“This is southeastern service, calling at final halt, Dover Priory”, the automatic in-train radio crackled, rousing me from my half-sleep. Nearby, I could see my friends stretching their legs and getting ready to alight, after an hour of travelling from Gillingham, the place where I was interning.
Dover. This had been the place that I had fixated on for quite some months. However, the English weather made it impossible to visit it in the months of January till mid April. It is said that if you visit the cliffs on a bright-sunny day, you can see the french coastline. My obsession with history, culture and rustic beauty had placed Dover on the top of my travel list. I first came across this town, when I was reading the classic “Tale of two cities”, by Charles Dickens. The historic significance of this place has been immense in the English history, beginning with the fact that, it is closest to france port of Calais, approximately 22 miles (You can actually experience the proximity when your phone service sends you a message, welcoming you to France and asking you to check your roaming options!).
Therefore, as you can imagine, this town has been an important port bustling with trade, shipping and tourists. Strategically, it has been very rewarding to the rulers from 12th century, who even built a fortress, now called as “The Dover Castle”, (Henry II gave it the structure you will find it in today) which is supposedly the largest castle in England, according to English Heritage site. The wartime barracks also prove its significance in the World War history.
Initially we had decided to stay for a night at B&B, however, due to some reasons, we had to convert it into a day-trip. If you ask my suggestion? One day is not enough. You can keep 2-3 days to tour around, depending on your comfort level and travel options. The top spots that any tourist would want to visit would be the Dover Castle, the white Cliffs, the Museums and the port, of course. However, since we were pressed for time, we decided to go
for the Dover castle first.
Looming over the town, as soon as you step out of the station. You cannot miss it. Its elevation seemed to be a little daunting to one of my friends. On the bright side, all those who love hitting the gym and doing cardio, have a reason to cheer. The slope that led us towards the castle was steep and we had to stop occasionally for catching our breath. By this time, my friend, Bram had started imitating me, by exhaling loudly with a whistly sound, which ended eventually, with a hard nudge on his side. We laughed and waited for the others to make their way up. When we eventually reached on the top, we could see the whole town and the port. It was breathtaking, looking at how miniscule the town looked from the top. The sea became visible as well. Now, we made way for the castle. The entry pass costs around 20 pounds per adult. However, we had a 2 in 1 voucher from Kent offers. Thus, we entered with just half the price. The castle grounds are spectacular and full of history. It houses some Medieval tunnels with cannons and firing points for the enemy, Great Tower, Wartime tunnels used in the World War II, the Underground hospital and St. Mary Church amongst many other attractions.
The Great Tower was where we made our way first. We were met with a very lively atmosphere. The organizers and the volunteers from the English Heritage made sure that the setting felt like a live court of King Henry II. The live interaction and skits were really different as compared to other castles you visit.
It is generally difficult to imagine how the eroded passages and ancient ruins looked in their glory. However, with this new scheme, the organizers make it worthwhile for not only children, but also adults. You can see the guest room with furnitures, equipments, games, guest beds, all set so as to resemble as how it actually was in the ancient period. The Kings court is also brilliantly ornate. Eventually, tearing myself from one of the court cases I made my way to the top of the tower and stared at awe at the beautiful scene. You can see the top of the castle, town, the port as well as the cliffs in the distance. You can feel the wind blasting through, making it worthwhile. Now, we descend back to the bottom and go for the next attraction.
The Wartime Tunnels was a little more walk from the great tower than expected. However, when we reach the site, we realize that the line was huge and we might have to wait for 20 minutes. This was not good as we had to cover many places in one day. However, it had been marked as one of the top places to see in Tripadvisor. Hoping that we were investing time for something worthwhile, we waited in the queue.
The tour captured the secret mission Operation Dynamo which was an evacuation mission from Dunkirk. Journey through the tunnels deep beneath the castle with special effects, projections and real film footage brought this dramatic rescue operation to life. All I can say is, that it was definitely worth it!
Underground Hospital was the next attraction that we headed to. It involved experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of this hospital in the barracks. The story line focused on the journey of an injured pilot in World War II as he is rushed to the operation theater. We could experience the living conditions in the tunnels and hear about the difficulties of treating injuries in such close proximity to falling enemy bombs.
It was almost three in the afternoon and it was getting cold and cloudy. After grabbing a quick bite, we had to make a decision on where to go. Naturally we decided to go for the Cliffs. However, the access to the cliffs was not near the castle. And the pedestrian route was closed due to engineering work. It was already past five in the afternoon. Eventually, we decided to go with the main route, walking!
One of the most adventurous decision as there were no footpaths for the travellers along the roads. It was challenging to walk through the hedges and the bushes, especially through the bends. But we were determined to visit the cliffs one way or the other. Finally after quite some trekking, we reached the road sign welcoming us to the Cliffs!
It was refreshing walking along the cliffs. We walked along untreaded paths. The wind was strong, but didn’t hamper our mood. The rustic and the untamed beauty of the cliffs was definitely worth the walk and the precious hours we put in. We started on the trail for the lighthouse. The path was magical. On the left you can see the horses grazing the lush grasses and on the right, you could see the vastness of the sea. Sadly for us, we could not see the french coastline as the weather had turned into typical cloudy english weather. Nevertheless, the walk was very refreshing. The new spring blossoms made the landscape appear more beautiful. 
The best walk I have had in a while. We then sat at the lighthouse and made our way back. As we descended to the town and made our way back to the station, I was happy that I finally could go to Dover and it turned out much better than I had expected. According to the bartender at a local pub, everything in Dover is ascending! And I still cannot believe that we actually walked for 14 miles that day!
One thing I regret is, not going to Samphire Hoe National Reserve. But, then this is an opportunity to visit Dover again. Meanwhile, a weekend with friends, good weather and good walk is what anyone can ask for.
“Southeastern service calling at Gillingham”, and the train doors open. I get off with satisfaction, one more place down from the list.
check for places to see in kent: https://travelwithprats.wordpress.com/2015/05/10/10-places-you-must-visit-in-kent-england/
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