SSouth Foreland Lighthouse - Dover

South Foreland Lighthouse 

This was our last stop of the day while walking along the White Cliffs of Dover. When we arrived in Dover, we wanted to visit the lighthouse, so we parked in the White Cliffs car park and then walked the 2-3 miles along the cliffs to reach the lighthouse. Along the way, we stopped at the Langdon Battery and the Fan Bay Deep Shelter. We also encountered some cows that seemed quite tame, as they refused to move out of the way for anyone. The walk along the cliffs was lovely, and we were extremely lucky to have good weather on our side. The only downside was that the clocks on our phones kept changing because they kept syncing with French time, which made it a bit confusing as we always thought we were an hour ahead when we weren't!

When we arrived at the lighthouse, we showed them our National Trust pass and were placed on the next tour. We only had to wait around 15-20 minutes before the tour started. I have to say, the tour was quite interesting, and for someone who has visited Dover so many times, I can’t believe I had never been to the lighthouse before.

This lighthouse dates back to Victorian times and was built in 1843. It is said to be the first lighthouse to be built with electric light and also played a role in early radio transmissions.

Langdon Coast Artillery Searchlights, & fan bay deep shelter

 Langdon Searchlight & Fan Bay Deep Shelter 

The last time I explored the Langdon Searchlight was in 2019, after it was dug out by the National Trust. I thought it would be a good idea to check it out again with my friend and my daughter. I have to say, exploring it on an extremely hot day was not the best idea. The walk down to it was horrible; I had forgotten how steep the zigzag path was. However, once we got down there, it was nice, and the view was beautiful. My daughter wanted to go to the beach, but the tide was still rough and going out, so I didn't want her going down to the beach. The Langdon Searchlight was first built in 1909 and was used to watch out for warships. By the time World War II happened, another searchlight was added, and they were all connected via a chalk tunnel. Sadly, one of the searchlights was destroyed in the early '90s after a rockfall occurred. Then, in 2013, another rockfall happened, causing the footpath to be completely shut off for anyone trying to get down to it. The National Trust made a new access tunnel for people to go down to the beach and enjoy it.

The overall experience was really good, and it was a great day out despite the heat. We will need to revisit to see the boat later.

Fan Bay Deep Shelter 

I have explored the Fan Bay Deep Shelter before on a tour, and I must say it was quite enjoyable. This time, my daughter joined me, and she really loved the experience. They had extra areas open that weren’t accessible during my last visit, so it was a treat to see those.

Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about the site, and it was nice that the tour started outside at the gun placement before moving into the magazine. At the end of the tour, they allow you to return to the gun placement if you’d like to go back.

The Fan Bay Deep Shelter dates back to the 1940s and housed 185 soldiers during the war. It was built in just five months and included six five-inch guns. After World War II, the Fan Bay Deep Shelter was abandoned until the National Trust discovered it in 2012 and restored it for public access in 2015. Over the years, more areas have been excavated and added to the tours. I highly recommend visiting if you're in Dover!