Walk 13 : Folkestone Circular

13.1 km (8.2 miles).

Landranger 179, Explorer 138

One steep hill is 8 out of 10: the rest is mainly flat: 2 out of 10.

This is an unusual and sometimes adventurous coastal walk with fine sea views throughout. It firstly introduces you to some of the quainter sides of Folkestone, a town which like many south coast seaside towns has unfortunately seen better days but still has some surprisingly nice corners, and then takes you past two fine Martello Towers (part of a chain built for defence against an invasion by Napoleon).

You next descend into The Warren, an unexpected area of wild coastline to the east of Folkestone, and pass along a strange concrete seafront esplanade, almost certainly left over from World War Two. The highlight of the walk then follows - an exhilarating and little used path that climbs perfectly safely and easily up among what look from below like impossibly sheer cliffs. From there it is back along the cliff top to Folkestone, on a route which, if not exactly rural, does have plenty of green spaces, and which affords stunning views of the English Channel and the Warren below.

Take the train nearest to 9.50am from Charing Cross.Journey time is one hour 30 minutes.

Various options en route: see PDF; if open, the Clifftop Cafe is a real highlight of this walk: it lives up exactly to its name, and has stunning views.