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Ramsgate to Margate via Broadstairs and Botany Bay walk

Easy coastal walk with fine cliff top views, 3 classic seaside resorts, and a number of stunning sandy bays and coves that make it a great swimming walk

Coast Easy Kent My Favourites Swimming Top 10 walks in South East England

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Post # Weather
Sun, 07-Aug-22 Festive Folk by the Sea (Ramsgate to Margate or vise versa) 11 beautiful sunny day
Sun, 08-Aug-21 Festive Folk by the Sea (Margate to Broadstairs or vice versa) 7 cloudy then rainy then sunny
Sun, 11-Aug-19 Sunday Walk: Margate to Broadstairs (Folk Week) or Ramsgate 6 warm and cloudy
Wed, 31-Jul-19 Wednesday Walk Ramsgate to Margate & The Turner Gallery 11
Sun, 12-Aug-18 Sunday Walk: Margate to Broadstairs or Ramsgate 7 pretty good
Thu, 28-Sep-17 Broadstairs to Margate - £10 ticket 3 mostly sunny
Wed, 16-Aug-17 Festive Folk by the Sea 3 cloudy clearing to bright and breezy sunshine
Sun, 03-Jan-16 Winter seaside walk
Sun, 09-Aug-15 Sunday Second Walk - Kent coast 23 warm and sunny
Sun, 10-Aug-14 Margate to Ramsgate 14
Sun, 21-Jul-13 Ramsgate to Margate 3
Sat, 23-Feb-13 Margate to Broadstairs 10
Sat, 23-Feb-13 Broadstairs to Margate
Sun, 12-Aug-12 Margate to Ramsgate
Sun, 07-Aug-11 Margate to Ramsgate
Sun, 08-Aug-10 Ramsgate to Margate
Sun, 07-Aug-22
Stargazer
Festive Folk by the Sea (Ramsgate to Margate or vise versa)

SWC 101: Ramsgate to Margate or vice versa via Broadstairs Folk Festival t=swc.101

Distance: 9.8 Miles or 15.7 km for those more metrically minded (walk can be shortened by ending in Broadstairs)

Difficulty: 2 out of 10

Train: Take the 10:12 AM Margate train from London St. Pancras to either Ramsgate OR Margate, depending on preference (see options below), arriving 11:26 in Ramsgate or 11:38 in Margate. It would also be possible to take the 10:10 Ramsgate train from London Cannon Street (London Bridge 10:07), arriving Margate at 11:42 and Ramsgate at 11:59. The more direct faster return trains from Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate are at 55, 01 and 07 minutes past the hour respectively. Buy a day return to Margate.

To the consternation of some, I am posting this walk with an option for the participants to go in whichever direction they prefer, possibly crossing paths along the way… It is an easy coastal walk along the Isle of Thanet (arguably where the east coast meets the south coast) with a combination of chalk cliffs and secluded coves (and excellent swimming opportunities – one of the best being Botany Bay). Thus, for those opting to start in Margate, it should not be too onerous to follow the instructions in reverse…. For swimming purposes, low tide will be around 13:45 and high tide at 19:50.

This posting also coincides with the festive Broadstairs Folk Festival when the charming seaside town is bursting with song and dance. Many of the pubs also have live free music offerings through-out the day and evening (voluntary contributions in the collection buckets always welcome). The music offerings are generally quite varied from traditional folk sing-alongs to more modern rock offerings.

Also, for the more cultured among us, there is the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate (admission free – but booking is recommended).

In terms of deciding which way to go…for those interested in visiting the Turner Gallery in Margate and swimming in Botany Bay, I would suggest starting in Margate and finishing in Broadstairs or Ramsgate and for those more interested in the Broadstairs festival, I would suggest starting in Ramsgate and possibly finishing in Broadstairs. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

There appear to be a number of potential lunch spots along the way with the Capitan Digby Pub (01843 867 764) being fairly centrally located on the cliff top in Kingsgate Bay. Tea and afternoon refreshments can be had at any number of places in Margate, Broadstairs or Ramsgate.

Enjoy the walk (whichever way you go)!
  • 31-Jul-22

    I am interested if others are going.

  • 05-Aug-22

    I’m interested. The question would be: which direction?

  • 05-Aug-22

    The Margate Soul Festival is also on this weekend.

  • 05-Aug-22

    Margate this time, to broadstairs.

  • 06-Aug-22

    I'm probably going straight to Broadstairs to make the most of the music.Ive been walking two days already this week, so Ill can be guilt free and catch the great music there. Last year was great. My number if anyone wants to touch base is 07986789893.

  • 06-Aug-22

    I'm quite interested in swimming so will start in Margate.

  • 06-Aug-22

    I'm more music- than swimming-inclined so I'm going to start at Ramsgate. Gavin - if you want to do the Ramsgate-Broadstairs leg instead of heading straight to Broadstairs, you've got company. - Matthew

  • 06-Aug-22

    I'll be on 10.12 train from St Pancreas. Prob get off at Broadstairs though. Looking forward.

  • 06-Aug-22

    Also planning to swim

  • 08-Aug-22

    Just 2 swimming fans stayed on the train to Margate, and started off on a beautiful sunny day . After walking mostly along the beach to Kingsgate Bay we met another who was on a later train but had deviously managed to overtake us and had already finished his lunch. We stopped for a sandwich and he headed off the the folk festival.

    Various beaches were rejected for swimming as too busy or too far to the sea at low tide, but we sampled the water on both sides of the pier at Broadstairs. Then after watching some tipsy morris-dancing we headed to the Neptune's Hall pub to meet up with 6 festival-goers who had started at Ramsgate and enjoy some music from the garden of the tiny pub.

    I hear there were two other Ramsgate starters making 11 in all. One was going to swim later so at least 3 swam altogether. Three of us wended our way to the 1701 train but others were staying to enjoy the music to the end. Thanks for posting a fun day out

  • 11-Aug-22

    Readers, I was that mystery Margate man. After racing to St P, just in time for the 10.12 (and carefully checking the platform indicator) I somehow boarded the 1025 :( . Half an hour behind, I set off at a brisk pace to catch up. Too brisk, obviously. How I got ahead is one of life’s great mysteries. Probably due to staying up top a lot. Not intentionally but, doing this walk in reverse, it’s not obvious where to descend to beach level. Someone should write it up properly. Anyway, there might be sharks down there. A very swift half in the Captain Digby then on to Broadstairs . Only bumped into one other walker there. Two pints of cider and a few sea shanties later, I too got the 1701. Didn’t see the others. The Magnet was a pleasant discovery. A micropub that had pear and chilli cider. And musicians.

Sun, 08-Aug-21
Stargazer
Festive Folk by the Sea (Margate to Broadstairs or vice versa)

SWC 101: Ramsgate to Margate or Vice Versa via Broadstairs Folk Festival T=SWC.101

Distance: 9.8 Miles or 15.7 km for those more metrically minded (walk can be shortened by ending in Broadstairs)

Difficulty: 2 out of 10

Train: Take the 10:12 AM Margate train from London St. Pancras to either Ramsgate OR Margate, depending on preference (see options below), arriving 11:26 in Ramsgate or 11:38 in Margate. The more direct return trains from Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate are at 55, 01 and 07 minutes past the hour respectively. There is also a slightly longer option from Margate at 30 mins past the hour for anyone finishing there. Buy a day return to Margate.

I am posting this walk with an option for the participants to go in whichever direction they prefer, possibly crossing paths along the way… It is an easy coastal walk along the Isle of Thanet (arguably where the east coast meets the south coast) with a combination of chalk cliffs and secluded coves (and excellent swimming opportunities – one of the best being Botany Bay). Thus, for those opting to start in Margate, it should not be too onerous to follow the instructions in reverse…. For swimming purposes, high tide will be around 13:00 and low tide at 19:30 based on the Margate tide tables.

This posting also coincides with the festive Broadstairs Folk Festival when the charming seaside town is bursting with song and dance. Many of the pubs also have live free music offerings through-out the day and evening (voluntary contributions in the collection buckets always welcome) and you can buy a program (including the unticketed pub events) at the festival headquarters along the High Street. The music offerings are generally quite varied from traditional folk sing-alongs to more modern rock offerings.

Also, for the more cultured among us, there is the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate (admission free -- but you must book a slot). The gallery is dramatically located on the seafront where JMW Turner stayed when visiting the area. It has a series of rotating contemporary exhibitions.

In terms of deciding which way to go…for those interested in visiting the Turner Gallery in Margate and swimming in Botany Bay, I would suggest starting in Margate and finishing in Broadstairs or Ramsgate and for those more interested in the Broadstairs festival, I would suggest starting in Ramsgate and possibly finishing in Broadstairs (involving a very short walk). You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

The information page for the walk lists a host of refreshment points almost every few kilometers…..so you should not perish from lack of food or drink….

Enjoy the walk, swims and music!


  • 04-Aug-21

    What is best ending place. Margate has some good micro pubs to sit overlooking the beach at the end!

  • 05-Aug-21

    Planning to see as much folk as I can. I've seen Tobias Ben Jacob before, very good and I have one of his cds.

  • Anonymous
    06-Aug-21

    I plan to walk from Margate to broadstairs to catch the festival. May or may not see some of you

    Hayley

  • 06-Aug-21

    To answer Gavin, the best place to end really depends on your preferences for the day....if you are keen to spend time at the festival, Broadstairs is probably the best ending point and you could either have a longer walk from Margate which would get you there early/mid afternoon depending on whether you take a swimming break on route or a very short walk from Ramsgate which only takes about an hour...

  • 07-Aug-21

    See you all on train. Looking forward to some folk. Prob start from Ramsgate and end in Broadstairs.

  • Anonymous
    08-Aug-21

    Gave up with the weather. Enjoy if u get there

  • 08-Aug-21

    We are on our way. Its the folk what matters, and the cider.

  • 09-Aug-21

    5 started at Margate at the designated time and 2 at Ramsgate which makes 7 walkers. (Feel free to up the total. There were at least 5 others at the festival but the only walking I saw them do was between pubs. Though one, in full morris attire, did leap about a bit). Weather was cloudy then rainy then sunny Broadstairs was heaving with Morris sides banging their sticks and waving their hankies. But that didn't stop me finding the cider tent. No siree. The highlight of my day was a ska band, Beggars Belief, in the Wrotham Arms. Did I really see people pogo-ing or had I conshrumed too much aclohoo by then? After then, some went for a meal. I went home.

Sun, 11-Aug-19
Mr M Tiger
Sunday Walk: Margate to Broadstairs (Folk Week) or Ramsgate
SWC walk 101
15.7km (9.8 miles) 2/10
An easy seaside walk. Said to be good for swimming - weather permitting, of course. You’ll be following the directions backwards from Margate to either Broadstairs or Ramsgate. Not exactly rocket science. Just turn right at the coast and keep the sea to your left. The tide will be on its way out so some stretches could be walked along the beach. Low tide is at 15.55.
Margate's Turner Gallery is an early attraction (free admission) followed by Dreamland, a restored vintage fairground. Then off you jolly well go, past beaches, a clifftop castle, and at least two possible lunch pubs, towards Broadstairs, a town associated with Dickens.
It is Broadstairs Folk Week this week. Some events are free, others need a ticket (see their website for more details). If that’s not your thing, you can just chill on the beach or continue on to Ramsgate - whatever.
Trains:
Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin…..
Buy a return to Margate. You can travel from either Victoria or St Pancras today.
Southeastern have a £20 Summer Offer fare available online and at Southeastern ticket offices and vending machines. This will be of most use to non railcard-holders but does give more flexibility, letting you ignore the fare advice below.
Railcard holders' off-peak fares are less than £20 anyway for Victoria and some St Pancras returns. (There are two St Pancras fares, depending on the route taken).
The 09:25 from St Pancras,(Stratford International 9:32) reaches Margate at 10:59. This is covered by the cheaper of the two St Pancras fares (the 'Herne Bay' route).
The 9:40 from Victoria arrives Margate at 11:23 The journey takes a little longer than from St Pancras ( by 13m out, 20m back) but it costs less. Returning, there is one train an hour.
Returning from Broadstairs.
To St Pancras: Trains at xx:59, xx:05 and xx:25, (the xx:25 is covered by the cheaper St P fare). The last train is at 21:59.
To Victoria: xx:11, with the last effectively at 21:11 (one at 22:41 gets in at 00:36).
Returning from Ramsgate:
To St Pancras: Trains at xx:05 (platform 2), xx:12 and xx:20, (the xx:20 is covered by the cheaper St P fare). The last train is at 22:05.
To Victoria: take the xx:05 (platform 1 or 3), the last train is effectively the 21:16 to Charing Cross (the 22:35 gets to Victoria well past your bedtime).
Train information compiled by Isambard M Tiger, Professor of Ticketology and Hard Sums, Rale University. If you want to know even more, ask his research assistant.
Lunch
If you want a sit-down meal, try one of the clifftop pubs before Broadstairs – the Captain Digby or the Botany Bay. Broadstairs itself has plenty to offer, including the Charles Dickens pub, but could be busy. If I remember right, there is a festival area with food-stalls.
Tea
If you get as far as Ramsgate, there is a large Wetherspoons, the The Royal Victoria Pavillion.
Walk Directions here You're doing them backwards OK? That's called clockwise in the notes.
T=swc.101
  • 11-Aug-19

    5 on this walk, being four on the designated high speed train, our fearless walk poster on the one after, and none on the slow line from Victoria, at least not that we saw, not that we hung around waiting.

    The tide was in and so all of the Gormley statue moored on the beach outside the Turner museum was submerged bar the crown of the head just visible through the waves. https://www.turnercontemporary.org/news/turner-contemporary-announces-that-antony-gormley-s-sculpture-will-stay-in-margate-until-november-2020

    Weather was warm and cloudy . The group formed and fragmented several times, with one going swimming, and and two drinking and two eating very satisfactorily at the Botany Bay hotel. We were at Broadstairs at not long after 3pm, where the usual folk aberrations were under way. All chose to stop the walk there rather than continue to Ramsgate.

    The posting led me to buy one of the cheaper High Speed tickets as the outbound train "is covered by the cheaper of the two St Pancras fares". I neglected to read on to the return instructions, which show that the cheaper ticket is only good for one in three of the trains back. I think its simpler to recommend the more expensive ticket, with Victoria the fall back for the more price sensitive.

  • 12-Aug-19

    I heard tell of 1 more on the Victoria train, making that 6 . You're right about the train info. Professor Tiger agonised over how much to put in and how to say it, but the bottom line is people just want a short info burst not a doctoral thesis. I will relay your comments back to him (he is still gibbering uncontrollably in his study).

Wed, 31-Jul-19
PeteG
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
  • 04-Aug-19

    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
    04-Aug-19

    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.

Sun, 12-Aug-18
Mr M Tiger
Sunday Walk: Margate to Broadstairs or Ramsgate
T=swc.101
SWC walk 101 15.7km (9.8 miles) 2/10
An easy seaside walk. You’ll be following the directions in reverse from Margate to either Broadstairs or Ramsgate. Not exactly rocket science. Just keep the sea to your left.
Margate's Turner Gallery is an early attraction (free admission). Then off you go, past several beaches, a clifftop castle, and two possible lunch pubs towards Broadstairs, a town associated with Dickens. As you approach Broadstairs, you will see strange sights. Grown men with antlers on their heads. Dogs in tutus. Troubadours with painted faces serenading your every step, that sort of thing. Don't worry. It wasn’t the soup. You have arrived in the middle of Broadstairs Folk Week. There are some free performances but, to find out more, you'll have to buy a programme. There are other acts you need tickets for, either individually or with a day pass (see their website for more details).
Or you can just continue on to Ramsgate - no pressure.
Trains
You can travel from either St Pancras or Blackfriars today. Buy a return to Margate.
St Pancras has the edge. There are two prices from St Pancras depending on which route you take.
The Blackfriars return is slightly cheaper again (perhaps more so with zone discounts) but takes a little longer.
Get the 09:25 from St Pancras, reaching Margate at 10:59. This is covered by the cheaper St Pancras fare.
The best Blackfriars train, the 09:40, would get you to Margate for 11:24. Maybe you could hire a fast donkey and catch the others up.

Returning from Broadstairs.
To St Pancras: Trains at xx:59 (fastest) xx:05 and xx:25, (the xx:25 is covered by the cheaper fare).The last train is at 21:59.
To Blackfriars: xx:11, with the last practical train at 21:11 (the 22:41 arrives at 00:37).
Returning from Ramsgate:
To St Pancras: Trains at xx:05 (platform 2), xx:12 and xx:20, (the xx:20 is covered by the cheaper fare). The last train is at 22:05.
To Blackfriars: take the xx:05 ( platform 1), the last practical train is the 21:16 to Charing Cross (the 22:35 arrives at 00:37).
Lunch
If you want a sit-down meal, I'd suggest one of the clifftop pubs before Broadstairs – the Captain Digby or the Botany Bay. Broadstairs itself has plenty to offer, including the Charles Dickens pub, but could be busy. If I remember right, there is a festival area with food-stalls.
Tea
If you go as far as Ramsgate, there is a large Wetherspoons, the The Royal Victoria Pavillion.
Walk Directions here. You're doing them backwards OK? That's clockwise in the author's parlance. Although the directions suggest you can walk along the beach in places, high tide is at 1:30 so that option is probably best left till mid-afternoon . (Unless, of course, you have inflatable dinghy shoes and a back-up helicopter). But don't take Mr Tiger's word for it, check local notices.
  • 05-Aug-18

    Sea swimmers may like to note that it is high tide at 13.45 or so today. The wonderful Margate seawater pool, about a mile beyond the Turner Gallery, is recommended for a dip but be careful if the tide is rising as it is covered at high tide and last year I left my clothes on the side of it and they were nearly washed away as the tide came in.

    Probaly the nicest place to swim, though, is Botany Bay (sandy), a lovely beach. Kingsgate and Joss Bay are also nice. Stone Beach near Broadstairs loses the sun by 4 or 5pm, however and in the lower half of the tide underwater rocks are a problem here.

  • Anonymous
    11-Aug-18

    hi Mr T thinking of starting from Broadstairs ...how many miles to Margate from there please?

  • 11-Aug-18

    Mr T' s dodgy maths makes it about 13.5 km (knock off 3km for Ramsgate to Broadstairs and add on a bit for journey from Broadstairs station to beach)

  • Anonymous
    16-Aug-18

    7 or 8, I hear

  • 17-Aug-18

    I heard 9, but I won’t argue. Weather “ pretty good ”

Thu, 28-Sep-17
Andrew
Broadstairs to Margate - £10 ticket
Broadstairs to Margate

A pleasant coastal walk, low chalk cliffs, channel views, some nice beaches, and 3 historic towns.

An early lunch is at the newly opened Royal Victoria Pavilion (a new Wetherspoons in a restored heritage building on Broadstairs sea front).

£10 tickets if you book by 6pm the day before on the southeastern website (you have to enter times to book, but valid on any train after 10am out, after 2pm back)

Catch the 10.08 St Pancras to Broadstairs. Arr 11.27. Buy a return to Margate.

(South Londoners - you might be able to travel via Bromley South or Orpington to link up with this train using the same £10 deal)

Directions / GPS / Map : SWC 101 : L=SWC.101
  • 28-Sep-17

    Apologies for The typo. I of course meant ramsgate to Margate. If any one got of at broadstairs find yourself a nice seaside cafe and we'll catch up with you.

  • 29-Sep-17

    3 mostly sunny 3 people alighted at Ramsgate which was what I meant.

    The Victoria Pavilion (a Wethies) was stunning, with a lovely sun terrace overlooking the sea and harbour. In future, this would make a good breakfast spot before starting the walk, or if doing it in reverse (now recommended I think), a great afternoon tea destination. An alternate route to the station was suggested avoiding the drab shopping streets.

    The route to Broadstairs was nice, with a couple of nice looking beach cafes in hidden beaches.

    We did some beach walking after Broadstairs, but it was rocks+slippy-seaweed. I remembered it as sand.

    Tea was at Kingsgate Bay.

    One took the high road (the cliff top path), one mixed and matched, and one took the low road (sand beaches and the lower concrete prom) to Margate.

    The headland between Botany and Palm Bay can only be safely beach walked at low tide, and high tide there is a short slopping slippy algae covered concrete ledge...

    Only two met up and had a quick look in eyesore Tate building. We should have swapped mobiles...

    If anyone got off at Broadstairs, my apologies. I hope you still managed to have a great day out as we did.

  • 29-Sep-17

    Actually, the walk already takes a prettier route to the sea in Ramsgate, we just didn't follow it.

Wed, 16-Aug-17
Stargazer
Festive Folk by the Sea
SWC 101: Ramsgate to Margate or Vice Versa via Broadstairs Folk Festival T=SWC.101

 Distance: 9.8 Miles or 15.7 km for those more metrically minded (walk can be shortened by ending in Broadstairs)

Difficulty: 2 out of 10

Train: Take the 10:08 AM Margate train from London St. Pancras to either Ramsgate OR Margate, depending on preference (see options below), arriving 11:27 in Ramsgate or 11:39 in Margate. The more direct return trains from Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate are at 53, 59 and 05 minutes past the hour respectively until 21:53, 21:59 and 22:05. Buy a day return to Margate. If you book before 18:00 the day before, you should be able to get a £10 day return – though I am not sure if there is a limit on availability of these special price tickets.

 To the consternation of some, I am breaking with tradition and posting this walk with an option for the participants to go in whichever direction they prefer, possibly crossing paths along the way… It is an easy coastal walk along the Isle of Thanet (arguably where the east coast meets the south coast) with a combination of chalk cliffs and secluded coves (and excellent swimming opportunities – one of the best being Botany Bay). Thus, for those opting to start in Margate, it should not be too onerous to follow the instructions in reverse…. For swimming purposes, low tide will be around 12:45 and high tide at 19:00.

This posting also coincides with the festive Broadstairs Folk Festival when the charming seaside town is bursting with song and dance. Many of the pubs also have live free music offerings through-out the day and evening (voluntary contributions in the collection buckets always welcome) and you can buy a program (including the unticketed pub events) at the festival headquarters along the High Street. The music offerings are generally quite varied from traditional folk sing-alongs to more modern rock offerings.

Also, for the more cultured among us, there is the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate (admission free). The gallery is dramatically located on the seafront where TMW Turner stayed when visiting the area. It has a series of rotating contemporary exhibitions.

In terms of deciding which way to go…for those interested in visiting the Turner Gallery in Margate and swimming in Botany Bay, I would suggest starting in Margate and finishing in Broadstairs or Ramsgate and for those more interested in the Broadstairs festival, I would suggest starting in Ramsgate and possibly finishing in Broadstairs. You can find more information about the walk and download the walk instructions here.

There appear to be a number of potential lunch spots along the way with the Capitan Digby Pub (01843 867 764) being fairly centrally located on the cliff top in Kingsgate Bay. Tea and afternoon refreshments can be had at any number of places in Margate, Broadstairs or Ramsgate.

Enjoy the walk (whichever way you go)!
  • Marion
    14-Aug-17

    There are no £10 tickets coming up as being available. Anyone got any success here. I'm intending to catch the 9.37 from Victoria arriving 11.24 at Margate just before the high speed train. Cost £19.75 ish with senior railcard. Want to visit the Broadstairs festival so hoping to meet up with other afficionados .

  • 15-Aug-17

    I was just able to book a 10 pound promotional ticket on the Southeastern Trains website for the specified outbound train --https://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/. You do need to nominally pick a return time -- but I suspect the ticket itself functions more like a day return.....

  • 15-Aug-17

    Offer is after 10am

  • 17-Aug-17

    Two disembarked from the high speed train at Ramsgate, leaving one aboard who started in Margate and did not encounter any others before setting off, making for 3 on a day which started off cloudy clearing to bright and breezy sunshine (a refreshing change from recent Wednesdays). The two who started in Ramsgate enjoyed a short walk along the beach to Broadstairs having a picnic along the way and spent the remainder of the day and evening enjoying the festival offerings, including watching a regular SWCer (not on the walk) perform a thespian piece on the main promenade, and a delightful late afternoon swim in a rising tide at neighboring Stone Bay. I understand the lone Margate starter enjoyed some time at the Gallery before setting off. Unfortunately, poor mobile reception scuppered efforts to meet in Broadstairs. Not sure about those on the slow train -- please feel free to supplement if others also did the walk.....

  • 17-Aug-17

    Perfect tide-out day to walk all the way on the beach from Ramsgate to Margate, as in 2011, but with recovering foot and knee, walked from Broadstairs to Margate, mainly on cliff top. Glorious weather to make use of £10 bargain. Turner Gallery fascinating as always, but a few days too early to see a Gormley placed on the coast nearby

  • Anonymous
    29-Aug-17

    this comment is transfered from another walk's comment section:

    Marion, Fri 25 Aug 17, 07:43

    Just wanted to thank you for posting the Folk festival and make a comment about last weeks walk to Broadstairs. Cant find the walk report. We did the Margate to Broadstairs option on the train from Victoria at 9.37 which arrived before the high speed train. Walking to Broadstairs along the cliff walk Viking Trail we arrived around 5pm having explored the vintage clothes, bric a brac shops and Dreamland complex in Margate. We visited several venues in Broadstairs including the Gardens and the Bandstand where normally everyone congregates. Also the festival stalls. Didn't see a soul unlike previous years.

    Could I suggest that next year we have a meeting point and fewer options for walking so that a group walk is possible? i was with Jayne kennedy who only comes back from Penzance to Ealing occasionally and it would have been nice to have seen somebody! What was the turnout like? We caught the 8pm train home and enjoyed very good fish and chips in transit.

    '

    Such a good day out I booked again this week on the £10 fare to return to the vintage shops in Margate where I've now acquired 5 vintage dress patterns and a pattern cutting book to add to my library.

    This is a wonderful day out with something for everybody and anyone with children or grandchildren would love the vintage rides fully restored at the art deco Dreamland entertainment complex in Margate. A real trip down memory lane for those of us who remember going to Margate as children.

Sun, 03-Jan-16
PeteB
Winter seaside walk
Book 3 Walk 101 Ramsgate to Margate via Broadstairs
Length 15.7km (9.8m); toughness 2/10.
Trains: Recommend you use HS1 trains today.
09.37 London St Pancras International (Stratford International 09.43) arrives Ashford International 10.14 then have a quick coffee before catching the 10.42 from Ashford to Ramsgate 11.13.
Return trains from Margate back to London St Pancras International are at xx:53.
This is a favourite summer swimming walk but makes a highly evocative and atmospheric winter outing with strong associations with Charles Dickens. (Your recommended lunch-time pub is the Charles Dickens in Broadstairs!)
You can shorten the walk by finishing in Broadstairs.

For informative walk notes and full walk instructions see walks page 101
Sun, 09-Aug-15
Chris L
Sunday Second Walk - Kent coast
Extra Walk 101 – Margate to Broadstairs & Ramsgate
Length: 15.7km (9.8 miles). Toughness: 2/10

09:44 Ramsgate train from Victoria (Bromley South 10:02), arriving Margate at 11:29.

Or 10:08 Margate train from St Pancras (Stratford International 10:15), arriving Margate at 11:39.

Return trains from Ramsgate to St Pancras are at xx:05 (journey time 1 hour 16 mins).; to Victoria at xx:35 (journey time 2hrs 04 mins); to Charing Cross at xx:40 (journey time 2hrs 12 mins).

If returning from Broadstairs, trains are at xx:59 to St Pancras, xx:41 to Victoria, and 18:31 & 19:31 to Charing Cross.

It’s becoming a tradition to post this walk on the Sunday of Broadstairs Folk Week , a splendid showcase of traditional music, song and dance. After enjoying the walk and the lively festival scene on Sunday, a number of walkers sometimes stay over on Sunday night to soak up the more relaxed atmosphere on Monday, when the music-making continues in halls, marquees and pubs around the town.

Accommodation in Broadstairs itself can be hard to find, but The Comfort Inn in Ramsgate, a fairly short distance away, has been found to be a convenient choice.

For those uninterested in the festival, the walk makes a splendid swimming walk, with many sandy bays en route and a couple of interesting old town harbour areas to explore. Or you could visit Grayson Perry’s splendid ‘Provincial Punk’ exhibition (free of charge) at the Turner Contemporary gallery in Margate, which the walk passes.

You can download the Walk directions (Ramsgate to Margate) and follow them in reverse, but you hardly need them, since you simply follow the coast, at beach level or clifftop level, all the way.
  • Anonymous
    06-Aug-15

    May well do this.

    Two questions: 1. Is it more expensive travelling from St. Pancras? 2. Assuming most walkers arrive at the Folk venue sometime in the afternoon, will they catch much music or do we have to hang around waiting for it to start, by which time many may opt to catch the homeward train instead?

    'North and South'

  • Anonymous
    15-Aug-15

    23_warm_and_sunny

    Some visited the gallery. Several were near the bandstand. Some went in the sea. Did they return? Who knows.

  • Anonymous
    15-Aug-15

    23 warm and sunny