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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.

Wednesday 31 July 2019

Wednesday Walk Ramsgate to Margate & The Turner Gallery

Ramsgate to Margate

Length: 15.7km (9.8 miles)

The Turner Gallery's current (free) exhibition is Seaside: Photographed (open until 6pm). There is a promotional fare of £20 return. High tide is 1200, low 1850. A swimming expert recommends Botany Bay or the seawater pool at Margate. (Note that this walk may also be on a Sunday in August)

This is a gentle coastal walk along low chalk cliffs with views over the channel, with several secluded coves. At low tide, you can walk along the beach between them. The resorts are very busy on sunny days, but the rest of the coast is much quieter.
For much of the way it is possible to choose between walking on top of the 20-30 metre high chalk cliffs ("cliff top level"), or at low tide, walking along the beach or promenade below ("beach level"). Although this stretch of coast is largely built-up, there is a wide strip of open grass along most of the cliff top. The beaches are sandy and flat - the tide goes out a long way.
Trains: Get the high speed  1009 Margate train from London St Pancras arriving Ramsgate 1127. There are various return trains to either Victoria or St Pancras. Choose the £20 promotional fare for flexibility. It can be done cheaper with advance tickets & railcards.

Lunch: after 7 km is The Captain Digby pub at cliff top level at Kingsgate Bay or 8 km is The The Botany Bay pub.

T=swc.101

2 comments:

PeteG said...

n=11 on a warm but cloudy day. The group fragmented early on. 3 swam at Broadstairs & 2 +1 swam at Botony Bay, which was a mistake, as the tide was 2 hours off high, so too shallow & rocky & seaweed.

The gallery was enjoyed by those who went. The Charles Dickens was efficient for those who ate there. The Mechanical Elephant for 4 of us gave a nice end to the day.

Marion said...

On behalf of those who walk this coastline regularly I can add that there are many attractions worth visiting apart from the Turner gallery. Ramsgate has interesting shops including a vast sewing emporium in the high st in premises as vast as McDonalds who used to be located here. There are numerous cafes and newly refurbished pubs en route with superb views. Also the Charles Dickens museum deserves a visit in Broadstairs together with the promenade market which included vintage jewellery amongst other treasures. Margate has wonder ful vintage shops in the old town plus restoration workshops plus the Dreamland complex of vintage rides including the largest and oldest wooden frame Big Dipper. Sadly the Art Deco restaurant bar and ballroom is still awaiting a tenant after a £10 million pound restoration paid for by the Council. I spent over £100 on shopping for items I can’t get in London so a day well worth the train fare plus great company food and drinks. Thanks to PH for organising and noting the special fare.