Guided Walk: Folkestone Warren, Fossils & Landscape Explorer

Event Date: 24/09/2023 11:00 - 16:00

Join us on a circular walk from Folkestone Central Train Station through the town of Folkestone to the fantastic Folkestone Warren. Hear about Folkestone as we walk to the Warren. See and hear about the geology, landscape, wildlife and the formation of the English Channel by the megafloods. Your chance to search for fossils on the beach. You’ll see the White Cliffs, beautiful sea views, maybe the French coast, flower and wildlife. The walk into the warren includes some steep slopes, muddy paths, about 40 steps and rocky seashore so please bring suitable outdoor footwear and clothing suitable for the weather forecast, sun hat, sun lotion. Bring a packed lunch, snacks and plenty to drink.

Distance: about 4.5-5 miles (7.25 km) total

Duration: about 4-5 hours (walk to the Warren (40-50 minutes), about 2 -2.5 hours in the Warren fossil hunting, (40-50 minutes) walk back to railway station)

Sunset: 18:50 hours

Leader: Melanie Wrigley, White Cliffs Countryside Partnership

Email: melanie.wrigley@dover.gov.uk

Event Location - Folkestone Warren

Folkestone Warren is a fascinating area of cliff, coast, woodland and grassland formed by a series of landslips. The beach is one of the best places in Britain to find fossils, particularly those of ammonites, and the rockpools can be explored at low tide.

To the north of the railway line and directly beneath the chalk cliffs is the hart’s-tongue wood, an area of humid and undisturbed woodland covered in the glossy-green fronds of hart’s tongue fern. To the south of the railway line is an area of chalk grassland where cattle grazing has been re-established.

The North Downs Way runs along the top of the cliffs and links the site to Folkestone Downs to the west and Samphire Hoe to the east.

The Warren is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve and is managed on behalf of Folkestone and Hythe District Council and Network Rail.