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Rusty wooden posts extend into calm, shallow water on a sandy beach under a clear blue sky.
Walk along the Warren

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11 September 2025

What is The Warren?

  • A wild, landslip‑sculpted landscape: The Warren sits below Folkestone’s East Cliff, shaped by rotational landslides in chalk, Gault clay, and Greensand—creating the unique under‑cliff terrain you see today FolkelifeExplore Kent.

  • Protected and scientifically important: It’s designated both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its biological and geological significance and a Local Nature Reserve, with internationally important fossil and geological reference sites Wikipedia+1.

  • Rich in wildlife: Home to rare chalk‑grassland flora, nesting and wintering birds, over 330 moth species, and unique butterflies like the greyling and fiery clearwing—The Warren’s biodiversity is exceptional Wikipedia+1.

Black and white photo of a stone seawall with arches beside a rocky shoreline, extending into the distance under a partly cloudy sky.

How to Walk There

  • Starting point: Catch a train to Folkestone and walk through the town to the shoreline via Lower Leas Coastal Park, before heading out toward the East Cliff and Martello Towers Kent DownsWikipedia+1.

  • Routes & trails:

    • Opt for a 1.5‑mile “Chalk Path” loop, roughly an hour’s walk, with slopes, uneven terrain, steps, and some roadside sections explore.echoes.xyz.

    • For a longer adventure, follow a 6.6‑mile loop via AllTrails, which typically takes around 2½ hours AllTrails.com.

    • Other popular walks include the Four Seasons Walk, featuring interpretive panels, or taking the Saxon Shore Way / North Downs Way east from Capel‑le‑Ferne toward Dover Explore KentWikipediaFolkelife.

  • Difficulty & terrain: It’s moderately challenging. Slippery and overgrown paths, especially on descents and ascents, can be tough—particularly in wet weather Out of the LOOPBaldHiker. Good footwear is a must.

Black and white photo of rocky shoreline with smooth water, cloudy sky, and distant buildings on the right under a visible contrail.
Weathered wooden posts or shipwreck remains partially buried in sand on a beach, with scattered small rocks and shells nearby.
Black and white photo of multiple concrete arches receding in perspective, with sand covering the floor and shadows creating a strong contrast.
Rusty wooden posts extend into calm, shallow water on a sandy beach under a clear blue sky.
A long exposure photo of a cloudy beach with an old wooden structure extending into calm, misty water.
A paved path curves beside a small body of water, with grassy hills and white chalk cliffs rising in the background under a cloudy sky.
A paved path curves through grassy terrain toward white cliffs by the sea under a sunny, partly cloudy sky. Two people walk in the distance near the shoreline.
Black and white photo of a rocky shoreline with calm water, a distant pier, and buildings silhouetted against a bright sky.

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barrystewartphotography@gmail.com

barrystewartphotography@gmail.com

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