Opening up access to Abbot’s Cliff Sound Mirror

Accessibility tagsPutting Down Routes tags

11th August 2025

Putting Down Routes, a collaboration between the Kent Downs National Landscape and the North Downs Way National Trail, is working to transform the National Trail into a safer, more inclusive and accessible route.  We’re actively improving sections of the trail to make them as accessible as possible for a wide range of people. 

As part of this project, we are carrying out minor surface works around the Abbot’s Cliff Sound Mirror to open up access for all. 

The work is being undertaken with consent from Natural England, ensuring the special features of the site are conserved and minimal and appropriate materials are used in creation of a new access path. 

The project is being carried out by Kent County Council’s Public Rights of Way team in consultation with our partner Wild With Wheels, an organisation led by Gini Mitchell (pictured), which champions countryside access for people with limited mobility. Gini says:

‘Wild with Wheels have visited Abbott’s Cliff Sound Mirror along the North Downs Way on quite a few occasions. Unfortunately for most of our group, when we have reached the iconic concrete structure, we’ve only been able to see the back of the Sound Mirror, along with a glimpse of the view overlooking Folkestone Warren and Folkestone Harbour Arm below.

‘We are looking forward to the access being improved so that our group and many others with wheels or mobility restrictions can finally navigate along a wheelchair accessible path to see the front of the sound mirror along with the far reaching views over the channel.’

Peter Morris, North Downs Way National Trail Manager, says:

‘We are really excited about this project. The Sound Mirror sits on the Heritage coastline on a really accessible and well-surfaced route that carries walkers, cyclists, and wheelers along the North Downs Way and King Charles 3^rd Coast Path National Trails between Folkestone and Dover.

‘Following feedback from Gini and the Wild with Wheels network we were asked to look at improving access to the structure itself from the main route.  After really positive discussions with the landowners, Dover District Council, Kent County Council and Natural England, we are looking forward to opening up access to this iconic structure to more people, allowing them to stop, rest, contemplate and refuel overlooking the English Channel.

‘We also hope that by creating a formal route we can manage access to preserve sensitive sections of the cliff that are protected. The project has been made possible by dedicated ‘demand led’ funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund via the Putting Down Routes project which allows participants to put forward access enhancement suggestions following their own experiences.’

The work should be completed by early September and we will share the finished results with you then.

 

Putting Down Routes is funded through The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). 

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