Walks near Dover Priory by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Dover Priory and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Dover Priory.
Margate to Broadstairs (Kent)
1 hour from Dover Priory, with one change.
Beginner-friendly: Just keep the sea on your left and follow it to Broadstairs.
Coastal: almost all along the coast.
Time: 3h–6h
1 lunch spot: the Captain Digby (1h30–3h in)
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Tartar Frigate, the Neptune's Hall, Siam Kitchen, the Magnet Micropub, or the Prince Albert
Warnings: Very popular and busy.
Adapted from: Railwalks.
Sandling to Folkestone Central (Kent)
15 minutes direct from Dover Priory.
Highly recommended: Chalky escarpment ridge, steep climbs, open downland with Channel views, cliff top promenade, shingle beach and historic harbour.
Hilly: two fifths on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Time: 5h30–10h30
1 lunch spot: the Gatekeeper Inn (1h30–3h in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: Valiant Sailor, the Lord Morris, or the Park Inn
Warnings: Steep climbs near start.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Charing to Chilham (Kent)
45 minutes from Dover Priory, with one change.
Highly recommended
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Time: 4h30–9h
2 lunch spots: the Flying Horse (2h–3h30 in), or Perry Court Tea Room (2h–3h30 in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Chilham Square, the White Horse, Chilham, or the Woolpack Inn, Chilham
Warnings: Penultimate section of the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Chilham to Canterbury East (Kent)
45 minutes from Dover Priory, with one change.
Highly recommended
Time: 3h–6h
2 lunch spots: Chilham (30m–1h in) — the Chilham Square, or the Star Inn
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Monument, the Unicorn Inn, the West Gate Inn, the Carpenters Arms, or the Old Buttermarket
Warnings: A fifth urban.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Winchelsea to Hastings (Sussex)
1 hour from Dover Priory, with one change.
Highly recommended
Coastal: three quarters along the coast.
Time: 4h–8h30
2 lunch spots: the New Beach Club (1h30–3h in), or the Cove (2h–4h in)
8 end-of-walk rewards: the Jolly Fisherman, the Lord Nelson, the Royal Standard, the London Trader, the Hastings Arms, Ye Olde Pumphouse, the Cutter, or the Albion
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Folkestone Central Circular via Castle Hill (Kent)
15 minutes direct from Dover Priory.
Highly recommended: Verdant coastal cliffs, rolling hills and suburban streets.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Coastal: three fifths along the coast.
Time: 5h–9h30
2 lunch spots: Capel-le-Ferne (3h–5h30 in) — Cliff Top Café, or the Royal Oak
7 end-of-walk rewards: the Royal George, the Harbour Inn, the Kipps' Alehouse, the Samuel Peto, the Pullman, the East Kent Arms, or the Lord Morris
Warnings: Begins, necessarily, with a lengthy suburban segment, but then becomes very beautiful and surprisingly quiet. Particularly lovely on the walk along the cliffs east of Folkestone, where there are also a number of lunch spot choices. The narrow overgrown paths are best. But note that there is a LOT of steep ascents and descents on this walk.
Source: Trains2Green.
Hastings to Rye (Sussex)
1 hour from Dover Priory, with one change.
Highly recommended: Clifftop coastal path, steep climbs, remote naturist beach, flat marshland, ancient hilltop towns and panoramic viewpoints.
Coastal: three fifths along the coast.
Time: 5h30–11h30
Warnings: Crumbly cliff edges.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Reverse direction: Railwalks.
Ramsgate to Margate (Kent)
45 minutes direct from Dover Priory.
Recommended: Low chalk cliffs, sandy bays and coves, cliff-top grassland, seaside promenades and historic coastal towns.
Coastal: nine tenths along the coast.
Kingsgate Bay: A chalk-cliff cove on the Thanet coast near Broadstairs, framed by a natural sea arch.
Time: 4h30–9h
2 lunch spots: the Royal Victoria Pavilion (30m–1h30 in), or Forts Café (1h30–3h30 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Mechanical Elephant, or the Cinque Ports
Warnings: Very popular and busy. Check tide timings.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Walking Post (inc. GPX).
Canterbury East Circular via Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Dover Priory.
Flat Kent countryside, arable fields, woods, ancient villages, oast houses, polytunnel farms and riverside.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Chilham Circular via Chilham (Kent)
45 minutes from Dover Priory, with one change.
Downland escarpment, upland fields, woods, bluebell woods, country estate and a hilltop village.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Rye Circular via St Mary the Virgin (Sussex)
1 hour from Dover Priory, with one change.
Medieval hilltop town, reclaimed marshland, shingle beach, saline lagoons, freshwater gravel pits, reedbeds, riverside embankments and coastal nature reserve.
Time: 3h30
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Sandling to Wye (Kent)
15 minutes direct from Dover Priory.
North Downs escarpment ridge, open downland, woods, sloping fields and fine views over Kent coast.
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).