So when the option came to walk up onto the clifftop I took it. You will walk on a mix of asphalt and walking trails. A few minutes later they pass me again, coming back. Along the shore, there are some derelict shelters - with murals painted on them - with peeling paint and no sign of the seats they once contained. Today had been a pretty short walk of less than ten miles but I had at least closed a gap on my Kent section of the England Coast Path. Im glad the Pfizer site is being used for something. In fact, this is a replica of a Viking ship, The Hugin that landed here from Denmark, in 1949, to mark the 1500 year anniversary of another Viking landing that led to the establishment of a Saxon kingdom in Kent. Have I any spare water? We detoured to see the seals basking in the headland of the River Stour and at another point followed a very overgrown path that led us through the Ford parking lot (massive) where we were kindly and politely escorted to the last 3 mile walk into Sandwich. Use the links below to see details of the Secretary of States decision to approve Natural Englands proposals and for guidance on your rights and responsibilities if the ECP passes through your land. Everyone had to evacuate the station. I dont know. Noblemen and peasants; rich and poor; men and women; millions upon millions of souls who all went on to follow their own unique spiritual path down the centuries. Cliffs to my right, ocean to my left, uncovering the rocks and seaweed as the tide was pulling out with views ahead of me of the same, and dark cloud looming above. Getting there: There are direct trains from both London St Pancras and London Victoria stopping at Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate. This is very pleasant and I stop to sit on the bank, have a snack, and enjoy the view over Pegwell Bay. We run trips from Ramsgate to visit the home ground of the local seals so, Join Keith Ross wildlife filmmaker on a six mile Nature Walk from Ramsgate Westcliff to Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve. Meanwhile, the further route from Ramsgate to Whitstable has been finalised and should be open sometime this year, once the necessary signage is in place and a new path is created through the golf course at Kingsgate. Slightly further north there is Faversham to Whitstable, and Whitstable to Herne Bay. Experience this 7.8-mile loop trail near Ramsgate, Kent. I passed the large Stonar Lake, a regular haunt for uncommon winter wildfowl and Divers seeking sheltered respite from rough seas. I wish I had taken more time and made them stop and found out who they were and where they were from. I later realised these are highland cattle. I wandered around and over, exploring them for some time. Theres an artist fairly local to me whose work I sometimes see when I do the Hampshire Artists Trail each August who paints industrial structures. Then, once youve enjoyed the views, fun, exhilaration and good company, its just a case of becoming a member. * By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. What really interests me is the power station; a tall chimney and three tall, curvaceous towers. The lurch over the slight hump from ramp to apron was more noticeable than the transition from sea to land with its cessation of seaspray, followed by a settling down on the concrete apron. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. This section of the walk from Broadstairs to Ramsgate, on the cliff top, was a lot prettier. Ashford The path follows a surviving raised bank, a wall, built by the monks of Sandwich when they reclaimed the land from the sea here in the 13th century. Pegwell became a popular seaside resort in the late 18th century. There is derelict land along the bay, with concrete footings. The beach huts are old and slightly shabby, the houses are Victorian. You are very welcome! The land itself was leased from Thanet District Council who still own it. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Fun fact: It is Englands only Royal Harbour. It was going to Dover. A pioneering and regular service between between Ramsgate and Calais Harbour commenced on 6 April 1966 and could make the crossing between England and France in as little as 22 minutes. We and our partners share information on your use of this website to help improve your experience. As I love Dickens (although I cant remember ever reading Bleak House), this adds to the attraction of the place for me. There didnt appear to be a soul about, but just a few decades previous it would have been a very different scene. You can contact the group or leader if in doubt. A few minutes more, and here they are again, whizzing past me, heading back in the original direction. If youre up for some quality down time in an area so individual that it even has its own micro-climate, then walk this way; through the thrum of a busy harbour town, over the scrunch and tickle of cliff-top grass, and into an ecological treasure trove of nature. Approximate distance if the mitre bridge is down is 1.5 miles, taking approximately 40 minutes. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Walk 78 Broadstairs to Sandwich (Kent) (Second leg of English coastal walk - Broadstairs to Lands End Map: L/R 179 Distance: 10 miles or 15km. Not the easiest to walk on, but I rather enjoyed knowing I was walking somewhere that is only accessible for part of the day (when the tide is out). I am tempted to go down to the promenade, but it comes to an end and I turn away from the coast, following a road, past the Pegwell Bay Hotel. Both estimations allow for time to read the leaflet and enjoy each point listed on the trail. A forty minute drive took me to Sandwich and it was then just a short train ride back to Ramsgate. Check the train times as there are other much slower trains that do the journey, and obviously, you dont want to get those. There will be a review of the alternative route after 2 years. Step out of the everyday and onto this cliff-hugging, bay hopping, blues-busting trail where you can take in the fresh air and let your spirit soar. I plan to walk to Margate day one, then Deal day 2. The walk will run from May till September (, Read More Ramsgate to Pegwell Nature WalkContinue, Board at Sandwich Quay or Ramsgate harbour, travel along the River Stour towards Shellness Point, on the edge of the Pegwell nature reserve. I guess the cooling towers of the Richborough power station have been demolished now. Photos (400) Directions. This was not something I wasnt expecting. So I set off walking along the top of the cliff and heading southwards. The London, Chatham and Dover Railway published a tourist guide to its lines in the 1870s. From Folkestone through to Dover ramblers can take in the stunning sight of the white cliffs. A few minutes later, they come heading back down the pavement, towards me, back the way they have come. Getting there: You can get a direct train from London St Pancras to Ramsgate in 1h15min, then direct return from Sandwich to St Pancras in 1h30min. Once in London, I made my way to Victoria overground station, when the alarms decided to go off. Great blog which provides both information and motivation to other coastal walkers thanks. So lovely that you managed so much of it on the actual beach as we ended up mainly on the cliffs and yes the A256 is a grim stretch of walking. From Victoria, it is slightly longer. Train Ferry No. Its very informative and interesting. approx.. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. There is a mix of boats and people on the beach. Thank you. But, as I draw closer to the port, I notice that the wooden hoarding surrounding a plot of derelict land have been painted. thank you Did they ever get to Dover? Then those few miles at the end which is super boring. I could tell him that I love the juxtaposition of these powerful, man-made structures signifying our technical knowledge and our ability to harness the energy of fossil fuels and the wide, open sweep of the bay, carved by the equally powerful, but entirely natural, energy of the tides. See the resident seal colony,. We walked from sandwich to Ramsgate today, on the wrong side of the stour got as far as the bridge David referred to but didnt attempt to cross it, Mrs B would never allow that, so we turned back which meant a 5 mile round trip back to Sandwich and then had to walk along the A256 Mrs B was so angry! This is a busy road. All had that old world feeling but in their own very unique way. Hi The beach is covered in shingle, and although some hardy folks are out for the day, it is not a bucket and spade resort. Around 1.25 million passengers were transported across the channel from the Pegwell Bay concrete aprons each year. Or simply visit Kent Live's main Facebook page here for all our latest stories. Deal to Sandwich Coastal Walk Sunday, 30 August 2015 Start time: 10:30 (Estimated finish time: 12:15) Easy 5 miles / 8 km Group White Cliffs Meet at entrance to Deal Pier. There is a steep drop down to the sea on my left, fields to my right and, through the haze, I see a wide, open bay ahead with, beyond, the ghostly outlines of an industrial power station. Ramsgate Montefiore Heritage provides an equally wonderful Town Trail that weaves through Ramsgate via numerous iconic landmarks all of which have their own very special tale to tell. Beside the milepost was the Hugin. Walking a little further through the brambly grass, I clambered up a muddy bank, dropped down the other side and found myself unintentionally in the midst of a large vehicle storage unit, whoops! The Mary Towneley Loop to Settle, Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. I decided to mix it up and head back up to the clifftop. Route Description - England Coast Path - South East - National Trails Ramsgate to Broadstairs. I attempt it but soon find I am splashing through water. I found myself kind of drawn to the bleakness. This is reputed to be where the Battle of Sandwich took place in 851, a vicious tussle between the West Saxons and Viking aggressors. And thanks to the wonderfully diverse range of pubs, Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Walk to Sandwich along this charming coastal route with views of the Channel and Goodwin Sands. Four asian boys on bikes screech to a halt beside me. You have rejected additional cookies. I am thinking of walking the Kent coastal path starting in Whitstable, does anyone have any tips or overnight recommendations? Coastalwalker.co.uk walking around the British coastline, very SLOWLY. I never saw it, but I passed the hamlet of Ebbsfleet, now subsumed by neighbouring village sprawl. In some places the path heads inland, usually only for short distances. Seaford to Brighton! (fyi. Distance: 10.8 miles. The foodstuff that gained its very name from this town. However, as I turned around the cliff corner I was greeted by what looked like hundreds. After walking around Sandwich for 20min, I realised someone was following me. I find this hard to answer. It was then just a short walk, passing medieval buildings, to the railway station. The Channel Tunnel makes practical sense, but it has taken away the fun of going to the continent. Checking my map, I am looking for a footpath that leads from the road, heading to Cliff End and then Sandwich beyond. For these little hovercraft, there was a summer season only. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. From the first step at Rochester Cathedral to the last in the Shrine of St Augustine in Ramsgate, The Augustine Camino walk is a celebration of those pilgrims and the gifts that they left behind. Middleton Top to the Mary Towneley Loop, Gear talk: adding caps to my MSR Groundhogs, Map measure of the month: the Carl Zeiss Jena/Freiberger Prszisionsmechanik Kurvimeter 78, Trail talk: The first Lego Creator backpacker (2011), Trail talk: Maps and guidebooks for the Pennine Bridleway, Knife chat: Victorinox Pioneer X and Pioneer Farmer, Map measure of the month: Elliott Brothers opisometer, Trail talk: treasure on the Southern Upland Way, Gear talk: a replacement of the Zpacks Duplex vestibule double-hook apparatus, Knife chat: Victorinox Pioneer and Pioneer Electrician, Map measure of the month: the Inco Krzywomierz Turystyczny, Trail talk: The Thames Path- Shillingford/Warborough to Goring, Trail talk: The Thames Path- Abingdon to Shillingford/Warborough, Trail talk: The Thames Path- Osney Bridge, Oxford to Abingdon, Trail talk: The Thames Path- a day off in Oxford, Trail talk: The Thames Path- Bablock Hythe to Osney Bridge, Oxford, Trail talk: The Thames Path- Tadpole Bridge to Bablock Hythe, Trail talk: The Thames Path- Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge, Trail talk: The Thames Path- Cricklade to Lechlade, Trail talk: The Thames Path- Kemble to Cricklade, Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part three- Moffat to Cockburnspath, Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part two- the Glenkens to Moffat, Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part one- Portpatrick to the Glenkens, Knife chat: Victorinox Swiss Army 1 and Swiss Army 2.