 Graffiti on the rusty doors Living so close to Dover we often have a walk on the cliff-top path and I’ve lost count of the number of times we have walked there. But in all the times we have walked there we have never gone down the path that leads to a beach below the cliffs so that’s what I had planned to do. I was just waiting for a suitable day for it as the weather had been so gloomy recently and the flat light is never inspiring for photography. The White Ciffs of Dover | - Click on the image above to view gallery
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So when the clouds cleared and it looked like it might just stay sunny all afternoon I drove to Dover and parked at the National Trust car park overlooking the eastern docks. I noted that the gates closed at 5pm which really focused me as I know once the gates are locked you can’t get your car out until the following day so I certainly couldn’t get sidetracked today.
Just for a while those dark brooding clouds stayed away but it wasn’t going to put me off my walk today. The car park is a very popular place to stop and take in the view towards France and watch the busy docks below, in fact it’s a favourite place for a lot of retired couples. I have always found the further you walk from the car park the fewer people you see and today was no exception.
In one of the areas are several Exmoor Ponies who do a good job at keeping the area grazed, encouraging the plants that grow on chalk downland to re-establish and grow. You have to pass through the area where they graze and are asked to keep your distance from them but it seems to me they only have one thing on their minds and that is constantly eating.
I easily found the top of the path that’s takes you down the cliff and it has to be said it’s a real ankle tester as it’s quite eroded in places. It’s also directly onto the chalk and it’s certainly not something I would do if it’s wet as wet chalk is so slippery. With care though its easy enough to make your way down and once you are almost at the bottom there is a fairly steep ladder. Now this is where I had a problem as today I had brought my tripod with me because I knew I wanted to make use of it so I had to load it onto my backpack making it even heavier!  Gun Placements Before I went down onto the beach I investigated some very old gun placements that were cut into the cliff face. I have to admit that, being on my own, I went into the entrance with a bit of trepidation not knowing exactly what I would find in there. It was fascinating and you got a great view out to sea through the rusty metal doors. I started to walk down the dark tunnel leading to the second viewing window but something didn’t feel right. I’m not afraid of the dark and I could see light at the other end but something just didn’t feel right and I decided if I was going any further it would be on another occasion when I had a torch and had brought someone else with me to hold my hand.
I made my down the steep ladder and it was obvious that it had very recently been high tide but the sea was now on its way out. I found a large boulder to sit on and enjoy my very late lunch as it was already gone 3 but those clouds had now returned and were looking very brooding over the docks. I didn’t worry too much however as I had brought some Neutral Density filters that I wanted to have a play with and these were the reason I had brought the tripod too, as I knew it would be better if I had that to help me compose my shots. I had great fun trying various things and trying to slow the shutter speeds enough to capture the moving waves.
 Surf's up 1  Surf's up 2
I was aware of the time though and knew being already late in the day I couldn’t stay as long as perhaps I would have liked to because I had to make sure I was back at the car before 5pm. So I loaded up my bag once more and made my way up the steep path which seemed even steeper on the way back up. I would normally walk much further along the cliff tops looking down on the cliffs below but again didn’t have time for that today but I have included in the gallery some pictures I took on a previous visit in August 2008 when we enjoyed a walk all the way to St Margaret’s Bay and enjoyed our lunch in the Coastguard Inn before returning to the car park overlooking the docks.
Once back at the car then seeing I couldn’t walk all the way to St Margaret’s I decided to drive the short distance there so I could see if the promising looking sunset might look impressive from the beach. As it happens you can’t actually see the setting sun from that particular beach but it has given me an idea of somewhere to return to with my camera on another occasion.
 Busy harbour at night So still trying to get some colourful shots of the setting sun I drove back the few miles to Dover and I had the idea that now I could get some shots over the docks which I was chuffed to bits with. It really had been a good afternoon out with my camera one way or another and having found my way down the cliff face I’m keen to return on a brighter day too. I’ll be sure to check the tide tables too so I can make my way along the base of the cliffs and get a very different view of the famous White Cliffs.
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I don't blame you for not carrying on to the 2nd gun placement on your own. Looks like they have plenty of visitors from the amount of graffiti 
a bit spooky if you ask me! I really like the effect your Neutral Density filter has on the waves. I think the planet would be Venus, i've had a good view of it for several weeks...but don't quote me on that without checking! lol. Love, Angela 