Length: 11.2
km (7 miles) or 13.4km (8.3 miles)
T=swc.51
Length: Main
walk: 11.2km (7 miles)
a) With
extension to Folkestone harbour: 13.4km (8.3 miles)
Toughness: 5
out of 10: two steep hill climbs: otherwise flat or gentle gradients
Catch the 10.04 train
from Charing Cross 10.04; Waterloo East, 10.07; London
Bridge 10.13 to Sandling, arriving 11.36
OR
Catch the 10.40 Southeastern
High Speed train from St Pancras International to Ashford
International, changing there to the above train, (arrive 11.18,
depart 11.25) to arrive at the same time – 11.36.
Return
Trains:
From
Folkestone Central Station to Charing X: 14.58; 16.39;17.38; 18.38 etc
From
Folkestone Central to London STP: 15.58; 16.56; 17.58; 18.58 etc
Buy a
day return ticket to Folkestone (with high speed supplement if
relevant)
Walk
directions: https://www.walkingclub.org.uk/walk/sandling-to-folkestone-via-the-sea/
Description:
This walk initially follows the old branchline (which took passengers from
Sandling to Sandgate before it closed), then through orchards and fields and
the village of Saltwood with views to the sea.
The walk then brings you down to the pretty seafront at Sandgate
for lunch, or you can swim and picnic on the beach but please be
aware of the currents which either stop you swimming in one direction, or help
you on in another direction.
A better choice for swimming is to walk along the
seafront for about 1 mile towards Folkestone to Mermaid Beach ,
which although busier with families and sunbathers than Sandgate, is actually
sandy and calmer with very pleasant scenery and easy swimming. High
tide in the Folkestone area should be 12.39 for today.
Lunch: Many choices in Sandgate and Mermaid beach.
Boat House Café Kiosk in Sandgate serving light lunches
and snacks
Famous Ship Inn (Sandgate) 01303 905365
There is a cafe overlooking the Mermaid
Beach, and also a new tea kiosk in the Leas Park, near the
foot of the Zigzag Path.
To finish your walk, you can stroll along the seafront to
the Harbour Arm, the now revamped former cross-channel port of
Folkestone, where there all sorts of food kiosks and places to have drinks. For
a shorter way to the station, climb the charming Zigzag Path.
2 comments:
Now I might do this Walk on Saturday. But i can't Guarantee i will. Now the last time I did this Walk. Some of us couldn't go into a Pub Restaurant at all. So im the end. I went to get Fish and chips at a Fish and chips Restaurant instead. So I Thought I just let you know on this.
19 at the start of this walk. Three came on trains an hour early and lurked around on the old railway line looking at butterflies and also inspected the disused railway tunnel on it, before returning to the station to meet the others. Of those on the posted trains, the high speeders had an anxious time of it when their train left 5 minutes late due to some idiot jamming himself in the doors. But they made the connection at Ashford with seconds to spare.
The high speed trains were very busy, but as far as I know all got seats. Credit to Southeastern for running double length trains on the outward runs. Trains to the coast on hot days are always a bit stressful but the railway gets us there and gets us back again.
We set off in w=pleasant-sunshine, hot but not madly so (22 degrees) and getting cooler as we approached the coast and caught the north-east breeze. The inland part of the walk passed easily even if the countryside was bone dry. Woods provided breaks from the sun.
Descending to the beach at Sandgate we passed two regular walkers sat outside the Duke of Clarendon pub. It was too short-staffed to do food, apparently, but had made an exception for this duo. I was not entirely clear how much of the actual posted walk they had done or intended to do, but after consulting our adjudication panel I pronounce them part of the group - so N=21.
As soon as we got to the beach 14 flung themselves into the waves - possibly an SWC record. The water felt a tad chilly and was a bit wavy in the brisk breeze, but It all made for an exhilarating swim. Afterwards at least ten of us made for the Ship Inn, where we had a leisurely lunch on the open air deck overlooking the sea, the group evenly split between sol and sombra (for any bullfighting fans out there).
After lunch we progressed along a very breezy promenade to the Mermaid Beach at Folkestone. Some sandwichers had already swum here: other lunchers joined them for a mid tide swim, at least four of us doing the classic swim out round (or in one case to) the capped pole.
Post-swim we tried to get tea at the Mermaid Cafe but it was closing. A few die-hard addicts went the Hat-Hats kiosk instead; others went to the Harbour Arm for drinks. Some of either group reunited midway along the Harbour Arm for drinks, chips, pizza slices, whitebait and kiddie-sized fish and chips (which the purchaser was unable to finish) with lovely sea views.
In the end seven of us were left, debating if to get the high-speed train at 20.58 or the slow one at 20.38. Supplies were secured by the latter group. We all got to the very crowded platform in time for the 20.38, but at the last minute three of us decided to wait for the high speed. This was VERY crowded, but one of our more quietly determined walkers miraculously managed to find three seats around a table. We had a trouble-free ride home, washed down for two of us by white wine kindly donated by the slow-trainers.
A super summery day out. Thanks to the poster for a good choice.
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