Discover Cross-Channel Geosites during National Lottery Heritage Open Week

Across the Cross-Channel Geopark, the landscape tells a shared story. On both sides of the Channel, chalk cliffs rise from the sea, shaped by the same ancient oceans and geological forces. These white cliffs and rolling downs connect places that sit in different countries today but rest on the same geological foundations. 

This March, National Lottery Heritage Open Week (7–15 March) gives you the chance to step into that story. Through National Lottery Good Causes, you are invited to explore places where geology, nature and human history meet. 

Exploring the Cross-Channel Geopark during Heritage Open Week 

Several sites within the Cross-Channel Geopark are offering free entry for National Lottery ticket holders. If you have a ticket, this is your excuse to get outside and see something special. 

Dover Castle and the chalk beneath it

Perched high above the Channel, Dover Castle is both a major historic landmark and a designated Geosite in the Cross-Channel Geopark. 

The castle sits on chalk cliffs formed millions of years ago, part of a geological system that extends across the Kent Downs, beneath the Channel, and into northern France. This chalk bedrock created steep slopes, dry valleys and elevated viewpoints that made Dover an ideal strategic location. It also shaped how the site was defended and developed, including the Western Heights and their later military role. 

During Heritage Open Week (7–8 and 11–15 March), National Lottery ticket holders can enjoy free entry to Dover Castle for one adult and up to two children. 

On 12 March, English Heritage is hosting a walk and talk exploring the Castle, Western Heights and the surrounding landscape, alongside the Kent Downs National Landscape and the Cross-Channel Geopark. It is a chance to see how the geology of this place shaped its history. 

Spaces are limited, so booking is recommended. 

The White Cliffs of Dover 

Few landscapes are as instantly recognisable as the White Cliffs of Dover, and few tell such a clear geological story. 

The bright chalk cliffs were formed between 70 and 100 million years ago when this area was covered by a shallow sea. Tiny marine life slowly built up the layers that now form the cliffs. Fossils can still be found in the chalk today. 

During Heritage Open Week, National Trust sites along the cliffs are offering free access on selected days. A walk here offers wide views across the Channel and a reminder that this coastline has been shaped over millions of years and is still changing. 

More places to explore across the Geopark 

Several other National Trust properties in the wider Cross-Channel Geopark are also taking part in Heritage Open Week.

• Ightham Mote
• Knole
• Chartwell

While not designated Geosites, places such as Ightham Mote, Knole, and Chartwell show how geology has influenced landscape character, estate layout, and patterns of settlement. As you visit, each setting shows how the shape of the land influenced daily life over time. 

Discover the stories beneath your feet 

The Kent Downs GeoDiversity Project was made possible thanks to funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players. 

The project helped more people understand how geology has shaped the Kent Downs and the wider Cross-Channel landscape. It worked with communities, volunteers and schools to raise awareness of Geosites across the area and to explain why features like chalk cliffs, dry valleys and historic quarries matter. 

It also supported the identification and promotion of Geosites, helping people visit and learn about places of geological interest across the Kent Downs. 

The project has now finished, but its work continues through the resources, partnerships and opportunities it created across the Kent Downs. 

Keep discovering Geosites 

Dover Castle and the White Cliffs of Dover are part of a wider network of Geosites across the Cross-Channel Geopark. Each site contributes to a shared geological story that spans national boundaries and stretches beneath the Channel. 

Heritage Open Week is a chance to start exploring, but the landscapes are open all year. The Cross-Channel Geopark invites you to discover the geology that underpins this shared landscape and see familiar places in a new way.