Visiting the Kent coast, UK

It's not as spectacular as Cornwall, or as rugged as the western parts of Scotland, or as gorgeous as the Welsh coast with is sweeping beaches.  But if you look closely enough you can find parts of the Kent coast with their own appeal.  It's easy to take in the three town of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate in a couple of days, you can even walk or cycle between them if you're feeling energetic.



Margate seafront

First stop Margate, we had heard of the recently renovated and opened 'Dreamland'.  The website promised much and who can resist such a name.  Dreamland still needs some work if it really is going to be the place of dreams, although it's possible to see what they are trying to  achieve.  Old seaside fairground rides have been redeveloped and spruced up, offering a quaint charm to the day tripper.  The colours and paintings of the rides conjures up images of old seaside postcards of a time when a week at the British seaside was still a thing.  There is the carousel, the helter-skelter, the big wheel and the most exciting of all a wooden roller coaster seemingly attracting kids, teenagers and adults alike.  If they can sort out the surrounding environment they might be on to something here.

Dreamland

The seafront was nice enough to amble along, the town looked tired, a seaside resort in winter can be a grey thing.  Boarded up ice cream parlours, cafes and chip shops, and closed arcades.  It all seemed a bit sad.  I am sure things would be different in the summer when the place gets weekenders from London, seeking an escape from the city and some sea air.  There were a couple of places that seemed to be attracting the visitors braving the high winds and chilly air.  The first was the Turner Contemporary gallery a new interesting looking building on the water front, a place of temporary exhibitions of  modern art, and sorry to say not a Turner in sight, just the type of art that gets people saying 'what's that?'.  The old town still offered up some small town fishing port charm,  old brick buildings with large sash windows lined narrow streets and offered a glimpse of better times in the past.  We decided to move on.

Dreamland

We were staying in Broadstairs in The Royal Albion hotel.  Right on the sea front this pub / restaurant with rooms has balconies with sweeping views of Viking bay, and a terrace that in the summer would offer a great space for summer drinks with friends.  The food was good tasty pub food, pies, fish and chips, just right after a long walk on the beach and promenade below.  The town is built on the cliff above and steep steps or weirdly a lift carry you to the beach below.  This is lined with colourful beach huts, small boats and even some old fashioned swing boats.

Broadstairs

A good idea is to follow the coast around, handily a seawall has been built to provide protection from coastal erosion and this doubles up as a promenade walk way just a metre or so above the beach.  Walking out that day we saw only other hardy types, all wrapped up in hats and scarves from the bracing sea air.  The following morning the sun came out and with it more tourists to enjoy the beach.

There's a good choice of pubs and several appealing looking places to eat in Broadstairs, this combined with its sandy beach makes it far more appealing for an overnight stay than Margate.

Further round the coast is Ramsgate.  We had the idea to visit here after the 'Lifeboat' charity had such an appealing picture of it on its 2015 calendar.  It was raining when we arrived but we parked up to explore.  The harbour itself is nice enough, good use has been made of the arches around the harbour, each now enclosed with buildings going back into the cliff.  Workshops, sail makers, cafes are all set up here providing services to locals and tourists alike.  The harbour is pretty big and you can walk down sides of the harbour arms which jut out to sea.  From the end you can look back at Ramsgate and see its long beach and town rising above.  It wasn't quite as picturesque as the calendar made it seem.

Kent coast for a few days, yes maybe, a week and I would head to Dorset instead.