Lympne and Royal Military Canal Walk

Join us on Sunday 8 November for a fascinating guided walk through the Folkestone and Hythe District, combining historic coastal defences, peaceful countryside and some of the area’s most interesting landmarks.

Starting from Lympne Village Hall, we follow the Saxon Shore Way towards Hythe, before joining the famous Royal Military Canal – a remarkable coastal defence system constructed between 1804 and 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars.

The route then takes us past the intriguing Hythe Sound Mirror, one of the area’s former coastal defence structures. Built to detect approaching aircraft before radar was developed, these early warning devices offer a fascinating glimpse into Britain’s military history.

Continuing along the canal and through the surrounding fields, the landscape gradually changes from historic waterways to open countryside before we reach the enchanting Lympne Castle, with its storybook appearance and centuries of history.

With a mix of history, waterways, open countryside and quiet village paths, this walk offers a wonderful opportunity to discover a lesser-known side of Kent’s heritage and landscape.