My correspondent reports5 off the train. Noticeably breezier and cooler than London at start. 4 finished at Broadstairs seeking music and refreshment, 1 continued to Ramsgate along the beach, sandy and firm underfoot with retreating tide.

I was thinking of going to the Tracey Emin exhibition and this sounds like a great idea

Both expos look fab! If they were in London, each would cost £20 to go in, easily offset the train fare - plus some sea air. What not to like?!

Is it possible to post this in Feb when it is wet, muddy and unbearable?

In Broadstairs, although Dickens House Museum is currently closed, the museum produced a walking brochure which can be found here. https://www.visitthanet.co.uk/media/86126/dickens-house-town-trail-2023.pdf.

Carl Freedman Gallery opens at 12pm, best to head to Turner first or The Shell Grotto Margate which is a short walk from Freedman. The Shell Grotto is well worth a visit - a massive underground shell mosaic structure discovered in 1835 by chance. Tickets - £4 (conc)/4.5. https://www.shellgrotto.co.uk/

5 are at C Freedman Gallery as they're opening earlier by walk posters request.

23 on the walk, which got off on a confused start. 7 were at the Freedman Gallery ( recommended) for the arranged early opening (2 newbies who were not seen again). We later crossed paths with most of the others on the way to the Turner Contemporary. For whatever reason, they thought the opening was at 12. There was regrrouping at the Botany Bay pub, and it was nice to see some people who haven't t been around for a while. Up till now It had been sunshine and a delightful walk on the firm sands but a dark cloud settled over the pub and a scramble for seats indoors. Everyone got fed and a sizable crowd set off, with the rain holding off. A few abandoned ship at Broadstairs, where a couple of of us needing a loo break had to buy another beer. Not sure what happened after that, I had a drink in the Wetherspoons, which would be great on a warmer day with its outdoor seating. I'm now on the 1902, and assume most people got earlier trans. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed the day out

I did this walk a few weeks ago, arrived at Freedman before 12pm, it was closed. After checking on the gallery website, it says opening hours 12-5pm. Hence my earlier comment about the gallery opening time, not realising the walk poster had pre-arranged for a 'private viewing' at 11:30am for the group. So apologies for the confusion. I see a great turn out today. hope you all enjoyed it.

The Margate tidal seawater pool is indeed recommended - a grand place for a swim, particularly in the late afternoon when the sun is declining towards the west. Otherwise, low tide is a bit tricky on this coast. The main Broadstairs beach is always swimmable, but very busy. The nicer Stone Bay immediately to the north is not good at low states of the tide due to underwater rocks, and Botany Bay is the same. Between them, Kingsgate and Joss Bay are both, as far as I know, swimmable even at low tide. Kingsgate Bay in particular benefits from having no convenient car park, and so being less busy than its neighbouring beaches. All these beaches are sandy

The reason the high speed trains take the same amount of time as the Victoria ones today is that the line is CLOSED between Canterbury West and Ramsgate for engineering works. If you take the 10.07 train from Sri Pancras you will be on a REPLACEMENT BUS SERVICE from Canterbury to Ramsgate. Better is to take the 10.20 from St Pancras to Ramsgate, which runs along the North Kent Coast, arriving at 12.10 (ie only 5 minutes later than the Victoria train), though this offers no real time advantage over the Victoria train. Being a sunny day, after a sunny week, all trains to Margate are likely to be VERY busy today, a fact that one of the key rail routes to the town is closed will not help one bit.... Personally if doing this walk I would be tempted to aim for the 9.10 from Victoria or the 9.20 from St Pancras, and if you are aiming to get on at an intermediate stop (Bromley South or Stratford International) I definitely would (standing up for nearly two hours is not fun!). You could fill the time till the others turn up by having a morning swim....

With 4 on the specified train (we got seats, but it was soon standing only), 3 on the bus train and 2 on a third train we eventually had 9, reducing to 8 for most of the day. The early 3 had a swim at Ramsgate whilst waiting for the next train, and as seven, we met up with the other 2 at Broadstairs, which was predictably busy on the beach. Seven stopped for lunch at The Charles Dickens, and three of us went on to Stony Bay for a swim and picnic on the beach. One, a newish walker, called it a day at Broadstairs and a regrouped 8 headed off to Kingsgate Bay for another swim. After an afternoon break at The Botany Bay pub we got to the Walpole Bay Tidal pool where three of us swam (in deep water for once), at 6pm in September! The others set off to find somewhere for pre-train drinks, where we caught up during the fine sun-set in Margate. With fish & chips in hand, and armed with 'supplies' and now 7, we secured two tables on a much delayed train, feeling very content with the day, until Faversham, where the whole train was emptied as there wasn't a guard to go on to Victoria. A high speed pulled in leaving 3 of us standing and split between seats. At Gillingham 4 of us bailed out for the promise of seats on a following Victoria train, which we were lucky to get. Despite the chaos, the mood on the trains seemed pretty good, presumably everyone appreciating the luck of the weather, a day with a pleasant 23 degrees and light sea breeze, before hitting the heat in London.

Sunny with a light sea breeze

I am interested if others are going.

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

The Margate Soul Festival is also on this weekend.

Margate this time, to broadstairs.

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.

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

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

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

Also planning to swim

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 making11 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

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.

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

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.

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

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...

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

Gave up with the weather. Enjoy if u get there

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

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

7 or 8, I hear

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

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.

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.

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

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 .

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.....

Offer is after 10am

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.....

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

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.

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'

23_warm_and_sunny Some visited the gallery. Several were near the bandstand. Some went in the sea. Did they return? Who knows.

23 warm and sunny