Location: White Cliffs, National Trust

Date: 13th September 2023

Blog Written by: Gini (Disabled Walk Leader/ Founder)

We were blessed with a warm, sunny, dry morning at White Cliffs National Trust, Langdon Cliffs.

Our regulars were met with a few new participants, a pair of mothers with babies in buggies, who had joined our walk for the accessibility.

Also another new couple too, who had to cut their time short unfortunately.

We ventured off after introductions to the first picturesque viewing spot, overlooking the port, below where we could see and hear the busy ferries docking and departing.

We could just about make out the silhouette of France's coastline on the horizon, and we explained the cross channel GEO Park connections and Geology and the origin of the chalk grasslands.

We ventured back to the start of the newly installed accessible path and gates and the group meandered up the path, stopping to observe the array of butterflies and bees taking advantage of the remaining wildflowers. These included a Painted Lady as well as female blue butterflies which aren't actually blue, but more of a light brown shade.

The path was extremely busy with groups of ramblers from all nationalities walking to and from the Lighthouse at the far end of the path.

We managed to reach the section of steep steps which halted our journey. Passers by stopped to share their disappointment of other wheelchair users not being able to pass this point. We have hopes that maybe this will be possible sometime in the future.

The views overlooking the white cliffs were spectacular and well worth a wheel to see, even the steeper sections, but our Support Walker assisted to make it all safe.

Our return journey brought more stunning views over Dover Castle, Port and Seafront. We stopped and counted 13 ships in this busiest of shipping lanes in the world.

The highlight of this walk was perhaps the ever-changing colour pallette of the sea and sky. This included shades of grey, blues and turquoise. Remarkable!

📸 Image credits: Laura