The Walk: An easy walk along the seafront esplanade from Hythe to Folkestone.
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| Walkway through Folkestone Harbour Railway Station |
Route
The route is shown in RED. This walk could be combined with the walk along the Hythe Firing Ranges, also shown on the map in BLUE, and described in a separate blog.
Start from the Western end of Hythe esplanade (West Parade), and simply follow the esplanade or promenade along Hythe sea front and onwards to Sandgate. Here the promenade departs from the busy coast road and passes around the Mill Point headland to reach and cross Folkestone harbour on the former railway.
Return to Hythe by bus.
Why do it?
A lesser known piece of the British seaside, beside the busy sea front road to start, then more tranquil past Sandgate castle and the beach huts at Mill Point.
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| Beach Huts and paragliders near Mill Point |
A boardwalk over the newly shingle-covered old fairground at Folkestone.
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| Wooden boardwalk |
Folkestone bravely attempting to regenerate after a long period of decline, including the Harbour Arm, the harbour railway converted to a pedestrian walkway, and the harbourside offering various 'venues' (mainly food stalls, pubs and fish and chip shops).
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| Railway converted to a pedestrian walkway over Folkestone Harbour |
Views across to France on a clear day.
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| Views of French coast from Hythe beach |
Distance
5 miles
Logistics
There is free parking near the start in Hythe on St Leonard's Road and along West Parade (so long as you're not driving a mobile home).
Get the bus back to Hythe from near Folkestone Harbour (frequent buses inc 103, 104). Alight at Red Lion Square and walk back down St Leonard's Road.
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| Bus stop near Folkestone Harbour |
Challenges
None in particular - maybe coping with all that ice cream?
Refreshments
Lazy Shack cafe on the beach at the start.
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| Colourful interior of the Lazy Shack cafe |
There are several establishments along the Hythe sea front and Sandgate, including, in summer, the usual seaside offerings.
Nearby walks
To the West, Hythe Firing Ranges (when open to the public)
To the East, various walks along the coast and North Downs
More photos
Bleak, cold winter's day during Christmas/New Year break.
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| Hythe esplanade |
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| Hythe was one of the original five Cinque Ports |
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| The promenade is adjacent to the coast road at first |
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| Motor bike on the beach |
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| The promenade leaves the road to pass behind the houses at Sandgate |
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| Coulourful houses at Sandgate |
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| Sandgate Castle (1539) |
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| Prom leaving Sandgate (Mill Point in the distance) |
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| Approaching Mill Point |
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| Beach huts |
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| The tarmac of the old fairground (latterly a car park) has been 'rewilded' with a covering of shingle |
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| Various 'installations' have been dded to raise the tone a bit |
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| The old harbour station trackbed has been turned into a walkway |
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| The railway across the harbour |
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| The old railway |
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