17.2 km 10.7miles. Difficulty: 3/10
One of the finest coastal walks in England, taking you along the top of the famous White Cliffs of Dover. On a clear day, you get stunning views of the English Channel and the French coast from Boulogne to Dunkerque. Apart from two climbs, the terrain is level or gently undulating. Later you descend alongside a shingle beach with unusual flora that should be in flower round abouts now.
Trains:
Get the 9:40 Hi Speed from St Pancras International platform 13 (Stratford Int 09:48), (destination Ashford Int). Change at Ashford International to the Dover Priory train (arrive 10:18 platform 6, dep 10:25 from platform 2). Arrive Dover Priory 10:55.
Trains return from Deal at xx:27 Get a Hi Speed return to Deal.
Lunch: Just before St Margaret's Bay, you’ll find the Pines Garden Tea Room and Museum (4.3 miles) into the walk, It serves light lunches and cakes from 10am to 4pm. On the bay, itself, you’ll find the Coastguard pub (01304 853 051). There's also a tea kiosk down there sells food.
Tea: 3 miles before Deal, you’ll find The Zetland Arms, 01304 370114 a pub on the beach, Why not stop there for afternoon ‘elevenses’?
An optional detour through old Deal would take you to a traditional back street pub, the Ship Inn. Nearer the station you got the Sir Norman Wisdom, a Wetherspoons.
Directions here.
The walk is so close to France that your phone can switch to a French network and start telling French time. You may even find yourself speaking French.
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1 comment:
I can attest that the shingle beach flowers just beyond Kingswood are indeed in fine fettle at present (do flowers have fettles?)
The clifftop flowers around St Margaret’s Bay are gorgeous too.
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