Rated as 5/10 but I think this is too much
This is a great walk with amazing contrasts between woodland, downland and a castle in the morning and the shoreline walk from Sandgate to Folkstone and its interesting* developments round the harbour in the afternoon. There's also quite a lot of urban artwork to see if you fancy exploring the town a bit more. And there are three beaches so who knows, it might even still be possible to have a swim.
* but see this article about future plans - best get down there before they spoil it all!
Travel: As it's a short walk I think we can get away with the 1037 High Speed from St Pancras (changing at Ashford 1114-19 for Sandling) arriving 1130 OR 1001 direct from Charing Cross - this is the train you would change on to at Ashford. I'm posting the walk a bit early in case anyone wants to try and get an Advance ticket. Otherwise make sure you get a super off-peak return to Folkestone - it's 20% less than a standard off-peak ticket.
Return trains at 54 (High Speed), 08 and 34.
Lunch: the Earl of Clarendon (01303 248 684) in Sandgate, 7km (4.3 miles) into the walk, is a pub situated up a steep side alley tantalisingly close to the sea. It serves basic meals all afternoon daily and walkers have good reports of the food. According to the walk walk web page it has difficulty coping with groups, but the page lists a lot of other possibilities nearby.
Tea: The Harbour area has various pubs, including the quayside Ship Inn and a smart fish and chip shop, as well as a kiosk cafe with a deck jutting out over the harbour. The newly refurbished Harbour Arm (the former ferry port) has even more bars and restaurants, with good sea views. In the Old High Street on the walk back to the station there is the Steep Street Coffee House, open to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 5pm on Sunday. I like Kipp's Ale House (corner of Old High Street and Bayle Street) but it doesn't open till 4.30. For all these options, NOTE THAT FOLKESTONE STATION IS ABOUT A MILE'S WALK FROM THE HARBOUR.
Shortening the walk: missing out the harbour and going straight to the station cuts the walk down to 11.2 km/7 miles. If you fancy a longer outing having come all this way, the walk directions suggest adding the Folkestone circular option from walk SWC 13 giving a total walk of about 22 km/14 miles.
For walk directions, map and GPX click here
T=swc.51
4 comments:
I'm planning to catch the Charing Cross train from Waterloo East
While I am going to take the Train from London Bridge. Save me a bit more money.
N=16 people. Weather was w=cloudy-am-sunny-pm-bit-of-a-breeze
A walk of two halves The first inland with one or two climbs, three actually, one hellish, up what must be Kent’s Kilimanjaro, an earlier one, not quite as hellish. Nice views though, with sheep and cows and woods and stuff.. But we got there wherever that was. (Sandgate). Some stopped at the Clarendon (who weren’t doing food and only took cards over £10) others went in the sea (gasp).
Then on, the second half being more flatter. Coastal, even. This was more arty with arty beach huts and artworks..
A winding boardwalk took us past the new ‘smartarsitecture’ (looks good) to the old harbour rail station (restored and eerily empty). Here the group, who had displayed 100% cohesion so far, fragmented. Mr Tiger fell in with a bad crowd. They dragged him into a Weshrthpons, (the Samuel Pepyth Peto) and plied him with alclohoo, moshtly cider.
Then through twisty streets, across town to catch the 17 whatever to wherever.
Grand day out. Good choice.
When we all separated, about 6 of us went to find the Antony Gormley sculpture, which was looking good in the sunshine, while others were more interested in ice cream or beer. A large group then headed for tea at Steep Street, but there weren’t many tables and so two of us opted for a second swim instead at a near- deserted sunny sands beach. On our return we met two pubgoers, and one stayed with them to explore Folkestone further while I headed for the station and regrouped with the remaining pubgoers on the 1734. The tea group had got the train ahead of us.
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