Beautiful coastal walk from Folkestone to Dover (4K)

The two harbours walk from Folkestone to Dover in Kent, partly following the North Downs Way. This beautiful coastal walk follows the chalk cliffs with stunning views across the Channel ending at the famous white cliffs of Dover. We pass the Martello towers, Abbots Cliff Sound Mirror, Battle of Britain War Memorial, Samphire Hoe and Shakespeare Cliff.
Music
Eureka - Huma-Huma
Big Sky - Gavin Luke
Dismantle - Peter Sandberg
Fractions of Light - Rebecca Mardal
Indigo Forest - Lama House
The Gravity STEMS INSTRUMENTS
The Name (Instrumental Version) - Garden Friend
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[@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

[@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 ❤

[@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

[@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.

[@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.💔

[@owenoneill5955]

John Rogers...... In or Out of Town, is as close as we cen get to..... Jack Hargreaves, Out of Town.

[@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.

[@marvintpandroid2213]

It cant be the finest view in England because there is a risk of seeing France.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Ah Marvin - I love France! But I appreciate the joke

[@luapnosboh7421]

I don't think he was jokin John

[@marvintpandroid2213]

@@JohnRogersWalks it was a joke. France is lovely.

[@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.

[@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.

[@morriganwitch]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@seanjamescameron]

Beautiful. I had a spontaneous trip to Whitstable last week in stunning weather. Some of those cliff paths might have made me turn back. Ever thought of getting a drone? Would have got some amazing shots.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Sean. I did consider it but there’s so few places you can legally fly a drone in London it’s not worth it

[@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.

[@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 .

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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....

[@AngelaHavey]

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

[@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…

[@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 😂

[@liberte1334]

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

[@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.

[@mattheginger]

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

[@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

[@marcpaters0n]

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

[@JohnRogersWalks]

So true Marc

[@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.

[@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.

[@keithallen4313]

Sadly the Hythe sound mirror is getting into a very poor state. It is almost impossible to get to when I went to it a month ago due to how much the undergrowth has grown up all near it.

[@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.

[@merxeddie6474]

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

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

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

[@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. 🙂👍

[@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

[@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.

[@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.😎

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@ratinatrap7815]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@AmandaBrown-nu7wo]

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

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Amanda

[@adzdty]

I watch your videos about amazing London. Now you come to my home town to do a video. Thank you. There's so much hidden history in that area. WW2 hospital bunkers etc. Down near the the petrol station just off that roundabout is a massive man made cave. It's called the champagne caves locally. Napoleonic prisoners of war constructed it. You would never no it was there these day's and has a EV car charging area build on the form access to it. Please come back one day. Do a video on dover maybe? Or pick up from dover ferry side and head to deal maybe. There's another sound mirror at fan Bay deep shelter. And St Margaret's at cliff would be a great area for you to view and take in.

[@patthewoodboy]

the Spitfires went after the Me109s , the Hurricanes took on the bombers

[@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.

[@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 👍

[@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!

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Brilliant walk! lovely coast.

[@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

[@nige_breaks_bikes9782]

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

[@sianwarwick633]

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

[@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.

[@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 ❤

[@Ben_Mdws]

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

[@john80c]

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

[@beverleys3812]

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

[@davewalker5706]

John that blue D ring on your shoulder strap always makes me think you’ve got a parachute on!

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

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

[@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! 🌟👍

[@garymcguire8529]

Did you see any blue birds, over the white cliffs of Dover?

[@luapnosboh7421]

Fills up my senses that does ❤

[@FGCmtg]

Thanks John! Beautiful walk, lovely video.

[@luapnosboh7421]

Those spontaneous days out are the best go get lost and lose yasen 😊

[@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.

[@ArthurStone]

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

[@danspencer862]

When hiking goes wrong. Would be classic Channel Five😂

[@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!

[@Tom_J23]

Absolutely love it!! Thanks John!

[@markjlacey]

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

[@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.

[@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🖤

[@bernardjakob8959]

Fantastic video John. Thanks! Given your family connection to Ramsgate further up the Kent coast, I assume you are familiar with Deal, which lies roughly equidistant between Ramsgate and Dover. A favourite walk of mine is south along the beach from Sandown Castle (remains) to Kingsdown (the Zetland Arms). It's only 4 miles, but it's worth dallying in Deal to take in the great pubs, the architecture, and centuries of naval history which is due to Deal being a popular stop-off point for ships sheltering in "the Downs" (the narrow strip of calm water that lies between deal and the Goodwin Sands, an offshore sandbank)

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Bernard - I actually haven't been to deal yet but originally I was going to meet my sister in a pub in Kingsdown which could well have been the Zetland Arms. Dover to Deal is def on my list now

[@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.

[@Slycockney]

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

[@robertgarvey5652]

Welcome back John 👍

[@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 ❤

[@janinetregelles8518]

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

[@samuelcafc]

Damn you missed the last bit of the North downs which takes you through some mad fortress called Western Heights Of Dover and gives you epic views of Dover castle! You'll have to do it again 😉

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Man I really did miss that but, the end of the walk was painful and I only realised where I’d gone wrong when I got to the station after a pint

[@stephenoliver1437]

Best bit of viewing Sunday today thanks John

[@twigglesuk7346]

Amazing video John. Love the sound mirrors too! Twiggs & George :)

[@redfordgrange3507]

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

[@iTomAnks]

Amazing walk John!

[@waynehiggins16]

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

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks Wayne - it was such a great walk

[@churchcrawling]

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

[@peterallen2904]

I watch all you videos, John. Each and every one a gem. I hail from Leytonstone but have lived in Gloucestershire for many years. It would be lovely if you did some walks in the Cotswolds. It is a most beautiful part of the country.

[@JohnC2009Edin]

A beautiful walk! (I did a section of the fife coastal path this week, its got some coastal defences still, falling apart, but there is something very special about coast paths!)

[@asafmeen5949]

Hi John hope you someday do the military canal walk soon love looking forward to your videos.

[@judeh2646]

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

[@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

[@nicholaskeddy2636]

Great video. Funny you mention about the sound mirror looking like a Pink Floyd album cover as a band called ‘Syd Arthur’ did indeed used a sound mirror (Abbot’s Cliff) on their album called ‘sound mirror’. They have a modern ‘Canterbury’ prog rock sound. I think you would like them.

[@kevincross9206]

Great walk John, so much to see on that stretch of coast 👍🏻

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@minijames2777]

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

[@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.

[@gphunk1995]

What an absolutely stunning walk. One of your best. It had gripped from the first minute to the last.