianmaddams9577]

Stunning walk along the glorious coastline. They are vent shafts for the tunnel at the end of the walk 👍🏻

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Ian

[@DagenhamGilly]

Hi John, what a great vlog, well shot and narrated with your choice of music which provided a mystique atmosphere to your narrative. Coming from working class Dagenham in the 60s and 70s, as a family we would visit Folkestone, Dover , St Mary's Bay and the South Coast of Kent. The sea is refreshing to say the least and my dad would always wonder in our ability as kids to paddle and swim in the cold water. Later as a late teenager sea fishing was my bag and I have always said the coldest I have ever been was on Dover Break Water fishing in the harbour (I was 17) night fishing over winter. At 19 I then joined Ford Dagenham and Havering Scuba club and my first dive was off the coast of Folkestone on a old WW2 wreak, we seemed to boat out to the middle of the channel in some very chalky blue water.. it was very cold and murky and I was petrified..Still all character building stuff. So you Vlog brought back these memories and I think you for it.

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

Fantastic walk with some stunning, vertigo-inducing, coastal views! Thank you for braving the heat and the inclines!

[@john80c]

Brilliant walk John loads of historical remains. I used to go to Scarborough and Filey for my hols loved it.

[@williamrobinson7435]

Lovely walk! The most beautiful view in England? Totally subjective I suppose. There are many, and that's great. Spontaneity is the soul of the channel! Really enjoyable, nice one John! 🌟👍

[@ratinatrap7815]

Wow living in Kent I feel ashamed I've never done that walk!!!

[@Jpkjr52]

Thanks again John in Chicago

[@griswald7156]

Golden cap in Dorset is a fine view….Lyme Regis…way There’s a lovely coastal wood at Solomon’s post near Torquay…

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

🌅❤🙏what a walk! Thanks for taking us along John.

[@ArthurStone]

Thanks John. Nice Bruegel-esque beach scene in the intro!

[@brianscales9912]

An excellent walk and video John. I grew up in North Kent, so East Kent was my playground growing up. The video brought back SO many memories. Thank you for sharing. 🙂👍

[@richieixtar5849]

@11.00, down there you can see the railway that runs through several tunnels within the cliffs. What you're looking at is a vast landslip of gault clay, they've added to the coastal erosion defences to protect the line which has changed the beach formation but when I was young you could find absolutely perfect small ammonites of iron pyrites all along that beach. Hard to find now unfortunately. Wonderful place and almost sub tropical down there in the woods.

[@michaelmiller641]

Nice to see the clifftop cafe is open now. There really are some spectacular views from the clifftop between Folkestone and Dover, I've wandered along there many a time with my friend from bekesbourne near Canterbury. One of the most spectacular is from the top of Crete road. Thankyou for that interesting video, John.

[@iTomAnks]

Amazing walk John!

[@Bob10009]

The best thing to see in Dover is the castle. It’s one of the biggest,most complete,most historical, longest continually occupied castles in Britain. It has everything from a Roman lighthouse, medieval keep, WW2 tunnels built deep into the cliff with their own underground hospital and stunning views in all directions. A must visit attraction.

[@daveconyard8946]

Thank's John. what a Sunday treat, 🦾🦾

[@andywalls7424]

Great video, really enjoyed watching this. I live in Folkestone and walked much of this route only a few weeks ago. Unfortunately whoever told you there was no way to the beach from the woods was wrong. There are a number of paths in the area but you could have continued and crossed the railway tracks via a footbridge which then leads to the beach. A real shame but a good excuse to return maybe.. the beach can be followed all the way to samphire hoe for a coffee/ice cream then back up to the cliff top through the access tunnel path. Can return along the cliff top path back to Folkestone. Great views of the cliffs from beneath them with even more history and stories of old hermits etc. Samphire hoe is a nature reserve built on the spoil heap from the tunnel construction.

[@pauljones5066]

looks fabulous

[@FGCmtg]

Thanks John! Beautiful walk, lovely video.

[@CthulhuInc]

that was such a lovely walk, john - it reminded me of my walks around the hills of my hometown, as a youth, in the summer. the terrific views, the heat, the cool shade - no video back then; just memories now. thanks very much!

[@puddinggeek4623]

A fantastic video as always, wonderful scenic coastline and lots of history. I would like to walk that coast sometime, then go to the Dover Museum to see the ancient ‘Dover Boat’. Keep up the great work.

[@stephenoliver1437]

Best bit of viewing Sunday today thanks John

[@churchcrawling]

A part of the country I know so little about. Thank you for this adventure!

[@touriel8943]

I reckon I've got one of the finest views from my bedroom in Herefordshire. I can see Hereford Dormington Wood, Worcs Sugarloaf Hill, Monmouthshire Skirrid, Powys Black Mountains, and from the landing Shropshire Clee Hill. To the West is Leominster and Wigmore - the rural scene of Ben Aaronovitch's book Foxglove Summer.

[@davesnelling3812]

Brilliant, loved every minute matey, thank you so much. Best wishes from Udon Thani, Thailand.

[@DaraM73]

Love your journey, John, thanks for bringing us along.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Dara - it was a great day

[@redfordgrange3507]

Tremendous. I’m envious of your wonderful day out to the coast.

[@thenamesmond]

Can recommend putting Dover to Deal on your list for future walks.

[@judeh2646]

We have a number of Martello towers here in Kingston, Ontario as well. It was lovely to see them along your walk today!

[@johnclements6614]

Walked along the beach from Folkestone to Dover then back to Folkestone on the cliff top. That was back in the 80s before they reclaimed part of the beach for the spoil from the Chanel tunnel so don't know if you could still do it.

[@Slycockney]

Both scenic and fascinating John, thank you. Particularly poignant for me as my Mum was from Dover.

[@janinetregelles8518]

Loved this walk. Thanks you so much, a real joy.