Enjoy a springtime walk that offers a charming combination of coastline, countryside and castles - perfect for a spring-time stroll along East Kent’s shoreline.
Today’s route starts and ends at the entrance to Walmer Castle and Gardens, an impressive Tudor artillery fortress (with equally impressive gardens) overlooking Kent’s coastline.
Standing with your back to the iron gates of Walmer Castle, cross the main road (Kingsdown Road) and step through a waymarked pathway leading between the tree line. Here you will emerge onto a wide stretch of grassland with a pathway running along in front of you, and the shingles of Kingsdown Beach in front of that.
Cross the grassland and turn right to join onto the long stretch of tarmac path, with wooden benched evenly spaced along it. This path forms part of The England Coast Path, a long-distance National Trail following England’s shoreline.
Keep on this wide stretch of path and head straight for just under one mile, along an area known as Wellington Parade. Along this route you’ll enjoy uninterrupted views of the sea sitting on your left beyond the shingle, and an array of beachside properties on your right.
The pathway you are walking on will open up at around the one mile mark, and you will see a white property on your right (at the corner of a private road), and a lamp post in front of you with signs way marking the ‘Saxon Shore Way’ footpath, as well as cycle routes to Dover and Deal. Here, turn right to walk along a short, narrow road with houses lining the right-hand side. You will soon find yourself emerging out onto Cliffe Road.
Cross the road and head straight up the pedestrian pathway that leads in front of you, uphill between the hedgerow.
Very shortly, at a pedestrian crossroads in this footpath, you will need to turn right to follow a narrow, enclosed pathway. Keep an eye out on your left along this stretch where you’re likely to see a drove of domestic pigs who may well wander over to the fence line to assess you as you pass by!
Soon, the enclosed pathway will open up and you will see a large, open meadow emerge on your right. Enter the meadow through the bottom corner and follow a clearly marked pathway in the ground as it leads first up ahead, before veering to the left where it will lead you uphill towards a gap in the hedge line.
Here, once more you will enter a stretch of enclosed footpath, with hedgerow on either side of you.
Walk the stretch of this footpath, emerging out into an area of open landscape. Here, you will need to enter the stretch of landscape that sits to your left, and follow the right-hand line of the field, passing a plaque with information about ‘Walmer Aerodrome’ on your right-hand side approx. halfway along the field, with glorious views out to sea on your far-right.
You will soon see a turning to your right, leading gently back downhill, until you arrive back on Kingsdown Road (a little further along from the gates of Walmer Castle and Gardens).
Cross the road to find yourself back on the wide stretch of pathway beside Kingsdown Beach, and turn left to make your way back to the spot where today’s circuit concludes, in front of Walmer Castle and Gardens.
Steps, stats & stiles: at just over two miles (3.5km) long, you should allow approximately 55 minutes to complete this coast and country circuit. The circular route is predominantly pathed, although it does lead through an area of open landscape towards the end where walkers should take extra care if completing on a wet day. This route contains no steep steps or stiles.
Refreshments: Situated right at the end of Deal’s iconic pier, Deal Pier Kitchen offers panoramic views out to sea, and an enviable menu of locally sourced lunch and brunch. With it’s ‘oh-so-photogenic’ location, fabulous array of fresh food, and dog-friendly policy, this spot is a pretty spectacular one to rest those weary feet post-seaside saunter…
Make a day of it:
You've commenced and concluded today’s route right beside it, so why not spend an afternoon exploring over eight acres of award-winning gardens, in the grounds of wonderful Walmer Castle? Admire the herbaceous borders, colourful planting and impressive cloud hedge in the striking Boardwalk or relax in the tranquil setting of the Queen Mother’s garden, all before heading inside to uncover previously untold stories of the castle and famous residents from its history.
Alternatively, head up the road and explore Deal - for inspiration, see here.
Route followed: for this month’s walk we followed the Kingsdown and Walmer map on the AllTrails app.
