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!

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.

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)

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

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.

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.