Western Heights Walking Tour (Self Guided), Dover

The Western Heights of Dover is an impressive fortification built for protection against invaders. Construction took place at the time of the Napoleonic Wars, with improvements continuing during the 19th century. This immense hilltop fortress features an incredible network of forts, barracks, tunnels, ramparts, and massive ditches.

There are two forts at Western Heights, the Drop Redoubt and the Citadel. The forts were linked together by wide dry ditches strengthened by brick walls for defensive purposes. They offer an intriguing spot for exploration around the fortification.

The Grand Shaft is a vertical passageway that descends from the top of Western Heights down to the town below. It contains a unique triple spiral staircase, the only one in the country. The North Entrance was once the main entrance to the fortification. Entering into a tunnel, it offered access to the fortress for military members and supplies.

St Martin's Battery was built to help improve the coastal defense. This Victorian gun battery sits on a hillside location that offers stunning harbor views. Don't miss the ruins of the Knights Templar Church, located in a quiet area near a residential neighborhood of Western Heights. Historically interesting, though little remains of this ancient structure other than the stone and flint foundation of the chapel.

A walk through the countryside on the pathways and trails around Western Heights offers magnificent views of the harbor and town of Dover. You'll love exploring this fascinating fortification as you experience history on this self-guided walking tour.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Jarosław Baranowski.

How it works: Download the app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store to your mobile phone or tablet. The app turns your mobile device into a personal tour guide and its built-in GPS navigation functions guide you from one tour stop to next. The app works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walks in Dover

Map Instructions: (1) Click the "Nearby Sights" button to view the nearby attractions; (2) click a map pin to see sight information.

Guide Name: Western Heights Walking Tour
Guide Location: England » Dover (See other walking tours in Dover)
Guide Type: Self-guided Walking Tour (Sightseeing)
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles

Sights Featured in This Walk

WalkBuilder (customize this walk or build your own)

Use the WalkBuilder tool below to customize this walk to suit your interests. Instructions: click

at the upper right corner in the map above to view other sights in the city. To learn more about a sight, click a map pin. Click the “+” or “–” to add or remove a sight from the walk. To reorder the selected sights, simply drag and move them up or down the list in the left column.

Click here to view route map

Enter a name for your custom walk, along with your email address, in the fields below. You will receive the instructions for retrieving your custom walk in the GPSmyCity app by email. The GPSmyCity app offers turn-by-turn travel directions to guide you from one attraction to the next.
Walk Name*:
Email*:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I access my walking tour in Dover?
Save your walking tour on the website. Then download the GPSmyCity app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and sign in to your GPSmyCity account. Next, download “Dover Map and Walking Tours” within the app. Your walk will appear on the Walks screen.

2. How do I view other attractions in Dover?
At the upper-right corner of the map above, click the “Nearby Sights” button to show or hide other sights in the city. Click a map pin to view details about a sight. To add a sight to your walk, find it in the right column of the WalkBuilder tool above and click the “+” button next to it.

3. How do I re-arrange the sight order?
In the left column of the WalkBuilder tool, drag a sight to move it up or down the list. Then click “Click here to view route map”. Repeat this process until the route meets your needs.

4. Can I add my hotel to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add your hotel as the starting point, the ending point, or both (creating a loop route). This feature is currently available only in the GPSmyCity app.

5. Can I add my own sights to a walking tour?
Yes. You can add sightss that are not in our database and include them in your walk. To do so, sign in to your GPSmyCity account on the website or use the GPSmyCity app.

6. How many sights can be included in a walking tour?
For technical reasons, the number of sights in a walking tour is currently capped at 20. This limit may be increased over time.

Walking Tours in Dover, England

Create Your Own Walk in Dover

Creating your own self-guided walk in Dover is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Dover Introduction Walking Tour

The lovely coastal town of Dover in Kent, England, overlooking the English Channel from the height of the striking white chalk cliffs, has long been a major sea gate to the country. It is to this iconic landmark, known as the "White Cliffs of Dover", that the isle of Great Britain owes its nickname, the Albion.

According to archaeological findings, this location at the narrowest... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles