Best Walks along the South Coast of England
The UK offers an amazing variety of outdoor trails to explore and the South Coast offers a significant chunk of them. Whether you're holidaying in the area, or you're fortunate enough to live there, you'll want to make time for hiking. But which walks are best? Let's take a look at four great trails from four major southern counties.
Dover's White Cliffs to Deal (Kent)
Ask people to think of an iconic section of British coastline, and they'll tend to picture the White Cliffs in Dover. This walk stretches from those very cliffs, all the way to the town of Deal. The area is overseen by the National Trust, which means you can expect stellar facilities, and (if you're a member) free parking. The route includes stunning views of the coast, including all of the wildlife that live there, and the castle in Dover itself.
Ask people to think of an iconic section of British coastline, and they'll tend to picture the White Cliffs in Dover.
Walking from Dover to Deal, the area is overseen by the National Trust, which means you can expect stellar facilities, and (if you're a member) free parking.
If you're planning a wider tour of the South Coast, a visit to Bluebell Hill Car Sales, might be worthwhile. You could test drive a beautiful convertible and take in the picturesque views of the coast or alternatively an energetic 4x4 for the more adventurous routes.
Walking from Seaford to Eastbourne provides excellent views of the Seven Sister’s chalk cliffs.
Seven Sisters Walk from Seaford to Eastbourne
This incredible fourteen-mile coastal walk provides excellent views of the Seven Sisters – these being another set of chalk cliffs that face the English Channel. This is part of the wider South Downs National Park, which holds the distinction of being the most recently designated in the country.
If you're unsure that you can tackle the entire fourteen miles in one go, then you might consider breaking the walk down into sections. Fortunately, there are plenty of places to stop for a bite to eat – most walkers elect to stop at the Birling Gap, where you can take the stairs down to an amazing pebble beach.
New Forest National Park to Hurst Castle (Hampshire)
For a healthy blend of tranquil woodland, inspiring heathland, and stirring coastline, it's difficult to beat this incredible national park. With the diverse landscape comes an impressive diversity of plants and animals, including wild ponies. There's a variety of routes to choose from, but while you're in the area, you'll want to visit Hurst Castle, which can be found just beside the coast at Milford on Sea.
A visit to Hurst Castle is a great way to find out more about the area’s heritage. Pic Credit: Hurst Castle UK via Instagram
The castle grounds feature it’s historic lighthouse.
Walking from Folkestone to Rye you can take in the beautiful views of Romney Marsh.
The Saxon Shore Way from Folkestone to Rye (Kent & East Sussex)
Circling back to Kent, we find the Saxon Shore Way, which winds its way around the country's Southeast corner, from Hastings to Gravesend. The more memorable sections, however, sit between Folkestone to Rye, from where you can get excellent views of Romney Marsh and the amazing wading birds that live there.