London-based hiker, Zoe Tehrani took a 66-minute train journey from St Pancras to the south coast where she showcased a stunning, secluded beach with its own shipwreck
A hiker has showcased a stunning coastal town that is just over an hour’s train journey from London and offers visitors the luxury of a hidden beach with its own shipwreck. Zoe Tehrani, who lives in the capital, shared footage of herself clambering down a rusty ladder to the shingle beach before embarking on a zigzagging trail across the cliff.
“There might also be a creepy tunnel that used to be a smuggling route,” she enthused in a TikTok video. Zoe proceeded to detail her trip, advising that she caught the train at London St. Pancras and headed south for 66 minutes.
The town in question is Dover, which boasts a railway station that’s just 10 minutes walk away from the coast. “It’s not the most scenic to get there, but at least there’s a mist tunnel along the way,” Zoe continued.
“I followed signs for the White Cliffs of Dover, passed colourful houses, headed up the chunky hill then at the top the trail levelled out nicely.” Zoe then pointed her camera down towards the beach, and set off again on another zigzag trail, making a gradual descent. She warned that inside the smugglers’ tunnel there are no lights, which is “a little bit creepy”
“There’s a few things you need to know about this beach,” she added. “It’s underwater at high tide, so it needs to be out a bit – and you don’t want to sit [directly] below the cliffs because they are crumbling.”
Zoe decided to go for a dip in the Channel, which required carefully navigating seaweed to reach the water. “You definitely want sea shoes for this one,” she suggested. “And it’s much nicer to get in when the tide is a little higher, so I chilled for a bit, had some lunch and then it was perfect.”
White Cliffs of Dover paths are managed by the National Trust, which advises online : “There is a wheelchair-friendly footpath that leads to a viewing point, ideal if you just want a short route to see the famous cliffs.
“This all-weather path is built with a staggered incline, which allows for a few breathers on the way up. At the top is one of the best views of the cliffs, with the rolling green landscape and sheer chalk edge, dropping to the sea below.”
Venturing further presents walkers with a choice of paths, which are steeper nearest the cliff and gentler further inland.
“These will take you to Fan Bay Deep Shelter and South Foreland Lighthouse,” the National Trust goes on. “Beyond the lighthouse, you can continue walking the coast path to St Margaret’s, Kingsdown, or even Walmer or Deal.
“The ground can be uneven and the weather unpredictable, so please wear stout shoes and dress appropriately.”
Writing in response to Zoe’s clip, one TikTok user said: “[I] went. Worth it for the views and the challenge but the beach/water is pretty bad. And the ladder was so scary, almost vertical.”
While a second person praised: “Stunning area.”
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