Getting There

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Access is possible (except at high tide) from Samphire Hoe Country Park (pay and display car parking). If you are prepared for a one-and-a-half-mile walk or cycle ride, better access is said to be from the Folkestone Eastern Pleasure Beach along the concrete "promenade".

Free on-street parking is possible near the Eastern Beach and there is a cliff-top paying car park (but this usually closes about 6pm - so check if you plan to stay late!).

(Samphire Hoe was constructed from the 4.9 million cubic metres of chalk dug out of the Channel Tunnel and deposited below the famous White cliffs of Dover. It is accessible by the public via single track tunnel controlled by traffic lights which crosses over the Kent Coast railway line. Visitor facilities are provided including car-parking, toilets and a cafe.)

Description

The beach is made up of pebbles and shingle with high chalk cliffs. It is inadvisable to sit directly under them, since cliff falls are frequent. Bathing is possible at high tide, but there may be problems with rocks at low tide.

The anti nudity by-law applying to other beaches in the 'Borough of Folkestone' may not apply at The Warren, since there is a suggestion that the land in this area belongs to the railway authority - the Abbots Cliff railway tunnel runs through the chalk cliff immediately behind the beach and responsibility for the sea defences to protect this stretch from erosion seem to lie with the railways.

Abbot's Cliff is shingle, can be windswept and some people might find the very high cliff "backdrop" a bit intimidating. There are occasional falls of chalk! Although it is possible to park a car and gain access from Samphire Hoe (except at high tide!), an alternative way to get there is by walking along the sea wall from the Eastern Pleasure Beach off Wear Bay Road, Folkestone. It's a two-mile trek but remains accessible irrespective of tides.

Selected Visitor Comments

July 2003 - "I was last at the Warren about a month ago and it was reasonably populated. There are large areas of "pea gravel" sized stones which I find better to sand as they don't stick to your sun oil."

August 2004 - "The beach is still there, still nudist. Mostly men...although there was a grandfather with his grandchildren. Other than that though, mostly gay men. The sea was quite warm, although I would warn people about the rocks in the sea. But it was my first time to a nudist beach and I'm definately returning!"

July 06, 2007 - "I went to Abbots Cliff naturist beach last summer a few times and each time there were both nude men and girls. It gave a nice safe atmosphere and was great fun!"

January 03, 2008 - "The Folkestone side is a fairly long walk, much shorter if you come from Samphire Hoe. I have actually started to use Samphire Hoe side more as... there is a burnt out car Folkestone side and lots of rubbish. The beach is much cleaner at Samphire Hoe. Again, men and girls use this part so still a nice safe, relaxed atmosphere."

June 26, 2008 - "Spent a very enjoyable day at Abbotts Cliff last weekend. Went from Samphire Hoe end. Nice beach, good relaxed atmosphere, both young and old nudists there. Excellent sunbathing! Will definately return."

July 12, 2009 - "..much of the rubbish you see at the beach is mostly washed up by the tide from the ships and it does get cleaned up.. it's a very nice peaceful beach and well out of the way... there are some nice rock pools to swim in when the tide is out also when the tide is out there is a nice sandy part of the beach..."

July 20, 2009 - "My friend Clare and I went to Samphire Hoe for the first time. its a lovely beach, there were some others there a few younger girls topless and one or two fully nude. It was our first time, we strated topless then got brave and went for it! Was fantastic and we will definately be returning..."

August 10, 2009 - [how long does it take to walk to the naturist beach from Folkestone?] It depends where you start from. If you go by car and can park in Wear Bay, it's about 30-45 minutes to walk down and along. From anywhere else in Folkestone, it's longer. BUT there's a big 'but'. You need to time your arrival at the end of the concrete for 2 hours [either side of] high tide. Once you're down, you're cut off for four hours or so. Before Samphire Hoe [was built] this was the guarantee of total privacy."

August 23, 2009 - "...nice, once we got there, but it took a good hour to walk from Folkestone end. We parked free in Wear Bay Road, and walked over the edge of the golf course, then down a small steep path to the Beach. It was a hot day, with a mixture of men and ladies there. The only off putting thing for us was the long walk in the very hot sunshine."

August 24, 2009 - "...I found a way down from Capel that is a bit easier. It just depends where you are coming from in the first place. there is a cafe on the cliff tops that has a path going down to the woods below. once down there take any left turns in the path there are untill you come to the railway bridge. once over the bridge go right then the first left turn and you go down a slope onto the sea wall about 4/5ths the way there."

August 26, 2009 - "..if your coming from dover is it not better even to park in Samphire Hoe car park and then just walk from there ? I'm sure thats even less of a trip."

August 27, 2009 - "Tried the walk down from the Cafe at Capel today. It was a lovely walk, through the woods. Coming back was a bit of a killer ! you need good shoes, and be fairly fit, as its a steep climb back up. Good fun though ! Took about 40 mins to get there, and im sure a little longer to return, so not too bad at all. My only concern re parking at Samphire Hoe, and walking along the beach is that it may be a bit tougher and awkward on the old feet walking some distance on shingle ..."

August 29, 2009 - "...it may be a bit longer in distance to samphire but its flatter and getting back would be easyer. then again you need to time your day around the tides.

September 26, 2009 - [from] the former East Cliff Pavilion in Wear Bay Rd. Folkestone.. I used to go on my bike past the Old Martello Tower, down past the end of the railway Tunnel, past the Campsite. and through the gate down onto the Sea Wall & along to the end. About 10/15 minutes. A Bit longer coming back up the Hill. THIS WAY DOES NOT GET CUT OFF BY THE TIDE. "

October 03, 2009 - "...a long walk from Folkestone on a very hot day, (about 1 hour). Beautiful beach and views with secluded spots between the fallen chalk boulders."