A week or so ago I headed down for a British seaside break in Whitstable – a gorgeous balance of indulgent relaxation, and fun activity!
I stayed at the Marine Hotel, which I can totally recommend. My room had a bay window with sea view, and the food (and wine) was lovely. The Whitstable parkrun even took place right outside on Tankerton Slopes, although I didn’t make it along on this occasion. The hotel breakfast was calling my name!
I did however rent a bike from the brilliant Kent Cycle Hire. This well organised operation appeared to be run by one guy from his back garden! But don’t be fooled – each bike comes fully equipped with helmet, stand, lock, spare inner tube, reinforced tyres, pump, puncture repair kit, tool kit, rack, luggage strap and bottle cage. I was also provided with a laminated route map- I felt very well prepared!
There were several options for exploring locally, including the Crab and Winkle Way which follows a disused railway from Whitstable to Canterbury- I’d definitely come back to cycle that another time and check out Canterbury Cathedral and a few shops. However on this occasion, I chose to stay by the sea, and headed off along the Oyster Bay Trail which runs from Whitstable to Herne Bay and Reculver.
The route is almost entirely flat as it follows the promenade next to the beach and for the first few miles the only challenge is not cycling too fast in case you take out someone walking their dog! Even though it was a rather grey day, I enjoyed some beautiful views over the sea and coastline – an area made famous by the paintings of Turner.
When you run out of path, the Oyster Bay Trail heads up – a rather steep climb – into the Reculver Country Park. This last section is on trail and grass and I was glad of my mountain hybrid bike (you can choose road or hybrid when booking) which coped well with the uneven terrain although my legs didn’t do so well!
I puffed my way up to the top of the hill to find the Reculver Towers and Roman Fort – this imposing ruin sits on the cliff edge, and was the site of one of the earliest Roman forts built against Saxon raids. It later became the site of an Anglo-Saxon monastery before becoming the parish church for Reculver. The tall towers were built in a remodelling of the church in the 12th century.
Much of the site has been lost to coastal erosion, but alongside the twin towers are the ruined remains of the early Roman fort. I stopped to catch my breath, snap a few photos and enjoy the view back towards Whitstable – I didn’t get too close to the edge though!
After retracing my steps route cross-country followed by a fun downhill zoom to rejoin the promenade, I cycled back to Herne Bay. This traditional seaside town has some old Victorian architecture, seafront gardens complete with clock tower and bandstand, and all the usual favourites – candyfloss, ice cream, and of course fish and chips!
Being late October it was a bit quieter than I would imagine during the height of the summer holidays, but I still sat out overlooking the pier to enjoy my lunch from Fish Inn 2.
I then made my way, very leisurely, back along the coast to Whitstable. The area is famous for it’s fresh seafood especially oysters (hence the name of the trail) and has a working harbour with lots of fishing vessels, as well as sailing boats.
I relaxed after my adventure with a glass of wine and my Kindle – I did a lot of reading whilst away finishing The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory and the latest Robert Galbraith/Cormoran Strike novel!
Cost: £20 per day (until 6pm)
Distance: 18miles (4 miles to Herne Bay, 5 miles further to Reculver)
Time: Approx 3 hours – depending how much you stop/eat
Difficulty: Easy – suitable for most competent cyclists
Have you been on any cycling adventures recently? Are you a fan of oysters?! I will admit I prefer to stick to my fish and chips…
Beki x
