A day out at...Samphire Hoe
A day out here has only been possible for the last
couple of years. Samphire Hoe is an area of land created entirely
from spoil dug from the Channel Tunnel. They had to put it somewhere
and so decide to put it behind a new breakwater in front of the
Cliffs between Dover and Folkestone. An entirely new nature reserve
has been created and the chalk sewn with wildgrass and wild plant
seeds to create as natural a habitat as possible.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to reach Samphire
Hoe directly by public transport, although you can walk along
the coast to it from either Dover or Folkestone. Indeed, this
makes for quite an interesting day out. You can walk along the
whole coast between the two towns and return by bus or train.
To get to Samphire Hoe by car, look for the signs
on the A20 Dual Carriageway between Dover and Folkestone.
You must be travelling from Dover to Folkestone,
if you are not, turn at the roundabout and go back in that direction.
The signs direct you to a single car width tunnel that is controlled
by traffic lights. They take ages to change so be patient, you
do not want to meet anyone in the middle!
The tunnel was used during the construction of the
Channel Tunnel and is a bit of an experience to travel through
in itself.
Once you are through the tunnel, follow the signs
to the car park. There is a small parking fee but there are toilets
and information boards telling you more about the place. The new
land makes views of the Cliffs possible that previously could
only be had by boat.
Where once the trains ran by the sea under the Cliff
there is now a new piece of land with scenic footpaths across
it that even has landscaped lakes. The land is actually laid out
to simulate naturally landslipped land, to be as close to nature
as possible.
You can walk out to the beach towards Folkestone
and can get down to the sea at both ends of the site.
The breakwater that was built to hold the new area
of land is massive, it has created a very long promenade that
can be walked along. It is also popular with fishermen.
The picture above shows the view from the beach
of the massive breakwater, the picture below shows the promenade.
At the Dover end of the site, you can view cliffs
and caves that were invisible to all but boatowners before the
building of Samphire Hoe. ... You can get up close to the cliffs,
if you do not mind risking the odd half ton rock falling on you!
Wherever you go on Samphire Hoe, there are lots
of helpful signposts so that you will not get lost.
...All in all, not a bad place to spend a few hours.
Especially if the weather is good.
Other Days Out
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