Roaming with Red

There is nothing better than sea air to rejuvenate the soul. The combination of salt, fresh air and the quiet crashing of waves can be extremely restorative. While England may not be known for its surf beaches, it certainly has some awe-inspiring coastline to discover. The coast along Margate to Ramsgate is one such area. Situated on the Southeastern coast, this walk allows you to explore a beautiful part of the British countryside while stopping in at some very cute towns along the way. If you’re someone who enjoys nature more than architecture, this blog post is for you.

Margate – The Starting Point

We started the walk at Margate. An easy hour and a half train ride from St Pancras Station, Margate is a lovely coastal town and the perfect beginning for your adventure. We did this walk in Autumn, and there was that sleepy quietness to the town that often accompanies the seaside during the colder months. I do hear, however, that Margate is a very popular spot during Summer so if you go when the warmth has arrived you may find the town transformed into a sea of sun-baking Brits and foreigners.

Starting at Margate, the walk allows you to pick your adventure between beach and path. When it’s low tide, make sure you spend at least some of the walk on the beach. With the coastline towering above you, it is an imposing sight to compare the deep, endless ocean with the towering cliff tops. We were lucky enough to get a perfect Autumn day with the sun shining and a light breeze but I imagine it would be just as striking in the rain.

Botany Bay and Kingsgate – The First Stop

Whether you pick the beach or the path, you won’t be disappointed. While the beach provides proximity to the water, the clifftop path provides incredible views out to sea. Keep walking on past Botany Bay and onto Kingsgate Bay, with its incredible natural stone archway. Here, you’ll see ruins of the old keep that once stood in this area as well as a stunning view out to Kingsgate Castle. The best way I can describe this is like a scene out of Game of Thrones – think large stone castle sitting right on the cliff’s edge!

In terms of lunch, I would highly recommend you bring a packed lunch. There are few places to stop on the way and, personally, there is something nice about eating a sandwich in the outdoors when you’re on a big walk. We did, however, stop in at the Captain Digby pub. This lone pub sits in the shadow of Kingsgate Castle and is an ideal spot for a cold beer as you marvel at the view before you.

Broadstairs – The Midway Point

Keep walking along the beach, despite it’s rather stony surface, and you’ll eventually find yourself at Broadstairs. Broadstairs is the first major town on this walk and feels like it never left the early 1900s. Focussed on the half moon foreshore, labelled Viking Bay due to a 1940s reenactment of a Norse landing in 449AD, I would suggest spending a bit more time in this charming town if you can. It’s small but beautiful and it genuinely feels like you’ve left the world behind you as you walk through the one main strip.

Ramsgate – The Finish Line

From Broadstairs, you hit the homestretch. The scenery turns from stunning clifftops to imposing houses and large memorial parks. Slowly make your way across the path until you find yourself at King George VI Memorial Park and onwards to Ramsgate, the finish line for this walk. Ramsgate, seemingly bigger than the other two towns you will experience, is steeped in history. An extremely popular spot in the Victorian era, Ramsgate’s main attraction is its marina. Walking down from the clifftop and through the small winding paths, you are greeted with rows upon rows of boats and yachts, all moored by the seafront for the day. Take a walk up and down the pier before settling on a place for a drink, whether that be on the water’s edge, placing yourself right by the boats moored by the foreshore, or on the hilltop behind, observing everything from above.

All in all, the walk took about 4 hours inclusive of a half hour break for lunch. You could do it faster if you wanted – you can also rent a bike if you’re that way inclined – or slower and still enjoy the walk as much as I did. You can also do the walk in reverse or continue onwards past Ramsgate, it’s really up to you to make this your own! I think I had genuinely forgotten how much I missed the water and the smell of the ocean. Although we were walking for a good portion of the day, it was so incredibly rejuvenating and refreshing to spend a day by the seaside that I would gladly do this walk again! While maybe not your regular day out, it is well worth adding to your greater London itinerary.