Country Life mix-up identifies Swyre Head as White Cliffs of Dover

But in an unfortunate error the august title that celebrates the best of British has tripped up over the iconic coastal landmark.

In an article titled 'Five things you (probably) didn't know about...The White Cliffs of Dover' an image has been used of the chalk cliffs of Dorset instead.

Although the two white rock faces look similar, the Dorset cliffs are far more undulating than Dover's which are consistently sheer.

The cliffs at Dover also have barely any beach at the bottom whereas the photo published in Country Life clearly shows a large area of yellow shingle shoreline.

And the famous South West Coast Path that runs through Dorset is another tell-tale sign that the cliffs aren't those at Dover.

The area of coastline pictured in the magazine has been identified as 300ft Swyre Head that is in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Jurassic Coast.

The headland also forms part of the Lulworth Estate, a 12,000 acre estate owned by the Weld family.

The White Cliffs of Dover, about 150 miles away, are part of the North Downs chalk hills and are owned by the National Trust.

One Country Life reader posted on social media: "I live in Dorset and knew straight away there was something not quite right with the photograph used to go with the article on the White Cliffs of Dover.

"They were certainly white cliffs with a green headland but I recognised the South West Coast Path on the top.

"There was also a shingle beach which looks far more accessible that the foot of the cliffs at Dover.

"You would have thought the people at Country Life could have picked out the White Cliffs of Dover."

A spokesman for the Lulworth Estate said: "Maybe this was part of Country Life's Quiz of the week?

"To the untrained eye our striking and dramatic chalk cliffs and headlands could be mistaken for the similarly magnificent White Cliffs of Dover so we are more than happy to share this page with them."

Country Life declined to comment.