England Coast Walk: Lydd to Ramsgate
Dover White Cliffs
Dover White Cliffs
DESCRIPTION:
Following the Coastline along the well-marked England Coast Walk you will pass through National Nature Reserves see stunning views, and sites of historical interest from the Roman era to WW2. You will gain an appreciation of the changing coastline of Kent over the centuries. The England Coast Walk holiday starts in the historic town of Rye in the west, and takes in Kent's Heritage Coast (awarded 4th place in Lonely Planet's international travel destinations for 2022). The walk can be completed in one or two sections. There are plenty of places to stop for refreshments on the way. Walking distances – Kent Coast Path – 7 to 14 miles per day. (additional stops can be built in). Easy to moderate.
From £545pp
to £949pp
ex flights
5 to 8
days
Available March to end October
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Enquire Now for availability
ITINERARY
PRICE INCLUDES:
This itinerary includes: accommodation in B&Bs, inns and hotels with breakfasts, daily luggage transfer, advice on GPS link to the route, fully marked up maps, information pack and guidebook
SELF LED TOURS:
Support and advice is available by phone from your tracker throughout the duration of your walk. After breakfast each day, your luggage will be transported to your next accommodation stop. There is an optional debrief meeting at the end of your holiday.
ACCOMMODATION:
Walk Awhile accommodates walkers at inns and pubs with accommodation, hotels and B&Bs. There are historic pubs and plenty of cafes along the route, where you can enjoy refreshments.
GETTING THERE:
By AIR:
Flights arrive/leave from Gatwick, Stansted and Heathrow Airport, with good links to St. Pancras International rail station where you can change for Ashford International Station.
BY FERRY:
Dover Ferry Port in Kent connects to Calais by cross channel Ferry, from where trains can be taken to Rye
By RAIL:
Canterbury, Ashford, Ramsgate & Dover on main train lines from St Pancras International. From Ashford International Station trains to Rye
Eurostar from Brussels, Paris and Lille to St. Pancras, and Ashford International. National Express Coach Services run regularly from London Victoria to Canterbury, Ashford and Dover.
ARRIVAL DAY
Day 1
Arrive at your accommodation in the picturesque town of Rye, East Sussex, allowing time for sightseeing
Day 2
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following breakfast and luggage transfer, a pre booked taxi will take you to the start of the walk in the ancient town of Lydd You can visit the church of All Saints ‘The Cathedral in the Marsh’, where Cardinal Wolsey was once Rector. For bird watchers there is a short detour to the RSPB visitor centre, where migratory birds can be seen and in summer, redshanks, lapwings and reedbed birds, as well as a vast array of nesting and seabirds. Arriving at the unique Dungeness reserve you will find a landscape of open shingle, and wildflowers. Refreshments are available at the inn and the visitor centre. You can also view (subject to opening) the garden of English Film Producer Derek Jarman. Your accommodation for the night will be in the salt marsh town of New Romney (11.5 miles)
Day 3
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The walk continues to Hythe passing Napoleonic defences, with fine views of the English Channel and the North Downs. . You will pass through St Marys Bay, where Edith Nesbit, author of The Railway Children lived. The remains of Stutfall Castle a former Roman fort, stands near the site of the original Roman port, Portus Lemanis. You will pass defences constructed to support the D-Day landings in 1944, and follow a detour alongside the Royal Military Canal, with its abundant wildlife, before reaching Hythe which is now set back from the coast, but originally was positioned on the pre-Roman coastline. (10 miles)
Day 4
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After breakfast continuing to Dover, you begin to ascend the cliffs. You will pass the former home of H.G. Wells, and the remaiins of Sandgate Castle, built by Henry the V111. Approaching Folkestone you may encounter some of the artworks which remain in place following the Folkestone Triennial. Ascending once more on to the cliffs, on a clear day you will have views of Cap Grenez, on the French Coast, you will pass a Knights Templar church, Napoleanic defences, and later on dramatic views of Dover Castle and the White Cliffs before reaching Dover. (12.5 miles)
DEPARTURE
Day 5
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Departure day with optional visit to Dover Castle you will be able to return by mainline train to London Victoria or St Pancras International/Ashford International
ALTERNATIVE EXTENDED ITINERARY
Day 5
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Optional extended walk to Ramsgate. There will be time to visit Dover Castle if you wish. The route descends in to St Margaret’s Bay, infamous for its links with smuggling, where you might stop for refreshment, and then ascends back on to the Langdon Cliffs with time to enjoy the White Cliffs visitor centre, and view South Foreland Lighthouse, that has kept ships away from the treacherous Goodwin Sands. Passing along the coast you will walk through the beach side fishing village of Kingsdown, and on through Walmer, passing the Tudor castle, you will arrive at the pretty fishing town of Deal for your overnight stay. (9.5 miles)
Day 6
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Take the England Coast Path across the Royal St. Georges Golf Course, to the historic town and Cinque Port of Sandwich, once a centre for the Huguenots. Before reaching Sandwich you will pass through a Nature reserve, and follow a well marked track through the dunes, before reaching the banks of the River Stour. In the old town itself you can explore the old town walls, follow the Rope walk and the Butts, (10.5 miles)
Day 7
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DEPARTURE
DAY 8
following breakfast set off to Ramsgate from Sandwich. There is an optional visit to the Roman ‘Gateway to England’ at Richborough Castle, a supply base for the Roman invasion of Britain. if you wish. The walk takes you through Pegwell Bay, where you will pass the landing place of the Vikings Hengist and Horsa in 449 AD, and of St Augustine in 597. You can see the Viking ship replica which was sailed from Denmark to Thanet in 1949 to mark the 1500 year anniversary of the Viking invasion. You will stay near Ramsgate Harbour with its Georgian architecture (8 miles).
Departure day, time to explore more, extend your stay or head back to London.
