Dover to Dungeness - Day 3

The final day was from Dymchurch to Dungeness, we started off by taking the bus from Dymchurch to Lytleton where we got off at the Jolly Fisherman.  Walking along the road parallel to the coast there wasn’t much to see on the sandy beach, with calm waveless sea on one side and picturesque sea front cottages on the other. Finally we see the “Welcome to Dungeness” sign and its famous power station in the distance.

We then came across a beach copper, a structure that resembled a miniature building with a chimney, its job is to dry and preserve fishing nets. I learnt something new then.  Next we passed Dungeness RNLI lifeboat house, however no lifeboats were visible.

Moving further along, I saw something I have not seen for a long time, a KX100 telephone box, sadly disused. 

It felt like walking along a drizzly, windswept wilderness where I was at one with nature.  Is this what heaven is like?  Next we found ourselves walking in the Dungeness estate, with its scattered warning signs against camping and flying drones. We passed the former home of the late arthouse filmmaker Derek Jarman.  Apart from the old telephone box another odd sight here was train goods carriage, rusting away due to the elements. How did it get here?  What was it for? We will never know.

The wilderness was dotted with shipwrecks and small abandoned buildings, their use now defunct.  The two Dungeness lighthouses came into clear view, sitting proudly next to the power station. The darker one obsolete while its striped successor proudly pulsating its photons to any sea captain who is interested.

Finally it was time to head back, on our way we stop at the Pilot Inn for a cup of Earl Grey before taking our bus back to Folkestone.  The Pilot Inn, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, proudly boasts about the money raised by its quiz nights last year.  Another only in Britain moment.  Outside lay part of a world war two warplane and an anchor to keep it company, Around the corner we found a red telephone box, also disused.  After waiting a few minutes for its opening we were let in.  Being on the cheeky side, we sat in the dog friendly area despite not having a canine companion. As I waited for my pot of tea, I noticed first day covers on display on a wall.  I went for a closer look, I must be getting nerdy in my old age.

All in all it was an enjoyable three days on the Kent coast, many thanks to my friend for inviting me, it was informative as well as being good exercise.

Dover to Dungeness - Day 1

Last week my best friend and I embarked on a 3 day walk along the Kent coast between Dover and Dungeness on the England coast path. On the first day we walked from Dover to Folkestone.

We started at midday from Dover Priory station and straight away it was some strenuous stair climbing to reach the Knights Templar church ruin in the Western Heights. Built in the eleventh century it looked very small, obviously not expecting a large congregation back then. 

Before long we were walking along the cliff tops, France loomed on the horizon and container ships sailed in the channel. We didn’t see any of the much reported migrant boats though. After passing Shakespeare cliff we saw our first world war 2 concrete pill box, entry wasn’t allowed but we did enter the next one. It was very dilapidated and an eerie experience. I thought about those who were posted in there, waiting for the invasion that thankfully never arrived.

Then, under steel coloured skies, an abandoned fenced off building came into view. What could it be? A former command centre? An ex-stores warehouse? I have no idea. 

Another structure we couldn't work were these conical structures that resembled short thick chimneys.

Before entering the town, there was our final WW2 landmark, the Battle of Britain memorial. A tribute to the few, with the names of the fallen eched on a marble slab, overlooked by a Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire. There was a small museum alongside the memorial and if I had more time, I would have given it more of my attention. But alas we were here to complete a journey.

Luckily the weather held for us. When we arrived in Folkestone, I noticed lots of sculptures and other artistic structures. It was to do with the Folkestone Triennial, a thrice annual arts festival. Not what I was expecting but interesting nonetheless, so I photographed a few. 

One interesting sculpture was the Folkestone Mermaid, not as big as the ones in Copenhagen or Zhuhai but pretty anyway.

Second world war pill boxes weren't the only coastal defences found in Kent, before those were the Martello towers, built during the Napoleonic wars to fend off a French invasion which also never materialized. We came across Martello number three on Wear Bay Road.

It was my first time in Folkestone and first impressions were that it was more a seaside resort rather than a major port, with its shingle and beach huts. Before long we arrived at our hotel reasonably tired. That’s day one done.