From leaf peeping to pumpkin picking, seasonal strolls and cycle rides to spooky local stories of haunted hotspots - Autumn is one of the best times of the year to visit White Cliffs Country in Kent. And this year, a new self-guided trail around the locations of ghostly legend and myth in Deal, Dover, Sandwich and beyond promises visitors a spooky twist to a laid-back getaway. Whether it's for a romantic mini break or Half Term family fun, visitors to this coastal, countryside destination just an hour away from London can look forward to warmed hearts, tingled spines and great events to experience this Autumn.

Boasting idyllic countryside and one of the warmest and driest climates in the UK, White Cliffs Country is perfect for leaf peeping. At Kearsney Parks near Dover families can enjoy a dazzling display of seasonal colour change alongside a new children's play area - with wooden sculptures, slides and climbing activities. There's a newly-reopened bright, airy café selling delicious treats - including ice cream for dogs! Dedicated space for off-lead and on-lead exploring, either side of the park's picturesque ornamental lakes, make this a great place to venture out with four-legged friends. The delightful formal gardens of Walmer Castle near Deal and Goodnestone Park Gardens near Sandwich also put on a majestic show of autumn splendour. But with 22% of White Cliffs Country a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in the Kent Downs, visitors can easily experience the best of Autumn and get back to nature on foot, leaving the car behind and exploring the AONB's many trails and footpaths. Both the North Downs Way National Trail and England Coast Path National Trail weave their charm through White Cliffs Country.

For a full-on celebration of the spooky season with Halloween in mind, White Cliffs Country won't disappoint. Dover Castle is well regarded as “England's most haunted castle” but there are lesser-known eerie legends and macabre myths to be explored in this historic corner of the South East. Now visitors can take themselves on a new self-guided tour, following a Spooky Story Trail and investigating the many ghost stories of Deal, Dover and Sandwich and beyond – guaranteed to get even the most cynical of hearts racing. With a list of nearby Halloween events included in the story map collection, it's a “one-stop-shop” for visitors planning a trip to White Cliffs Country this Autumn – from a family adventure with the kids over Half Term week, to a fun break with friends or a couples' mini break with a difference.

And with movie lovers all over the world revelling in the excitement of the new James Bond movie, it's the perfect time to take a stroll – or cycle - around Ian Fleming's White Cliffs Country. Bond's author, Ian Fleming once lived at St Margaret's Bay and even wrote 'Moonraker' from his house on the beach. Visitors can follow the James Bond itinerary with new Story Map Trail and take a 007-themed self-guided tour around the favourite haunts of Bond's creator and former White Cliffs Country resident, which inspired many of the locations he wrote about in the 007 stories.

For further media information on White Cliffs Country and images please contact Visitor Marketing & Communiations Officer, Luisse Whiting, on 07747 623787, email luisse.whiting@dover.gov.uk.