SWC 101: Ramsgate to Margate or vice versa via Broadstairs Folk Festival t=swc.101
Distance: 9.8 Miles or 15.7 km for those more
metrically minded (walk can be shortened by ending in Broadstairs)
Difficulty: 2 out of 10
Train: Take the 10:12
AM Margate train from London St.
Pancras to either Ramsgate OR Margate, depending on preference (see options
below), arriving 11:26 in Ramsgate or 11:38 in Margate. It would also be
possible to take the 10:10 Ramsgate train from London Cannon Street
(London Bridge 10:07), arriving
Margate at 11:42 and Ramsgate at 11:59. The more direct faster return trains from Margate, Broadstairs and
Ramsgate are at 55, 01 and 07 minutes past the hour respectively. Buy a day return to Margate.
To the consternation of some, I am posting this
walk with an option for the
participants to go in whichever direction they prefer, possibly crossing paths
along the way… It is an easy coastal
walk along the Isle of Thanet (arguably
where the east coast meets the south coast) with a combination of chalk cliffs
and secluded coves (and excellent swimming opportunities – one of the best
being Botany Bay). Thus, for those opting to start in Margate,
it should not be too onerous to follow the instructions in reverse…. For
swimming purposes, low tide will be around 13:45 and high tide at 19:50.
This posting also coincides with the festive Broadstairs Folk Festival when the charming seaside town is bursting with song and dance. Many of the pubs also have live free music offerings through-out the day and evening (voluntary contributions in the collection buckets always welcome). The music offerings are generally quite varied from traditional folk sing-alongs to more modern rock offerings.
Also, for the more cultured among us, there is
the Turner Contemporary Gallery in
Margate (admission free – but booking is recommended).
In terms of deciding which way to go…for those
interested in visiting the Turner Gallery in Margate and swimming in Botany
Bay, I would suggest starting in Margate and finishing in Broadstairs or
Ramsgate and for those more interested in the Broadstairs festival, I would
suggest starting in Ramsgate and possibly finishing in Broadstairs. You can find more information about the walk
and download the walk instructions here.
There appear to be a number of potential lunch
spots along the way with the Capitan
Digby Pub (01843 867 764) being fairly centrally located on the cliff top
in Kingsgate Bay. Tea and afternoon refreshments can be had at
any number of places in Margate, Broadstairs or Ramsgate.
11 comments:
I am interested if others are going.
I’m interested. The question would be: which direction?
The Margate Soul Festival is also on this weekend.
Margate this time, to broadstairs.
I'm probably going straight to Broadstairs to make the most of the music.Ive been walking two days already this week, so Ill can be guilt free and catch the great music there. Last year was great. My number if anyone wants to touch base is 07986789893.
I'm quite interested in swimming so will start in Margate.
I'm more music- than swimming-inclined so I'm going to start at Ramsgate. Gavin - if you want to do the Ramsgate-Broadstairs leg instead of heading straight to Broadstairs, you've got company. - Matthew
I'll be on 10.12 train from St Pancreas. Prob get off at Broadstairs though. Looking forward.
Also planning to swim
Just 2 swimming fans stayed on the train to Margate, and started off on a #beautiful-sunny-day. After walking mostly along the beach to Kingsgate Bay we met another who was on a later train but had deviously managed to overtake us and had already finished his lunch. We stopped for a sandwich and he headed off the the folk festival.
Various beaches were rejected for swimming as too busy or too far to the sea at low tide, but we sampled the water on both sides of the pier at Broadstairs. Then after watching some tipsy morris-dancing we headed to the Neptune's Hall pub to meet up with 6 festival-goers who had started at Ramsgate and enjoy some music from the garden of the tiny pub.
I hear there were two other Ramsgate starters making #11 in all. One was going to swim later so at least 3 swam altogether. Three of us wended our way to the 1701 train but others were staying to enjoy the music to the end. Thanks for posting a fun day out
Readers, I was that mystery Margate man. After racing to St P, just in time for the 10.12 (and carefully checking the platform indicator) I somehow boarded the 1025 :( . Half an hour behind, I set off at a brisk pace to catch up. Too brisk, obviously. How I got ahead is one of life’s great mysteries. Probably due to staying up top a lot. Not intentionally but, doing this walk in reverse, it’s not obvious where to descend to beach level. Someone should write it up properly. Anyway, there might be sharks down there. A very swift half in the Captain Digby then on to Broadstairs . Only bumped into one other walker there. Two pints of cider and a few sea shanties later, I too got the 1701. Didn’t see the others. The Magnet was a pleasant discovery. A micropub that had pear and chilli cider. And musicians.
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