Dover Castle Archives | Destination Made Known

A Peaceful Morning Surprise

As I was folding laundry in the early hours of the morning, whilst everyone else was still getting their beauty sleep, I caught a glimpse of two small deer outside our front window. They scampered in and out so quickly I was lucky to get a shot! (Check it out below.)

Heading to the Southeast Coast

With our English Heritage Pass ready to go, we drove toward the southeast coast — only about 20 miles from France at its closest point. The area feels steeped in history, and we were excited to pack in as many sites as possible.

Our Historic Sites

Here’s where the day took us: Click on the links to get the full history cited on the English Heritage site.

• Knights Templar Church Ruins — A hauntingly peaceful start to our day. These atmospheric roofless stone walls, dating from the late 12th century, stand quietly in an open field. Believed to have served as both a chapel and a lookout point for the mysterious Knights Templar, the ruins have an almost magical, otherworldly feel — perfect for imagining medieval knights and centuries of silent history.

• Dover Castle — The star of the day! Perched dramatically on the white cliffs overlooking the Channel, this mighty fortress has guarded England for over 2,000 years.

We explored the towering keep, the fascinating secret tunnels used during the Dunkirk evacuation, and the remarkable 2,000-year-old Roman lighthouse — one of the oldest standing buildings in Britain. Absolutely breathtaking views and history at every turn.

• Walmer Castle — A beautiful contrast to the more military forts, Walmer Castle was originally built as one of Henry VIII’s coastal defences but later became the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

What we loved most were its stunning gardens — peaceful, colourful, and perfectly manicured. From formal beds and a working kitchen garden to the famous Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s Garden with its rose-filled parterres, the grounds feel like a tranquil English country estate. After a full day of exploring stone ruins and tunnels, these lush gardens were the perfect peaceful finale.

• Deal Castle — Henry VIII’s distinctive circular artillery fort — we loved exploring “The Rounds” — the atmospheric, narrow tunnels built within the thickness of the outer walls. Walking round and round in this dim, circular passage really brought the castle’s defensive purpose to life as you imagine soldiers moving quickly to any threat.

• Richborough Roman Fort & Amphitheater — One of Britain’s most important Roman sites — and the very spot where the Romans first landed in AD 43 during Emperor Claudius’s massive invasion.

We stood on the same ground where nearly 40,000 Roman soldiers came ashore nearly 2,000 years ago. The huge defensive walls, ditches, and the remains of the amphitheatre still visible in the landscape made history feel incredibly alive. A powerful and humbling place.

• St. Augustine’s Cross — A peaceful and powerful finale to our history-filled day. This tall stone cross marks the spot where St. Augustine is believed to have landed in 597 AD, bringing Christianity to England.

Standing beside it, we reflected on how one mission changed the course of British history forever. Simple, moving, and deeply meaningful.

By the end of the day we’d walked nearly 5 miles. We were tired but completely thrilled with everything we’d seen.

Evening Wind-Down

We headed back to Ide Hill and stopped once again at The King’s Head — this time for proper fish & chips. (The beef stroganoff from our first night there had been so good that we were excited to try another classic!) Back at our cozy Airbnb, we opened wine, put on some music, and recapped the day’s adventures. It was the perfect way to wrap up our wonderful Kent chapter.

Fun Facts from Day 4

• The Knights Templar Church ruins date to the late 12th century and may have served as both a chapel and a lookout point for the mysterious Knights Templar.

• Dover Castle has been a defensive stronghold for over 2,000 years and includes one of the oldest standing buildings in Britain — a Roman lighthouse from the 2nd century AD.

• Walmer Castle later became the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Duke of Wellington died here in 1852, and his modest room is still preserved with his original armchair and boots.

• Deal Castle’s unique circular “Tudor rose” design with six bastions was part of Henry VIII’s coastal defense system built in 1539–1540.

• Richborough Roman Fort is believed to be the landing site of Emperor Claudius’s massive invasion fleet (around 40,000 soldiers) in AD 43.

• St. Augustine’s Cross commemorates the 597 AD landing of St. Augustine, whose mission helped convert the Anglo-Saxons and shape England’s Christian history.

Final Thoughts from Day 4

This day perfectly captured the incredible variety of English history — from ancient Romans and medieval knights to Tudor kings and early Christian roots — all in one corner of the country. Sharing it with Jerry, Dave, and Karen made it even more memorable. A wonderful finale to our peaceful time in Kent.