Naturist / Nudist Beaches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland

Abbot's Cliff - near Folkestone

Kent

Long easy walk, or short steep descent down into the Warren, an under-cliff, to a hidden beach overlooking the Channel to France. Reports of council hostility.

Problems - check the latest updates

The Warren at Abbot's Cliff is a long-established unofficial beach, midway between Folkestone and Dover. Though less popular than it once was, it is still used - mostly by local naturists.

Jul-23 All seems OK now - had a report in 2022 of police asking people to stop. Please let us know how you get on.

Description

The beach is made up of pebbles and shingle beneath high chalk cliffs. It is inadvisable to sit directly under them, since cliff falls are frequent. Bathing is possible at high tide, but there may be problems with rocks at low tide.

The anti nudity by-law applying to other beaches in the 'Borough of Folkestone' may not apply at The Warren, since there is a suggestion that the land in this area belongs to the railway authority - the Abbots Cliff railway tunnel runs through the chalk cliff immediately behind the beach and responsibility for the sea defences to protect this stretch from erosion seem to lie with the railways.

Abbot's Cliff is shingle, can be windswept and some people might find the very high cliff "backdrop" a bit intimidating. There are occasional falls of chalk! Although it is possible to park a car and gain access from Samphire Hoe (except at high tide!), an alternative way to get there is by walking along the sea wall from the Eastern Pleasure Beach off Wear Bay Road, Folkestone. It's a two-mile trek but remains accessible irrespective of tides.

Getting There

Google Map

The beach is between Samphire Hoe Country Park and 'The Warren' Country Park - an undercliff at the end of Folkestone's seafront. There are 3 ways of getting there

From Samphire Hoe Country Park (satnav: CT17 9FL, pay and display car parking). A short walk on shingle. May be cut off at high tide. Samphire Hoe was constructed from the 4.9 million cubic metres of chalk dug out of the Channel Tunnel and deposited below the famous White cliffs of Dover. It is accessible by the public via single track tunnel controlled by traffic lights which crosses over the Kent Coast railway line. Visitor facilities are provided including car-parking, toilets and a cafe. From here, walk west (facing the sea, turn right), and walk at the base of the cliffs.
From Folkestone (Satnav: CT19 6AT, Wear Bay Road) If you are prepared for a one-and-a-half-mile walk or cycle ride, continue from Folkestone Eastern Pleasure Beach to the end of the seafront. Leave the beach, and head up towards the Martello Tower, then down to the 'Warren' (signposted), and follow the concrete "promenade" all the way to it's end. Free on-street parking is possible near the Eastern Beach and there is a cliff-top paying car park (but this usually closes about 6pm - so check if you plan to stay late!). Note that the road (off Wear Bay Road) leading down to the warren and campsite is private.
From Capel-le-Ferne (Satnav: CT18 7HP) (by New Dover Road / Old Dover Road). Free parking. Two safe but very steep path down the cliffs to the concrete promenade. And a very steep 500 feet back up! Both paths down lead to the bridge over the railway line. One leaves the cliff top path just behind the trailer park, the other starts by the 'Cliff top cafe' (stunning channel views!). At the bottom, turn left along the concrete promenade, and walk for 5 mins. Just past the end of the concrete.

Revised

Jun 2022

Map

Comments

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Ken C

23-Jul-23
Sarah G

14-Jun-22
Sarah G

13-Jun-22
Philip Roberts

07-Sep-21
Chris Russell

Aug-19
James Wright

Jul-18
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Sep-17
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May-17
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Naturist / Nudist Beaches in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland

Abbot's Cliff - near Folkestone

Kent

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