Britain

Tuesday 16th June 2026 – a walk along the beach to Pevensey….

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A cloudy start to our day as we cracked on with a bit of admin but as seems to be the way at the moment it got better and warmer as the day progressed.

We had planned a gentle day today which is probably just as well as it really was quite warm in the afternoon and we were thankful for the sea breeze as we walked along the top (where the pebbles are more compact) from our site at Normans Bay….

Only a mile or so to the west to the small village of Pevensey – from the start of th village the houses back onto the pebbles of the beach with many gardens extending over the beach a bit – not a bad back garden to enjoy your morning coffee in….

Extending on into Eastbourne in the distance to the west and looking back beyond Normans Bay to Hastings in the east….

A few of the beachfront properties are super new with loads of glass but most of them are almost shanty / chalet in style with many of them thankfully looking lived in.

We wandered back through the village, not the most attractive with way too many of the 50 / 60’s box style knock ’em up cheap and quick but a friendly, loved and lived in place.

Today’s stats:

  • Miles walked – 4
  • Beaches – 2
  • O/N – £11.10

Saturday 13th June 2026 – a lovely walk along the Botany Bay Walking Trail….

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A perfect walking day for us today, a little cloud and breeze around making for comfortable walking conditions as we head back up to the coast just to the east of Margate and find free seafront parking in Cliftonville where we join the Botany Bay Walking Trail at Palm Bay Beach, a lovely sandy crescent shaped beach backed by white chalky cliffs….

The trail is actually along the tops of the cliffs but there is an undercliff walk for part of this trail, suitable for when the tide is out or at least when the seas are relatively calm and this was our choice today….

As the undercliff walk finished and we rejoined the upper cliff trail just before we reached the lovely wilder end of Botany Bay Beach….

Around a small headland the wider Bay of Botany Bay opened up….

Surprisingly quiet on this beautiful Saturday afternoon, we continued along the trail until Kingsgate Castle came into view….

Sitting high above the rather lovely Kingsgate Bay with it’s dramatic and perfectly formed chalk archway….

A little further along and the last bay on this section was Joss Bay, probably more popular because of it’s proximity to a car park – this was our turning point….

On returning to the van we drove a few short miles to Broadstairs where we opted for paid parking away from the seafront as it didn’t look like the seafront was as accessible and wandered down through the busy village to Stone Bay to the west and St Mary’s Bay still largely engulfed by the tide….

In the centre of. the town is Viking Bay, clearly the most popular….

Walking along the promenade to the east of town is the much quieter and equally sandy Louise Bay….

Our day is not done yet as we move further south and make a brief stop on the seafront in Ramsgate, choosing the north and quieter end of town to find free parking and walk from Winterstoke Gardens end along the top above Winterstoke Beach

And finally down onto Ramsgate Beach and back along the lower promenade….

A fabulous day, lots of lovely beaches and plenty of good walks.

Today’s stats:

  • Miles driven – 45
  • Miles walked – 9
  • Beaches – 10
  • C/P – £2.20
  • O/N – £9.50

Friday 12th June 2026 – a lovely walk along the White Cliffs of Dover….

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Still a bit damp this morning but soon drying up and the clouds gradually thinning as the day wore on and we are keen to get out and about again.

Today we are heading for Dover, well more specifically the White Cliffs and headed for the National Trust car park up above the Port and Dover. The small motorhome specific car park (only taking 8 vans and certainly nothing over 7.5m in length) had just the two spaces left – lo and behold either side of an identical van (me on the right)….

We set off on a rather windy walk along the tops of the White Cliffs with views of Dover castle behind us and the white cliffs ahead (west)….

We were soon looking down on the black sands of Langdon Beach (accessible through a tunnel and steep metal steps – so not for us) and out at the cloud shadows and glimpses of sun out across the English Channel unfortunately it is definitely not clear enough to catch any glimpses of France….

We reached South Foreland Lighthouse and decided to continue along to the next village of St Margaret’s at Cliffe visible along the cliffs in the distance….

A steep climb down onto the beach at the bottom where we took a while recharging our batteries before making the climb back up….

Our return route was slightly more inland and away from the worst of the wind through lush green meadows with glimpses back along the cliffs….

Rejoining the cliff path for a look at the busy Port and down onto Dover and it’s beach in the distance….

Today’s stats:

  • Miles driven – 41
  • Miles walked – 9
  • O/N – £9.50

Thursday 11th June 2026 – a thoroughly miserable day….

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Well yesterday afternoon and evening’s lovely sunshine did not last and this morning we have woken to grey skies and rather than intermittent showers, pretty heavy rainfall lasting for hours at a time with only sporadic breaks in between.

A grey day in Canterbury….

So we have stuff to do, laundry and admin things like catching up on photo organisation and these blogs so we decided to stay put and use the day catching up and binge watching YouTube to get ideas for our next adventures.

Today’s stats:

  • Miles walked – 2
  • Laundry – £8.50
  • O/N – £9.50

Wednesday 10th June 2026 – a walk from Birchington to Margate….

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Still some heavy showers around through the morning but the day improved with age. Today we drove to the seafront and free parking at Birchington the next village along (east) of Herne Bay and waited out a particularly heavy downpour before venturing down onto Minni’s Bay, a long stretch of low tide mostly sandy bay….

From here we followed the concrete promenade below the low chalk Birchington Cliffs to the not so sandy Grenham Bay….

Shortly arriving at the lovely sandy West Bay at Westgate-on-Sea….

Around the next headland to the stunning St Mildred’s Bay with it’s seawater paddling pool….

A little further along the path and around the next headland to Westbrook Bay as we arrive into Margate-on-Sea….

And lastly Margate Bay with another tidal pool….

At Margate Bay I had to be a little careful when taking photos because there were several groups of young school children enjoying out of the classroom activities on the beach.

At this point we decided to turn about and make our way back the way we had come – a very enjoyable and totally dry walk.

Today’s stats:

  • Miles driven – 41
  • Miles walked – 7
  • Beaches – 6
  • O/N – £9.50