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

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)!

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.