Saturday 26th July 2025 – Broadstairs to Margate Swim/Walk – 6 miles
Trains: High Speed Return to Margate – 9:40hrs am from London St Pancras – return 16:32hrs from Margate.
Meet at the platform barrier 10mins before departure. Bring a packed lunch and swimwear.
Starting at Broadstairs, this coastal walk is one of the most rewarding stretches along the Thanet coastline offering both natural beauty and peaceful walking, free from traffic. Depending on the tide we will either take the beach or cliff path.
The walk begins at Viking Bay, Broadstairs’ main beach, a classic crescent of sand lined with colourful huts. From steps near the Charles Dickens pub, one of several local nods to the author, who frequently stayed here, walkers descend to the beach and follow a wooden path past The Tartar Frigate, a historic seafood pub. Above looms Bleak House (formerly Fort House), where Dickens spent summers and wrote David Copperfield.
The route briefly climbs to the road to pass York Gate, a 16th-century flint archway, before returning to the beach via a concrete ramp. Stone Bay’s rugged chalk cliffs soon come into view, and the sand becomes scattered with grey-blue stones.
The path winds past Joss Bay, a wide, sandy beach favoured by surfers, and then reaches Hackemdown Point, a jagged, rocky outcrop with an otherworldly feel. From here, the route enters Kingsgate Bay, known for its striking cliff formations and historical connections, Charles II made an emergency landing here in 1683. On the cliffs above is Kingsgate Castle, built in 1763 as a stable block for the wealthy Whig politician Henry Fox.
Further along, walkers encounter a dramatic natural chalk arch framing the sea, a highlight of the walk. Caves carved into the cliffs and patches of seaweed add to the coastal character. At Botany Bay, the halfway point (and swim number 1) chalk stacks rise from the sand, and a lifeguard station sits tucked into the cliffs. This bay has even featured in music videos.
From here, the walk continues into Foreness Bay, where a concrete promenade offers easier footing. A waterski and boat club operates nearby, and signs warn of the tide’s dangers.
The final stretch leads through Palm Bay, a peaceful spot to rest, with views of passing ships and a distant offshore wind farm. Next is Walpole Bay, home to one of the UK’s largest tidal pools (swim number 2 depending on tide), built in 1937. The walk concludes at Lido Sands, marked by a mosaic and the remnants of a once-grand 1920s leisure complex. The final steps pass Trinity Square Gardens before arriving at The George & Heart in Margate, often just as the sun breaks through.
By participating in this swim walk, you agree to assume all responsibility for your own safety and well-being. You release Brockwell Swimmers Club from any liability for injury or harm that may occur during your participation.