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This Week's Walks - Archive

Please see the Saturday Walker's Club This Week's Walks page.

This is an archive of walks done by the Saturday Walker's Club. You should only need to use this page if the SWC website is down.

Sunday 20 January 2019

Sunday Walk Dazzling Dover to Deal (or Sandwich)

Dover to Deal or Sandwich -- an easy cliff walk from the dramatic White Cliffs of Dover to the charms of historic Deal or Sandwich t=2.30

Train: Take the 9:37 AM from London St. Pancras to Dover (9:44 at Stratford International), arriving at 10:41 AM. Return trains from Sandwich are at 25 minutes past the hour and from Deal at 31 minutes past the hour until 21:25 and 21:31, respectively. Buy a day return to Deal or, if planning on the longer route, Sandwich. 

Distance: 11 miles to Deal and 16 miles to Sandwich (17.7 or 25.7, respectively, in new money) 

Difficulty: 3 out of 10

I posted this walk about this time last year and it proved to be a very enjoyable winter’s day outing….complete with a lovely waxing moon over Sandwich Bay (for those on the extension)…..Can we be so lucky again…..Let’s hope so….

This fairly easy coastal walk follows the dramatic White Cliffs of Dover with nice views of the castle and the busy harbour. It then dips down into St. Margaret's Bay for a seaside lunch before once again climbing up onto the cliffs to continue on to Deal. The 5-mile walk to Sandwich is largely flat along a promenade with views out to Sandwich Bay. After about 4 miles on the seafront, you will need to turn left to follow the Saxon Shore Way through the Royal St. George's Golf Club (if you pass some Public Conveniences on the left, you have gone too far (though you could also turn left along the Stour Valley Walk a short distance further on from the conveniences at a car park). Both of these paths lead into the charming village of Sandwich after about a mile. If the weather conditions are clear, I would suggest, having a bevie in Deal and doing at least part of the last bit under a nicely waxing moon. More information and the directions can be found here.

Lunch will be at the Coastguard in St. Margaret's Bay (01304 853176), a beach side pub claiming to be Britain's closest pub to France about 5 miles/8 km from the start of the walk.

There are numerous cozy pubs and cafes on the seafront in Deal for various post walk refreshments. For those on the long-haul, there are numerous pubs in Sandwich.

Fingers crossed for clear skies!

Enjoy the walk!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Will there be a second Sunday walk this weekend?

Stargazer said...

n=18 on this w=fine-crisp-winter's-day. Amazingly, lady luck was with us today and for a second year running this made for a delightful sunny winter outing. First, climbing the dramatic cliffs of Dover with its ever fascinating view down into the bustling port harbor, then continuing along the cliffs with fine channel views before dipping down to St. Margaret's Bay for lunch...where the group splintered a bit....The pub was very busy and could only accommodate the original booking for 4...5 others bravely dined alfresco on the terrace at the pub with the others picnicking nearby...Most carried on before the pub diners finished but some did regroup at the café on the pier in Deal -- a great place to watch both a setting sun and rising moon. Apparently, most took various afternoon trains back and at least one carried on to Sandwich in daylight. About 5:00pm, 4 left the café for a tour of Deal at the 5:31 train and 3 others headed off in the w=bright-moonlight for the walk to Sandwich catching the 19:25.A full day out!