Walks from Folkestone

Highly recommended: Coastal cliffs, chalk downland, sea defences, wild landslip area, wartime installations, ridge between valley and sea and town crossing.

Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.

Coastal: four fifths along the coast.

Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.

Western Heights (3h30 in)

Knights Templar Church Ruins (3h45 in)

Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)

1 lunch spot: Camping Café (1h15 in)

2 end-of-walk rewards: the Malvern, or the Priory Hotel

Warnings: Cracked sea defences.

Source: Trains2Green.

Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).

Reverse direction: Railwalks (inc. GPX).

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: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

1 lunch spot: the Gatekeeper Inn (1h30 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.

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: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)

2 lunch spots: Capel-le-Ferne (2h45 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.

Disused railway trackbed, orchards, fields, open downland, ridge with sea views, shingle beach, traffic-free seafront promenade and cliff gardens.

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Two steep hill climbs.

Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).

Coastal seafront, Folkestone Warren sea defences, steep cliff climb and cliff-top return with Channel views.

Time: 5h (3h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Cracked sea defences.

Source: A shorter variant of Folkestone to Dover (Saturday Walkers Club).

Cliff-top path, panoramic Channel views, wartime installations and chalk downland.

Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Source: An alternative variant of Folkestone to Dover (Saturday Walkers Club).

Escarpment ridge, steep climbs, open downland, White Cliffs cliff-top path, Channel views and beach and harbour.

White Cliffs of Dover (National Trust)

Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Steep climbs near start.

Source: A variant of Sandling to Folkestone or Dover (Saturday Walkers Club).

Dismantled railway, chalky escarpment ridge, steep climbs, open downland and long pavement finish.

Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)

Warnings: Long pavement to station.

Source: A shorter variant of Sandling to Folkestone or Dover (Saturday Walkers Club).

North Downs ridge, valley, disused railway, spectacular Channel views and road walking at end.

Warnings: Road walking at end.

Source: A longer variant of Sandling to Wye (Saturday Walkers Club).