Welcome back to another dose of lighthouse history and exploration! Today’s post is all about our sixth Lighthouse Explorers group trip (and the third of the 2025 season). This one was particularly special. Cared for by the National Trust, South Foreland Lighthouse is one of the most beautifully preserved lighthouses I’ve ever had the fortune to explore.
The Journey There
By lighthouse-exploring standards, this was a mercifully straightforward trip. Our boat was moored in central London, and it was just one train straight down to Dover. That said, we did have a bit of drama before we even left.
My friend Hoden was joining me for this trip, and I’d planned to bring both of my bikes so we could get around easily. I stepped off the boat with my trusty yellow folding bike, Bobbin, intending to check on the other one. But as soon as I was off the boat, I spotted police tape 300 metres to my left and another cordon 600 metres to my right. Accompanying them, two police officers blocking off our stretch of canal.
This was a first: a LE group trip that began with a police escort.
I walked over to the closer officer and asked what was going on. He asked if I was leaving the area. When I said I was just adjusting my bikes, he replied, “Can’t say,” which was not remotely comforting. Naturally, I assumed I was in immediate danger, so I hoisted Bobbin onto the roof, only to discover that my other bike’s chain had fallen off.
Normally this would be a quick fix, but not when you’re convinced there’s an imminent threat nearby. I locked up the bikes and messaged Hoden, who had also seen the police. We decided to ditch the bikes and make our way to the station on foot.
Soon enough, we were safely aboard the train and hoping nothing too terrible was happening behind us.
We arrived at Martin Mill in the early afternoon, and a kind fellow passenger offered us a lift to our Airbnb. The sun was shining, and the scenery was rich, green, and peaceful. Very different to the police activity at our London mooring.
Meeting the Group
On Sunday, we made our way to the National Trust’s South Foreland Visitor Centre. It was about an hour’s walk through lovely countryside, and we arrived before it had even opened. I’m always paranoid about being late, which usually means I’m absurdly early.
Twelve people were booked for the trip, and I had all the badges ready to go. As the clock approached 11am, I started to worry that no one would show. Right on the dot, a couple arrived! They went to sign up for National Trust membership, and by the time they’d finished, we were still waiting on the rest.
They were keen to get going, but since it wasn’t quite 11:15am, Hoden and I asked them to go ahead, and we’d catch up shortly.
In the end, the couple and Hoden were the only ones who showed up. I had a record-breaking eight no-shows!
Exploring South Foreland Lighthouse
It was another 50-minute walk from the visitor centre to the lighthouse itself. Once there, we bought our tickets for the 12:30pm guided tour.
Our tour guide mentioned mid-tour that tours were now limited to 14 minutes. Fortunately, this didn’t seem to concern him too much as ours lasted a full hour. Perhaps the time limit was more of a pointed suggestion than a rule…
Telegraphy and Innovation at South Foreland Lighthouse
South Foreland has a truly fascinating history. Perched high on the cliffs, it was originally part of a pair of lights designed to help ships avoid the treacherous Goodwin Sands. This version of the Upper Lighthouse has been watching over the Channel since 1843. The Lower Lighthouse, further down the cliff, is now privately owned and not open to the public.
But this isn’t just any lighthouse.
South Foreland was the first in the world to shine using electric light, thanks to groundbreaking experiments by Michael Faraday and Frederick Hale Holmes. Later, Guglielmo Marconi used it to send the very first ship-to-shore radio message—and not long after, the first international wireless transmission to France.
From open fires and oil lamps to fog signals and rotating optics, South Foreland was a living laboratory for some of the brightest minds in Victorian science.
Is it worth the trip?
The coastline surrounding South Foreland is absolutely stunning. On clear days, you can see all the way to France. The walk there takes you along chalk cliffs and past rich greenery. If you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll even spot Dover Castle standing proud in the distance.
After exploring the lighthouse, we walked down to The Coastguard Pub for a late lunch. It has a fantastic outdoor area with views of the sea, and it was the perfect place to relax after a long day on our feet.
Despite the low turnout, those who did come along had a great time and were curious about future trips.
At the lighthouse, I learned that two more Lighthouse Explorers arrived two hours late. After checking their emails and realising the timing mistake, they headed to the pub instead. I hoped to bump into them there, but it wasn’t meant to be! Hopefully, they managed to catch a tour regardless.
I would 100% recommend making the journey down to Dover to see this lighthouse. It is a wonderful day out and a good walk, if you like the outdoors and stunning sea views.
Final Thoughts
Even with the no-shows, any day involving a lighthouse is a good one. This was a calmer outing compared to the Smeaton’s Tower and Eddystone trips, but with beautiful weather, lovely company, and a stunning walk to a fascinating lighthouse. What’s not to love?
The next group trip is on 1st June and we’re heading to the Point of Ayr Lighthouse in North Wales, a wonderfully eerie gem on the coast. If you’d like to join us, book your ticket here to guarantee your free badge. We’ll be walking along the beach and stopping for coffee. We won’t be going inside the lighthouse this time, but it’ll still be a brilliant day out.
In the meantime, I’m also gearing up for a tour of Irish lighthouses in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes peeled for that story; I just hope I don’t get blown off the Wild Atlantic Way!
Lighthouse Explorers 