By Staff Writer: Kelsie Glenn
A weekend spent in Dover felt like stepping into a living postcard. The famous White Cliffs glowed against the late autumn sun, their bright faces standing out boldly against the deep blue of the sea. After spending the morning wandering the rolling hills and cliffside paths, I didn’t realize how quickly the daylight hours were slipping away. With winter approaching and the daylight hours growing shorter this time of year, we discovered we had less than four hours to explore Dover Castle, so my family and I split our time between the wartime tunnels and the Great Tower.
Dover Castle, one of many historic sites preserving England’s heritage grounds, is protected to honor the country’s cultural story. Some of the tunnels are sealed now, but even walking past their heavy gates carries an eerie, lingering ambiance. The castle sits atop a steep hill, enclosed by a deep, dried-up moat, its mood shaped by the steady background sounds of dripping water, the soldiers’ echoing footsteps, and the strategies and secrets once held within.
Climbing the Great Tower rewarded us with a bird’s-eye view of the English Channel, Dover Bay, and the city stretching as far as the eye could see. On the clearest days, it is said that you can even see France. We’ve already planned to return in the warmer months, when the castle grounds and tunnels stay open longer, ready for a deeper dive into Dover’s past.