Samphire Hoe nature reserve, perched on the coastline between Folkestone and Dover, is surely one of the nicest and most interesting places for a coastal walk in Kent. It’s a beautiful place, bursting with wildlife and a fascinating back story.
Samphire Hoe: The Unique Kent Nature Reserve
Between the whimsical name and the dramatic location at the feet of the famous White Cliffs, Samphire Hoe feels like a place that’s been there forever. Wandering the path between the cliff and the sea, you can definitely imagine this being the sort of place smugglers would have known or where you might find the ruins of an old fisherman’s cottage.
The truth is, this place is entirely manmade and didn’t exist until the late 1980’s. Samphire Hoe was created from the Channel Tunnel spoil. When engineers created the link between England and France, they needed to so something with all the earth they were digging out. Given that there was almost five million cubic metres of it, it had to be something quite ambitious.
The earth was used to create a whole new piece of Kent at the base of the cliffs, reclaimed from the English Channel. Landscaped and then allowed to rewild, it became Samphire Hoe nature reserve. A beautifully planned by-product of a massive infrastructure project.
What’s In A Name?
Samphire Hoe. The name, despite sounding like something from a Victorian novel, is no more historic than the nature reserve itself.
When Samphire Hoe was established, a competition was run to come up with a name for this newest corner of Kent. It was won by a retired English teacher who was inspired by Shakespeare’s King Lear.
“There is a cliff whose high and bending head looks fearfully in the confined deep… Halfway down hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade!”.
King Lear – Shakespeare
The rock samphire that inspired the name is a small plant that thrives on the rocky cliffs. Back in Shakespeare’s day, despite the danger of harvesting it from the rocky cliff face, it was picked for consumption.
Rock samphire seeds were sown along the sea wall at Samphire Hoe and the plucky little plant is thriving once again. It’s in no danger of being harvested as an edible plant, the samphire sold for the table now is a different variety, found on the edges of salt marshes.
Wildlife & Walking at Samphire Hoe
Samphire Hoe is the perfect place to go when you want a coastal walk and a fresh air fix without too much effort. A flat, well maintained path loops around the reserve creating an accessible and easy walking route straight from the carpark.
If you’re seeking a longer or brisker walk, you can walk the sea wall whilst enjoying views across the Channel. You could even dip your feet as there’s access to the sea via a small beach at the East and West end of the reserve.
On a clear day, you’ll see all the way to France. I find that oddly exciting, no matter how many times I see it.
And of course, due to Samphire Hoe’s location, this is the perfect place to get some up close views of those famous White Cliffs. Cue the Vera Lynn.
As mentioned, the rock samphire that gives the place its name is abundant here, but it’s not the only thing that’s thriving. This place is young is nature reserve years but it’s home to over 200 species of plants including some rare wild orchids.
The reserve is also creating a thriving habitat for birds, butterflies, insects and even native reptiles. All of whom are good indicators of a thriving natural environment. Not bad for a man made nature reserve that started out the rewilding process by being sown with a mix of just 31 species of wildflowers. Isn’t nature wonderful?
You’re also likely to encounter some less wild residents in the form of grazing livestock. At different points in the year, Samphire Hoe welcomes various breeds of sheep, cows and goats to help with managing the land.
The Samphire Hoe Tunnel
Between the whimsical name and the dramatic coastal views, Samphire Hoe already feels like a bit of an escape. Just to add another layer of fun, the nature reserve is actually accessed through a one way, traffic light controlled tunnel through the cliff.
For me, that qualifies Samphire Hoe as a genuine Kent adventure.
Given that this place was created from the waste of huge tunnel project and is now accessed by a little one, it’s also a neat twist.
Practical Info for Visiting Samphire Hoe
- Getting There: Samphire Hoe is off the Dover to Folkestone carriageway of the A20. Use postcode CT17 9FL
- Parking: Ample pay-and-display parking. Accessible for vans/ motorhomes but no overnight parking,
- Facilities: Cafe-kiosk, outdoor seating and toilets available at the car park.
- Dog Friendly: Yes! Sea wall walk is a great leg stretch, nature reserve best for a good sniff. Dogs must be kept on-lead.
Samphire Hoe is just minutes drive away from The Battle of Britain Memorial, the two could easily be combined to create a wonderful coastal day trip.
How to Visit The Battle of Britain Memorial, Kent
Helen x
Interesting place. Fascinating that it came to being because of eurotunnel
It’s a very clever idea to reclaim land from the sea. I’ll think of it when I go through the tunnel now!
Hard to believe it’s man-made with a story like that, it feels so natural in your photos and description. Coastal walks, wildlife, and those White Cliffs views sound perfect.
Thank you! I agree, if you didn’t know how it was made you’d think that bit of land had always been.
You’re so right, it really blends into the landscape now. 😊 Amazing how nature claims things back so beautifully over time!
What a beautiful place! Credit to whoever came up with that plan for the waste from the tunnel 😀 And funnily enough I thought of that quote from King Lear (which I studied many years ago at school) as soon as I read the name in your title!
Using the waste to create a bit of green space is was a great shout. I hope the people who came up with it have been back to see what it has grown into.
In other news, did you watch David Attenborough’s Wild London? I thought of you when I saw it as I’ve enjoyed many of your photo’s from across London’s parks and gardens.
Yes, and really enjoyed it. They featured the beaver project from my borough, Ealing, which our local wildlife group is very involved in. And Richmond, where he lives, is just a bus ride away from us!
It looks like you had a wonderful sunny day for exploring Samphire Hoe nature reserve. What a lovely place for nature lovers, bird watchers, and walkers. Given that it was created from spoil from the Channel Tunnel, it makes for an inspiring example of land reclamation. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
Thanks Aiva, it was sunny but bitterly cold!
I’d never heard of Samphire Hoe Helen but how wonderful that this nature reserve was created out of the spoils of Eurotunnel.
It’s a great way to use something that had to go somewhere, isn’t it? And now a lovely spot for residents and visitors alike.
Sounds fascinating. I never knew this place existed!
It was just a chance discovery for us. The Channel Tunnel, or ‘Le Shuttle’ as now known, are still the main stakeholder so you’d think they’d promote it a bit.
How wonderful! I’m not sure they would take so much trouble to create beauty out of waste these days. Or maybe I’m just getting cynical in my old age …
I suspect you may be right, but I’m glad Samphire Hoe came to be!
What a fascinating little spot! I’d never even heard of it, but I love how Samphire Hoe isn’t just a beautiful coastal walk beneath the White Cliffs of Dover, but also a nature reserve created from the spoil of the Channel Tunnel. Such a brilliant example of turning something industrial into thriving wildlife habitat 🙂
It’s fab isn’t it? A great use of the spoil creating something that will be enjoyed by future generations.
Wow, what a beautiful place. Love the name, the idea of it and everything. Its so good that Samphire Hoe is really thriving. 🙂
I didn’t know this. Thank you for sharing this fascinating piece of history.
What a beautiful place! I had no idea that this existed, it is great that they thought of doing something like that with everything they were digging out for the tunnel!
It’s so clever isn’t it? And a beautiful place for generations to come to enjoy. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, appreciate it!
Seems like an interesting place!
I’m heading down to Kent for a week with the family so adding it to the list!
Also as a sidenote; I’m certain I was following you already but WordPress seems to think otherwise but I found a few of your posts when looking for Kent specific posts!
I’m glad you’ve found me again! I’ve had niggles with not seeing posts from bloggers I know I followed, the WP gremlins at work! Have a great time in Kent, there really are some lovely places.