Length: 14km (8.7 miles)
Toughness 1/10.
Catch the 09:40 train from London Victoria to Birchington-on-Sea, arrives 10:54.
Buy a day return to Birchington-on-Sea.
Return from Herne Bay xx:21, Whitstable xx:28
A very easy flat coastal walk with lunch at The King Ethelbert Inn, Reculver. West extension to Whitstable add 7km.
T=swc.28
3 comments:
I have been doing this walk today, Thursday 1 Feb, in the sunshine.
Lots of birds to see in the first half. Oystercatchers and curlew on the rocks at low tide at Birchington. Later, beyond Mimms Bay, dunlin-type waders running up and down along the tide line, and also roosting on the beach along the sea wall, where they are so well-camouflaged they are almost invisible. You may see some roosting on the little shingle islands in the first lagoon you come to..
Mixed in among one of the beach flocks were ringed plovers, who are even more brilliantly camouflaged - look out for beach pebbles that move! Also in this section about 50 oystercatchers roosting - a black line on the sea’s edge. All these roosting birds cunningly gather just below the sight line of most of those walking the sea wall track, so keep to its seaward edge to see them.
The star attraction is the brent geese, however. These breed in Siberia and fly all the way here to overwinter. A flock of about 500 suddenly materialised as I approached Reculver and landed on the sea, forming a great honking flotilla. Then they fled back inland to feed or roost on the fields. They are dark grey, fairly small for geese, with a white tail.
I am writing this at the HatHats cafe in Reculver, where a huge flock of sparrows is too busy cheeping in a nearby bush to notice I just had a cake they could have shared….
By the way, trainers are fine for this walk. No need for boots.
Five walkers and a fur-child named Gwen on a breezy, sunny in the morning day. As described by Walker, we were accompanied for a short time by a flotilla of gurgling Brent Geese. Four stopped at the pub for lunch - friendly service and acceptable meals. The fifth companion and Gwen who sandwiched outside, were not seen again and I hope they enjoyed the afternoon section. The four divided into two groups of two but met up at a rather charming Art-Deco style cafe on the promenade at Herne Bay. Coffees and cakes home baked by a local were consumed. Three then made their way to the station with one walking on to Whitstable. A lovely day out with great company and conversation. Thanks for posting DAC. Debra
#5 plus 1 dog off the train - reacquainted with past walking companions - one from over a decade ago, another prior to the unmentionable. 4 of us lunched at the King Ethelbert; the picnicker chose to head on to Herne Bay. Coffee stop at Herne Bay; 3 set off for the station, 1 to Whitstable. #overcast-with-sunny-intervals
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