The Walk: Having explored the Pegwell Bay Country Park (PBCP), follow the England Coast Path (ECP) along the cliff to the village of Pegwell, then continue to Ramsgate, either following the upper Westcliff Promenade, or descending to follow the Undercliff seaside pavement. Having arrived at the Royal Harbour Marina, there is an optional walk out to the lighthouse on the harbour arm.
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| "Hands and Molecule" Sculpture, Westcliff Promenade |
Route
NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely.
Having parked at the PBCP, make an excursion southwards along the Pegwell Bay shoreside path (RED route). It is possible to continue a short way along the former permissive path beside the Stour at the Richborough Port industry park, but the path soon becomes overgrown and impassable.
Return to the car park, then, walk from Pegwell Bay to Ramsgate, mainly along the ECP (BLUE route). After passing out of the PBCP there is short stretch beside the busy road at Cliffsend village before branching off across a grassy park and passing the 'Hugin' replica Viking longship: here, you may either continue along the official ECP, or make an excursion around the abandoned concrete apron of the Hoverport to rejoin the ECP a bit further on (YELLOW route).
After the village of Pegwell, you enter the Westcliff clifftop park. The official ECP follows the Westcliff Promenade (PURPLE), or you can descend a path ('Chine') cut through the cliffs to sea level (BLUE), and follow the sea front Undercliff pavement beside the Royal Harbour Approach road.
Either way, you will arrive at Ramsgate's Royal Harbour. I show the walk ending at the 'Jacob's Ladder' steps joining the upper and lower routes, and add an optional excursion along the harbour arm to the lighthouse at the end.
Why do it?
In this heavily developed part of Kent, Pegwell Bay tidal flats nature reserve provides a haven for shorebirds (waders and ducks) as well as seals.
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| Pegwell Bay Bird ID Chart |
A replica Viking longship, the Hugin, commemorates the 1500th anniversary of the landing hereabouts of two Saxon Chieftains, Hengist and Horsa.
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| Hugin Replica Viking Longship |
A nearby signboard commemorates yet another landing, that of St Augustine in AD 597. (Recent excavations have also suggested that Julius Caesar's first invasion in 55BC landed at Ebbsfleet in Pegwell Bay, although Walmer Beach also seems to claim that dubious honour. Whatever, this coast has always been a popular destination for anyone wanting to invade Britain.)
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| St Augustine info board |
From near the Viking longship you can look down upon the huge concrete 'apron' of the Hoverport, opened in 1969, from which large hovercraft took vehicles and passengers across the Channel. It closed in 1982. You can descend to the apron on a set of steps behind the longship, and explore before ascending on the old approach road at the Northern end to rejoin the ECP.
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| Old Hoverport Concrete |
Low chalk cliffs line the Northern shore of Pegwell Bay, becoming Ramsgate's Westcliff and terminating in the mole of Ramsgate Harbour.
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| Chalk cliffs along Pegwell Bay |
The ECP runs along these cliffs, from which there are fine views Southwards over Pegwell Bay to the coast around Deal (and, it is said, France on a clear day).
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| View from cliftop path |
The village of Pegwell was once a centre for shrimp fishing, and was a popular destination in Victorian times. Today, the imposing Pegwell Bay Hotel and the Belle Vue tavern are the main surviving buildings from that era. The latter boasts a terrace with great views over the Bay, justifying it's claim to be 'the balcony of Kent'.
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| Pegwell Bay Hotel |
The Westcliff promenade is popular with families trying out bikes, skates and scooters.
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| Westcliff Promenade |
Ramsgate was a popular resort from Georgian times, and has several streets and terraces of period properties. The architect Augustus Pugin built a house (the Grange) with Abbey attached (St Augustine's), visible from the Westcliff promenade.
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| Pugin's house 'The Grange' (left) and St Augustine Abbey (right) |
The former ferry port of Ramsgate has, perhaps inevitably, been converted to a marina, although the extensive former docks facilities are used for business and industrial purposes. The Royal Harbour Marina is an impressive sight, especially seen from the harbour walls. The oldest buildings date from the late eighteenth century, and the whole harbour (including the 1842 lighthouse) are Grade 2 listed.
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| Royal Harbour |
Logistics: Coast Path purists may want to start from Sandwich. You could then get the train back from Ramsgate. However, the path from Sandwich to the PBCP is beside busy roads through industrial surroundings, and Ramsgate station is some way from the Royal Harbour.
I did this walk by parking at the PBCP (charge). Check the car park closing time and make sure you get back in time. Alternatively, it seems possible to park on the roadside outside the PBCP entrance. It being Sunday, with no useful busses running, I simply retraced my steps back from Ramsgate (I went out via the lower Undercliff, and came back via the upper Westcliff prom: note that there are several paths down the cliff joining the two routes.).
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| PBCP car park |
From Monday to Saturday, I believe a bus, Stagecoach No 45, could be used to return to the start. Check web for details.
Distance:
The southwards excursion in the PBCP (RED route) is about 2.5 miles the round trip. The main route (BLUE route) is about 4 miles one way (including the excursion out to the lighthouse on the harbour arm.).
Challenges:
Sadly, no effort seems to have been made to provide a more attractive route for the Coast Path from Sandwich to PBCP. For example, a route via the river Stour, passing close to the Roman Fort at Richborough, looks feasible. Also, a permissive path along the Stour at the old Richborough Port complex has been closed off 'to avoid disturbance to commercial activities'. My RED route shows that you can progress a short way along the Stour from the PBCP, but it soon gets overgrown and impassable.
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| End of the road for the Richborough Port path |
The PBCP and the Westcliff prom get quite busy, so go at quieter times (weekday, out of season) to avoid crowds. The paths in PBCP get muddy and slippery after rain.
Refreshments:
Dogwalkers cafe in the PBCP car park.
Sportsman Pub at Cliffsend.
Stanley Grey pub and Bell Vue Tavern in Pegwell Village, both sporting excellent views over the Bay.
Kiosk in Westcliff park
Numerous places around Royal Harbour.
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| Belle Vue Tavern terrace, Pegwell Village |
Nearby Walks:
For an overview map of all my coast walks see this page.
To the South: Deal to Sandwich
To the North: TBD
More Photos
Bright crisp day in early February
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| Dogwalkers Cafe, PBCP car park |
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| Path at PBCP (slippery and slimy when wet) |
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| White cliffs line the Northern shore of Pegwell Bay |
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| Path to the Southern end of PBCP |
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| Dereliction nearing Richborough Port dead end |
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| Lagoon |
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| You are not far from everyday life |
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| There seems to be a free car park next to the car wash |
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| Cliffsend: Short stretch beside the road |
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| Hugin info board |
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| Hugin - sadly covered for the winter: there are shields under there |
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| Hugin prow |
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| Hugin uncovered a few years ago |
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