Western Heights, Dover
Dover, Coast
Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0Photo: David Anstiss, CC BY-SA 2.0
The Western Heights is a huge network of forts and deep ditches begun in the Napoleonic Wars and finished in the 1860s to stop a French invasion of Dover. English Heritage looks after the Drop Redoubt and North Centre Bastion, which you can see from the paths that criss-cross the hilltop. For a look inside, time your visit with one of the volunteer-led tours.
Highlights
- Vast Napoleonic and Victorian fortifications
- Drop Redoubt fort and its deep ditches
- Volunteer-led tours on selected dates
- Views over Dover and the harbour
Good to know
- Managed day to day by the Western Heights Preservation Society
- Paths cross land grazed by cattle, so keep dogs on leads
- The Grand Shaft nearby is not in English Heritage's care
- Smoking, vaping, barbecues and naked flames are not allowed
Getting there
Western Heights, Dover, Drop Redoubt Road, Dover, Kent, CT17 9DZParking: Free council parking by several entrances: limited spaces on Drop Redoubt Road, a car park on North Military Road by the Detached Bastion, and one on South Military Road by St Martin's Battery.
Get directionsChecked on 16 October 2026 against english-heritage.org.uk, doverwesternheights.org. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Spotted something wrong or missing? Tell us
Nearby
Photo: Colin Park, CC BY-SA 2.0Knights Templar Church, Dover
On the Western Heights above Dover lie the low foundations of a small medieval chapel with a round nave, a shape linked to churches built by the Knights Templar. It may instead have been a wayside shrine on the old road to Folkestone. It makes a quick stop on a walk around the Western Heights fortifications.
Image: Dover Sea SafariDover Sea Safari
Dover Sea Safari runs boat trips from Dover Marina aboard a British-built Humber RHIB, licensed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for up to 12 passengers. Trips speed past cross-channel ferries in the busy port before heading out to see the White Cliffs of Dover, watch grey and harbour seals or visit the Goodwin Sands. It suits families, couples and groups looking for a thrilling trip with plenty of wildlife.
Photo: Nessy-Pic, CC BY-SA 4.0Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery
Dover Museum in Market Square tells the story of Britain's historic port town through local history and archaeology. Its star exhibit is a prehistoric boat around 3,500 years old, found in Dover in 1992 and shown in its own gallery. It suits families and history fans, takes an hour or two and is free.