The White Cliffs of Dover & Langdon Stairs Walk: The Creepy Tunnel & Secret Beach Adventure

I haven’t written a walk post in what feels like forever, but now I’m back at it, I wanted to find a good one to kick off with. This one, the White Cliffs of Dover and Langdon Stairs, really is a good one.

It’s a short walk, coming in at just over a mile each way, with some challenging sections. There’s lots to enjoy on this walk, including sweeping views across the English Channel, a creepy cliff tunnel and some World War One history.

If you like a walk with a dash of adventure, this is one for you.

The Langdon Stairs & White Cliffs Route

The Starting Point: White Cliffs of Dover

This walk begins at the White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre. Managed by the National Trust, it’s a convenient starting point with plenty of parking- National Trust members can park for free- toilets and a cafe with a complimentary water refill station.

From the visitor centre, follow the main path towards Fan Bay and South Foreland Lighthouse. The views on this walk are epic: out over the English Channel, along the iconic White Cliffs and back across to Dover Castle and the ferry port.

I enjoyed watching the ferries coming and going from the Port of Dover. It’s just a big old floating bus service between England and France, really, isn’t it?

On a clear day, you’ll get a glimpse of the French Coast on this walk. The route is close enough to France that your phone may ping you a ‘Welcome to France’ message.

The surfaced path is fairly wide and well maintained, making the first section a nice little easy-to-follow warm up. There’s some ascent and descent, and the path narrows in parts, but it’s not too challenging.

Not long after leaving the start point, the route allows you to look along the White Cliffs and down to the rocky shore. You might spot a rusty looking iron rung ladder bolted to the cliff face. That’s our destination.

The Langdon Stairs

The Langdon Stairs: the part of this route where a walk officially becomes a bit of an adventure.

This is also the part of the route where it’s easy to go wrong. Every part of this route is on the National Trust maps at the visitor centre, but not brilliantly signed on the route. As a rough guide, find the metal pedestrian gate about midway between the visitor centre and the Fan Bay Deep Shelter. At this point, turn right down a rough track in front of you.

I’ve included a map via Komoot so you can see roughly where you’d need to veer off the main track in order to start the descent down the cliffside.

You’re on the right track if you spot the remnants of some old bricks and machinery; the remains of a small electricity station that once existed to power search light positions in the cliff face below, known as the ‘Langdon Lights’.

The initial steps will bring you to a concrete viewing platform with a hand rail. It’s a good place to pause for the sea view before tackling the six-section zig-zag path that runs down the cliff side.

FYI, the word ‘path’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. It’s a narrow and uneven track, eroded in parts and with a hand rail available only in some sections. The story goes that this old track was once used as a smugglers trail, and I can absolutely believe it.

Watch out for for people coming towards you as there’s really only passing room on the bends.

Langdon Bay Tunnel in the White Cliffs of Dover

At the end of the track, you arrive at the entrance to the creepy tunnel. I charged ahead in the spirit of, “This is exciting, I want to see what this is all about!”, but that didn’t last long. Once I realised how long and dark the tunnel actually was, I promptly swapped places with Mr THL and let him lead the way.

The tunnel was restored and reopened by the National Trust in 2019 to allow public access to the bay below. It’s officially called The Langdon Bay Tunnel, but it is also genuinely quite creepy. I’ve probably just watched too many low budget horror movies.

The 35-metre-long tunnel leads to a First World War searchlight position. Once used to illuminate the waters leading into Dover, it’s now closed off due its dangerous condition. You can peer through the gate to see what remains and there is some information about it on a wall display.

I think it’s wonderful that places like this are preserved and kept accessible to the public by the National Trust. If you visit NT sites more than a few times a year, a membership pretty much pays for itself. You can read more about that here.

The Ladder Down To The Beach

Emerging from the tunnel and searchlight position, you’ll arrive at the top of the seven metre high ladder. This is the only way down to the beach below. Take care at the bottom; how big the drop is depends on how the sea has shifted the shingle.

Once at the beach, take a break before tackling the route in reverse to get back to the starting point. On the way down I was thinking ‘ oh maaan, I have to get back up here later’, but getting back up actually isn’t that bad, I promise.

I did see someone swimming from the beach, but between the very rocky shoreline and the proximity to the Port of Dover, I wasn’t sure enough about the terrain and water safety/quality to swim myself.

If you get here at low tide, you can see the remains of a shipwreck. The SS Falcon caught fire at sea in the 1920’s. Dover Harbour refused her entry and she was deliberately grounded at Langdon Bay. We’ve not yet managed to get to the bay when the wreck is uncovered.

Tips For This Walk

There are no facilities on the beach or at any point on the route after the National Trust visitor centre, which means carrying anything you might need. I kept it simple: water, snacks, mobile phone and a light weight cotton towel.

Sturdy shoes are a must. The paths are gravel or dirt, there’s bits of brick work and machinery in the ground and a ladder to navigate. The wrong shoes will only lead to regret. I say that as the woman who hiked the Brocken Mountain in Germany in flip flops and learned the hard way.

Check the tide times before setting out– the visitor centre can give you details- both the beach and the bottom of the ladder are submerged at high tide. Keep the ladder in sight, there is a risk of being cut off by the tide.

Is This Walk Dog Friendly?

Absolutely not. There’s cattle grazing on the cliff path, unfenced cliff edge and the zig-zag route down the cliff is awkward. I don’t know any dog that could manage the ladder. Save this one for a dog free day.

Is This Walk Accessible by Public Transport?

This walk, and all of the attractions at the White Cliffs of Dover, are easily accessible by public transport and could be enjoyed as a day trip from London, with regular high speed services from London St Pancras. The cliffs are about a 2 mile walk from Dover Priory station.

For independent travellers, the route is well marked with brown signage and taxis are available at the station. The National Trust visitor centre can arrange a return taxi if required.

Looking for more inspiration for exploring in Kent? You might like to read one of these posts next:

7 Things to do in Folkestone Before Catching Le Shuttle or the Ferry

The Loose Valley Circular: A Pretty Country Walk nr. Maidstone, Kent

Exploring Samphire Hoe: The Nature Reserve Created by Eurotunnel

Helen x