It’s the coast with the most – so step out and explore with the annual White Cliffs Walking Festival. Graham Smith looks at what’s on offer, from gentle town tours to epic treks

It’s best foot forward for this year’s White Cliffs Walking Festival.

The seven-day festival features 42 long and short walks, exploring historical treasures and local landmarks to epic treks taking in breathtaking views.

Running from Thursday, August 24, to Wednesday August 30, this will be the festival’s fourth annual outing, which is organised by the White Cliffs Ramblers, who are hoping to beat last year’s record of 1,102 walkers over the week.

The walks range from one or two miles to the 32-mile White Cliffs Challenge, put on for the festival by the Long Distance Walkers Association, with an opening ceremony on Walmer Green.

This will be attended by Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of outdoors access campaign group the Open Spaces Society, and Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke.

Other walks include two previews of the 2.5-mile Royal Marines Heritage Trail in Deal, a 2.5-mile Carers’ Stroll for people with disabilities and their carers, and the nine-mile Jane’s Footsteps, visiting places in the Goodnestone area associated with Jane Austen.

There are also three White Cliffs Coastal Trails, ranging from seven to 9.5 miles, and the 23-mile 4gotten Pits Walk, visiting the sites of four Kent collieries which never went into commercial production. The opening ceremony, which starts at 10am, will be followed by a choice of three walks, ranging from six to 10 miles.

Bev Cussans, who chairs the festival’s organising group, said: “We are heartened by the numbers of people booking for this year’s White Cliffs Walking Festival.

“Our walks cater for everyone, and include special interest walks, gentle strolls around town, family adventure experiences, breathtaking clifftop walks and brisk challenges over 15 miles.”

Activities for kids include the Samphire Hoe Adventure on Wednesday August 30, departing 2pm. It starts at the site’s education shelter for a short family walk to the west beach and back. On the beach there will be a scavenger hunt.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS

NELSON’S SEAT

Date: Thursday, August 24
Time: 10am
Lasts: Three hours
A walk along the seafront to Walmer Castle, then a gentle ascent along quiet roads and paths to fields and woodland. Fine views of The Downs from Nelson’s Seat. Leisurely.

HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF DOVER

Date: Thursday, August 24
Time: 6.30pm
Lasts: 1.5 hours
Led by a local history expert, discover the Dover you never knew existed. Includes insights from recent excavations. Easy.

FISH AND CHIPS

Date: Thursday, August 24
Time: 5.15pm
Lasts: 4.25 hours
From Walmer station to Dover via the White Cliffs. Fish and chips in Dover, then make your own way back by train or bus. A superb walk, taking in the twinkling lights of Dover Harbour. Undulating and brisk.

DETAILS

The White Cliffs Walking Festival runs from Thursday, August 24, to Wednesday, August 30.
For details of all the walks and how to book a place, visit whitecliffswalkingfestival.org.uk
The festival’s programme is also on a leaflet which has been distributed to tourist information centres, pubs, council offices and other outlets in East Kent.