Get back to nature this spring

As the days lengthen and there's a welcome warmth in the sun, signs of spring start appearing across White Cliffs Country. Wildflowers in the hedgerows, migrating birds, lambs in the fields… It is a lovely time of year to get out and about and explore this wonderful part of southeast England.

• With miles and miles of walking routes, from the cross-country Via Francigena (the ancient pilgrim route from Canterbury to Rome via Dover) to the coast-hugging King Charles III England Coast Path and Saxon Shore Way, there is a route suitable for all ages and abilities.
• Dust off your bikes and check out our cycle routes, suitable for beginners to experienced cyclists. If your wheels need a little TLC, there are several cycle repair shops; if you haven't got a bicycle, there are places to hire one.
• Get up close to nature in our amazing wild places  such as Samphire Hoe, Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory, Gazen Salts and Betteshanger Park, where you can explore beautiful countryside and look out for wildlife, including beavers and migrating birds. Our woodlands will soon be full of spring wild flowers such as lesser celandines, wood anemones, violets and bluebells and you'll hear the wonderful birdsong that ramps up at this time of year. Listen out for skylarks on clifftop trails - it's a sound you'll never forget.

• White Cliffs Country fields will soon be dotted with fluffy white lambs - see them bouncing about in the fields near Walmer Castle and Broadlees Farm next door to Dover Castle. Broadlees Lambing Open Days are in April during the Easter school holiday when you may be lucky enough to see a lamb being born and have the chance to hold and feed one. Frampton Farm near Dover offers farm experiences year round and bookable times to see their baby animals, including lambs, kid goats and piglets in March and April.
• Visit the beautiful gardens of Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens in Temple Ewell (where you're bound to see ducklings on the lakes), Pines Garden in St Margaret's Bay, Walmer Castle Gardens and Goodnestone Park Gardens to stroll and see the spring flowers. The gardens all have cafes where you can stop for lunch or a cup of something warming and a slice of cake.

• The magnificent Grade I Listed Maison Dieu, Dover’s Town Hall, will reopen in May following a major restoration project revealing its fascinating history and glorious Gothic interiors, and will be open to the public daily for the first time in its rich 800-year history.
• The attractions that close or reduce their opening hours during winter, are generally fully open in time for Easter, so browse our website to see what else is here, from castles and museums to boat trips and a wakeboarding park, and plan a trip to this fantastic area on the Kent coast.

• Visit our What's On section to discover all the fabulous events happening here this spring, from concerts to talks, and, of course, lots of Easter fun.
• Subscribe to our free monthly visitor e-newsletter The Chalkboard to make sure you don't miss out on what's new and what's happening in the Dover, Deal and Sandwich area.

We’d love you to share any springtime gems while visiting here – please tag @visitdover on Instagram and use #whitecliffscountry.

Happy spring!