Name: North Kent Coast: Thanet Parkway to Margate
Start: 2024-11-23T10:55:00Z
End: 2024-11-23T16:20:00Z

This walk is 12.2 miles (19.6km) long, mostly on good clifftop paths, pavements and seaside promenades, passing through several resorts on Thanet. The total climb for the day is a modest 720ft/220m with gradients never exceeding +/-9%. This therefore represents one of the group’s easier walks, albeit on generally unyielding surfaces.

We start at Thanet Parkway station, a relatively new one between Minster and Ramsgate and head by the shortest route to the coast, which we then follow closely throughout the walk, deviating only very occasionally when there is no coastal path available. We pass through a string of Kent holiday resorts, Pegwell Bay, Ramsgate, Broadstairs, Kingsgate and Cliftonville before we enter Margate from the east.

Our lunch stop will be at about the 5.7-mile point in the promenade gardens in Broadstairs, where there are plenty of benches. Because of the short daylight hours this will be the only major stop, though we will have a couple of short five-minute stops in addition. The walk is likely to end a little after sunset (which occurs at 15:55 on the 23rd) but the final stretch in Ramsgate should be adequately lit and we should finish comfortably in twilight before 16:30. The walk will end by Margate harbour at Barnacles pub, which those who were on the previous North Kent Coast walk in March that ended in Margate may remember. Unfortunately, the nearby Crab Museum will be closed by the time we get there. From the pub it is a further self-guided 0.7 miles to Margate station for the return journey.

You should bring a packed lunch, water and other snacks as required. It will be good underfoot so mud-proof boots should not be needed. This part of the Kent coast can be very exposed to cold winds off the North Sea, so do make sure you have hat and gloves and one or two extra layers with you beyond what you think you need, just in case. The walk will be cancelled if heavy rain is forecast for the day.

**Travel**
You should catch the 09:40 high-speed departure from St Pancras, which arrives at Thanet Parkway at 10:51. A cheaper but slower option is available by departing Charing Cross at 08:34, arriving Thanet Parkway at 10:38.
For the return, high-speed trains to St Pancras depart Margate at 32 and 49 past the hour, taking 89 and 96 minutes respectively, There is an hourly slow service to Victoria departing at 05 past each hour, taking 106 minutes.

**Ticketing**
The recommended ticket is a Super Off-Peak Day Return from London Terminals to Margate with or without high-speed option depending on how you wish to travel. The recommended train above requires the high-speed option, which will be £41.80 (£27.80 with Railcard). For either option, do not get the cheaper 'not via Ashford' ticket as this will not be valid for the outward journey. If you choose the 'not valid for high-speed' option you will need to start earlier from Charing Cross at 08:34, arriving Thanet Parkway at 10:38. This will be £30.60 return (£20.35 with Railcard). Unlike the high-speed ticket, this is also further reducible by booking from the Boundary of an Oyster Zone for which you are already covered. This ticket will restrict you to the non-high speed return trains from Margate.

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North Kent Coast: Thanet Parkway to Margate

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North Kent Coast: Thanet Parkway to Margate

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