Though the nights are drawing in, the trees are beginning to look a little bare and the temperature has taken a notable dip, there's still plenty of reason to explore the great outdoors this winter. We lucky Kent residents are absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to walking routes, offering truly beautiful scenery to enjoy while getting your steps in for the day.
Ahead of the Christmas season, which for many will be filled with sweet treats, festive snacks and hearty dinners, there's no harm in planning some exercise to balance out the seasonal gorging. Kent is known for its beautiful coastline, and one walking route in particular lets you see three of its most notable landmarks in quick succession.
Spanning 10 miles - or 16 kilometres - in all, the trail follows along the south-eastern corner of the coast, over the iconic White Cliffs of Dover to take in not one, but three different castles. A one-way route from Dover to Deal, the walk may be a bit of a challenge, but the reward is well worth it.
Stunning sea views, walks over the distinct chalkland and fantastic photo opportunities of some of the most famous pieces of Kent can be found along the way. Taking approximately three to four hours to complete, this route is ideal for those who have some experience with longer walks.
It can easily be stretched to last you the majority of the day, factoring in some time to visit each of the castles and perhaps enjoy a picnic along the way - if it's not too blustery! Once you reach the end, you can make use of the regular 20-minute train connection between the two towns to save your legs the journey back.
Start at the White Cliffs Visitor Centre near the Port of Dover and head north east along the coastal path as you leave Dover Castle behind. Exit the castle via the north-west exit and follow Castle Road, turning right when you see the sign for the Blériot Memorial.
Continue on through the woodland before forking left to come to the memorial where you will find the granite outline of an aircraft in the grass, marking the landing point of Louis Blériot when he made the first flight across the English Channel in 1909. Follow the path back to the main road, continuing along Castle Hill Road and then cross the bridge over the A2 from which you can spy the church of St Mary in Castro in Dover Castle's grounds.
Carry on down the road and enter the White Cliffs of Dover car parking area to travel on the marked England Coast Path. Along the way, you will pass the South Foreland Lighthouse and be able to look out across the English Channel, and if it's not too gloomy you may even see France.
From the lighthouse, take the path beside the landmark heading inland before turning right, then right again to join the marked Saxon Shore Path. Carry on downhill to St Margaret's Bay, an unsung beach that's beautiful no matter the time of year.
In the village of St Margaret's at Cliffe you can find James Bond author Ian Fleming's former holiday home - a white building with green shutters. Pass The Pines Garden Tea Room on your left, then follow up Bay Hill through the heart of the village.
When you come to a sharp left-hand bend in the road, move onto the footpath through the bushes, which will lead you to a viewpoint over the bay and a kissing gate to the top of the hill. The towering Dover Patrol Memorial comes next, a Grade-II listed obelisk designed by Sir Aston Webb to honour memory of the Dover Patrol of 1914 to 1919 and subsequent lives lost in the Second World War.
Found at around the halfway point, this is an ideal spot to stop for some rest and refreshments. When you're done, walk on past the monument through an open-sided gate, to return onto the coastal path.
Go past the golf course, beyond the clubhouse to reach Kingsdown seafront from where you'll be able to see Deal Pier. Follow the seafront, past the Zetland Arms until you reach Walmer Castle. Dating back to the reign of Henry VIII, this imposing castle features more than eight acres of award-winning gardens to explore.
Various parts of the castle are open for the public to visit on select days, and Walmer Castle is hosting a range of festive events and activities this holiday season, full details on which can be found here. This year saw new parts of the castle opened to the public for the first time, including the private rooms of the Lord Warden and where the Queen Mother stayed during her visits.
The next stage of the walk is a simple stroll along the seafront path and through the town of Walmer to reach Deal. Capping of the trail is striking Deal Castle, with its fascinating historic grounds and tunnels well worth a visit if your legs are still up for a little more trekking by this point.
Deal train station is less than a 10 minute walk from the castle, giving you easy access back to Dover. Alternatively, the regular 81 Stagecoach bus service operates between the two towns and takes around half an hour to get from one to the other.