Viking Coastal Trail
The Viking Trail Coastal Walk in Kent spans approximately 32 miles (51.4km) along the Isle of Thanet. Step back in time to where Vikings first landed in Britain!
Kent, aka the Garden of England, is well known for its picturesque landscapes and rich history, and offers an extraordinary experience for history enthusiasts and nature lovers alike through the Viking Trail Coastal Walk.
I’ve walked along the Viking Coastal Trail several times, whether on my own, or in stretches with my family. Each time it offers something completely different – depending on the tide, weather, and time of year.
DESCRIPTION
In my blog, I’m going to take you from Westgate-on-Sea to Ramsgate, a distance approximately 17km A to B. Along the way we go through the coastal towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.
The full Viking Coastal Trail is a circular walk approx. 52km from Ramsgate to Reculver in Herne Bay (or reverse). Reculver is well worth a visit If you wish to explore the Towers and Roman Fort!
I’ve included an AllTrails map of the full route for those that are up for a bigger challenge.
If you wish to shorten the walk, there are plenty of alternative options where you can start or finish. For instance, Margate to Broadstairs is a delightful section, distance of just under 10km/6.2miles
DISTANCE: Westgate-on-Sea to Ramsgate – 17km/10.5miles (34km/21miles return)
TIME: 3.5-4.5 hours A-B
ROUTE MAPS
Marc’s OS Maps route - Viking Coastal Trail Westgate on Sea to Ramsgate
Marc’s AllTrails route - Viking Coastal Trail Westgate on Sea to Ramsgate
The 54km/32mile Full Viking Coastal Trail route is available on AllTrails
DIFFICULTY
Easy – the terrain of the walk varies from easy going promenades along the sea wall, clifftop paths (where the views are awesome), to some stunning beaches, offering a mix of sandy stretches, as well as some sections with chalky rocks.
Be mindful of high tide times if you’re planning on walking along the beach. Some stretches (but not all) of the coastline have stair routes leading up from the beachfront up onto the cliffs.
You’ll find some public toilets along some of the bays, that are usually up by the car parking areas on the clifftops. Otherwise, there are plenty of facilities along the way in the major seaside towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate
GETTING THERE
By Rail – from London, there are excellent public transport links from Southeastern Trains, either from London Victoria or Kings Cross St. Pancras.
By road – from London M25 head South onto the M2 and then the A299 towards Margate. At Birchington-on-Sea follow the Canterbury Road to Westgate-on-Sea.
Parking - There are a number of pay and display car parks which you can leave your car. Best one for the start point in Westgate-On-Sea is at the Old Boundary Road CT8 8A. What3Words trickster.unfolds.bridges
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VIKING COASTAL TRAIL
Beaches and Bays
On large parts of the trail you’re able to walk along many of the fabulous beaches and bays along the way. On a Summer’s day you can always stop off for a swim! Here are some of my favourite Bays you’ll pass along the Viking Coastal Trail…
Botany Bay
I’ve been coming to Kent since I was a young child, where we once had a family home in the stunning Botany Bay (photo above), the northernmost of seven bays in Broadstairs.
This area holds a special place in my heart, where I used to freely explore the many gems along this stunning stretch of Kent coastline as a child – such as exploring some of the hidden caves and castle ruins with my two brothers, or seeing how far I could walk through the seaweed covered rock pools when the tide was out. Safe to say I know this stetch of coastline like the back of my hand, and I feel extremely protective of it!
The Botany Bay ‘beach day’ tradition has continued over the years. I’ve been bringing my children here since they were young, so they could create their own memories of this special place, and selfishly it’s a chance for me to relive my own childhood through their eyes!
If you’re looking to come to Botany Bay, it’s become an extremely popular place for families and tourists. So finding somewhere to park your car in high seasons can be quite a challenge!
My recommendation is either to park in nearby Knockholt Road, which is located in What3Words stump.hooked.gifts, or around the corner at the Botany Bay Hotel at oval.builds.motor
Kingsgate Bay
Kingsgate Bay is a quiet sandy cove that’s best known for its sea caves, which i’ve explored on countless occasions!
Although popular for families, it tends to be much quieter than Botany Bay and Joss Bay, mainly because there’s not much in the way of parking facilities. However, Joss Bay being fairly close by has a large car park.
The bay has noticeable landmarks at either end. On the Southern end is Kingsgate Castle, which dates back to the 1760s, and was built for Lord Holland. At the other end is the Captain Digby Pub (another place i’ve been to many times), which by the way was also built by Lord Holland - thank you Lord Holland!
Joss Bay
Joss Bay is a much loved and popular sandy beach which backs onto the North Foreland Golf Course. It spans approx. 200 metres, and has lots of facilities for families, with a cafe, kiddies corner (with a bouncy castle and trampolines), toilets, deck chair hire, and lots of car parking.
It’s well known for being a surfer’s paradise, and has the longest running surf school on the Thanet coast.
At high tide there is plenty of exposed sand, making it an ideal spot for families. However, a note of caution to take care when walking, as the beach gets cut off at either end when the tide comes in!
The beach gets its name from Joss Snelling, an 18th Century smuggler!
Car parking is available at What3Words glitz.decks.wiring
Stone Bay
Stone Bay is a beautiful, and quiet location, protected by its chalky cliffs and partly via a concrete sea wall. It’s many colourful beach huts feature along the promenade.
In terms of facilities, there is a cafe, toilets and beach hut hire
It’s a beautiful spot, and has the feeling of seclusion, with the cliffs casting a shadow across parts of the beach in late afternoon. Please note that at high tide the beach will almost disappear. so please check the tide times.
Stone Bay can be located at What3Words milky.tides.idea
SEASIDE TOWNS
Margate
Margate, otherwise known as London On Sea, is one of the UK’s most well known seaside towns, and has been a cultural hub attracting visitors from all over the world for decades. Margate offers the classic British seaside experience, complete with its amusement arcades, ice cream stands and a lively pier. The large Ferris wheel that’s within Dreamland amusement park has been a prominent feature of its landscape since I can remember.
Another prominent feature is the Turner Contemporary art gallery, which is nestled along the waterfront. It has been a catalyst over the years for Margate’s artistic renaissance. Trendy cafes, vintage shops and independent art galleries have now found a home in Margate, which has given it a new lease of life.
There are plenty of places in which to find parking facilities…
Market Street Car Park CT9 1EU. What3Words term.milk.motel
Trinity Square Car Park CT9 1LZ. What3Words drums.comet.less
Mill Lane Car Park CT9 1JU. What3Words cool.spring.pickled
Broadstairs / Viking Bay
It’s hard to find anything more charming and quintessentially British than Broadstairs. It really is a cuteness overload! From it’s colourful beach huts, to its incredible hilltop views, Broadstairs is a place the whole family can enjoy.
Leading up from the beach, into the tight cobblestoned streets, you can explore some delightful shops, and get some of the best ice cream in one of my all time favourite ice-cream parlours Morelli’s! Broadstairs is also well known for all things Charles Dickens, and the Dickens House Museum is well worth a visit.
There are some streets where you might be lucky enough to find some parking bays. Otherwise there are some car parks…
Broadstairs Harbour Car Park CT10 1EU. What3Words basin.scope.grabs
Albion Street Car Park CT10 1NE. What3Words passes.path.bells
Chandos Square Car Park CT10 1QN. What3Words pepper.vital.delay
Ramsgate
With its beautiful harbour and picturesque boats, Ramsgate exudes a charming blend of maritime heritage and seaside allure. Its centrepiece is the Royal Harbour, and its cobblestone streets wind their way through the town revealing historic architecture and inviting cafes. I have lots of fond memories of time spent here as a child, fishing either from the Harbour wall, or taking a boat out to sea.
If you have time, you could explore the Ramsgate Tunnels, the UK’s largest network of tunnels, which were carved during World War II
Westgate-On-Sea to Ramsgate Section splits
STAGE 1: Westgate-on-Sea to Margate – 4km
STAGE 2: Margate to Botany Bay – 5km
START
If you're ready to make a start, let's go
The Viking Coastal Trail Walk
STAGE 1: Westgate-On-Sea to Margate
Walking from my car down to the promenade I was greeted by a cold morning chill in the air, with a strong breeze being swept across the sea towards the shoreline. Lucky I had my down jacket on, and plenty of layers underneath!
Despite the cold start, the forecast for today was pretty good, and the sun was just beginning to wake up! With the distinctive aroma of the sea air filling my nostrils, and with a sense of excitement for what the day would bring, I set off
The walk begins by following the promenade along the sea wall. Waves were crashing into the lower sections of the barrier, and I could feel the spray hit my face. It’s an easy going start to the walk, just following the path around the wall. Eventually there are some steps which lead down onto the beach, and I decided to cross down towards the shoreline for relief of the harder sand.
It's not a particularly remarkable section of the trail. There’s not much to see except the sea, sand, and seagulls floating in the sky as they hover in the hope for some food. For me though, that was enough, and made it the perfect start to my walk.
Less than an hour into the walk, and the familiar Margate skyline comes into view.
Stage 1 complete!
My son Jack joined me on another occasion earlier this year when we did the trail from Margate to Broadstairs. I’ll continue my blog from here with Jack.
STAGE 2: Margate to Botany Bay
It’s quiet on this unseasonably cold start to the day, but walking across the Margate beachfront, the familiar sights, sounds and smells feed my sense of nostalgia.
On countless occasions as a young child my parents took us to Margate from our family home in nearby Botany Bay. If we were lucky enough they’d treat us to some of the best fish and chips in the area, followed by a visit to Dreamland! In a bygone age this place would have been our version of Disneyland! Now, it looks extremely dated and almost derelict. But if i close my eyes i can still hear the screams of delight echoing from behind its walls. I’m trying to convey this message to my son Jack as we walk, but i think it’s lost on him!
What hasn’t changed however are the stunning views, especially with the tide being out! It always takes my breath away.
Walking a little further, past all the cafes and shops, the road turns a corner as we head uphill. Standing proud is the iconic Turner Contemporary Art Museum.
Cliftonville
We are now in Cliftonville. To the untrained eye, this place might appear to be yet another run down seaside town, and yes, over the years i’ve seen it change dramatically. In its heyday, this was the place to be. With its swanky hotels nightlife restaurants and a casino! Then like so many UK seaside resorts it became dated and unpopular, subsequently left to neglect.
However, Cliftonville has witnessed a renaissance over the past decade or so. In fact it was recently voted as the no. 1 coolest neighbourhood in the UK, and 8th in the world! Time Out calling it ‘the home to one of the UK’s most thriving artistic communities’.
It’s a lovely stroll, taking the clifftop path as we pass all the shops and cafes. From the edge of the railings on the cliffs you can see Palm Bay below, and a freshwater sea pool designated for the daring adventurer! Too cold today for me, but i’m dumbfounded when i spot a couple of brave souls having a swim!
Having passed the hub of CliftonVille, the path becomes more open, with green fields to our right. On a far corner to our left used to stand the search and rescue post, and to our right there once stood a pitch and putt golf course i frequented loads! Now all rugged and overgrown (sigh!).
But i’m excited…as we’re very close to one of my favourite beaches in the UK - Botany Bay!
Stage 2 complete!
STAGE 3: Botany Bay To Broadstairs
I’ve got a spring in my step. Looking down towards the beach it almost looks deserted, which i’m not that surprised given the time of day and fresh morning weather. Last time i came here was shortly after Covid, and the beach was rammed as far as the eye could see! I’m happy to have the place to myself and Jack.
There’s a small gentle slope that leads down to the beach. I decide to take off my walking shoes and go barefoot.
By checking the tide times prior to my walk, I’ve timed it right to walk along the beach, and head through the gap in between the chalk stacks.
Please note that when the tide is high this isn’t possible. You will need to go back up the slope and head left on the clifftop path towards the Captain Digby pub.
Beyond the chalk stacks is Kingsgate Bay, which is deserted. Although the sand isn’t as impressive as it’s neighbour, I still love this section of beach, with its series of caves you can explore (which i’ve done countless times). Today was no exception! Jack and i sauntered over to the caves to explore…
Another note of caution: please take extreme care if you venture into these caves. It can get quite slippery underfoot entering these caves as they are chalky. To go further into the caves once inside, requires you to go on all fours! Please don’t attempt to go any further than the second cave, as there is a lot of debris from fallen chalk, and the exit at the top is on the exposed clifftops!
Having now fulfilled my inner child cravings, it was time to continue onwards.
When the tide is out, like it was on this particular morning, there’s a chalky slope further down the beach that leads steeply up in between the cliffs towards the clifftop path, with a tight exit available at the very top. There are great views from here of Kingsgate Bay and the Castle! Then it’s a short stroll to the Captain Digby pub.
On another day if the tide was further out Jack and I would have headed down onto Kingsgate Bay to walk around the sea wall of the Castle. But it wasn’t possible this morning. We would however be able to walk along that path on our return ( as you can see from the photo below).
The path then takes us past Kingsgate Castle, on a quiet stretch of road until we reach Stone Bay. We head down onto the beach once more.
Once onto the beach, there’s much more activity going on. There’s a large group of primary school children, all having fun in the sand! There are also a few surfers hastily making their way towards the shore, and there’s a lifeguard or two keeping a close eye.
We carry on walking to our right, and the beach opens up around the corner. It’s a delightful stretch of golden sand, and the sun is now beating down. Even given the time of year, it feels great to have the warmth of the sun in our face!
Another word of caution. There are no escape routes once you go past Stone Bay until you reach Broadstairs, should the tide be closing in. If you are unsure, please check the tide times and make sure you allow enough time to get to Broadstairs via the beach, approx. 30 mins.
As we continue walking along, around the next corner is a tall concrete structure looming up, which acts as a defence against the sea. Round the next bend and the sand is laden with chalky slabs of stone, some covered in a dark green hue of seaweed. We tread carefully, but there are plenty of spaces in between to avoid the majority of them.
We’re not far from Broadstairs now. Just a couple of bends around the cliffs. Across the rock pools in the near distance Broadstairs is clearly visible
Just like that we arrive in the unmistakable and gorgeous Broadstairs Bay!
Having now built up an appetite, it was time for some well-earned fish and chips! There are plenty of cafes and bars to choose from in Broadstairs. We chose one that overlooks the bay, Chiappini’s.
After some lunch we then decided to walk up the slope through some of the cobblestone streets, so we could pass some of the shops and take in some of the general vibe of the beautiful coastal town.
Heading back to the seafront, we passed Dickens House, which celebrates Charles Dickens’ long connection with Broadstairs. This is where he created Betsey Trotwood in David Cooperfield.
No trip to Broadstairs is complete without a visit to Morelli’s Ice Cream Parlour!
Ice-cream in hand, and with smiles on our faces, we were now ready to move on. On this particular day Jack and I walked back from Broadstairs to Margate.
I on the other hand had continued on to Ramsgate on my own on another occasion. So let’s continue our journey to the final stage of this walk to Ramsgate!
Stage 3 complete!
STAGE 4: Broadstairs to Ramsgate
It’s a relatively short walk from Broadstairs to Ramsgate, approx. 3.5km. I continue along the beach now, as the tide is still out to sea (again, this isn’t possible if the tide is in).
It’s a quiet stretch of sand, pretty much like some of our previous stretches from Sandy Bay. The white cliffs ever present all the way to Dumpton Gap.
Dumpton Gap
This quiet sandy beach, although with a thriving community, is one of Broadstairs’ less frequented bays. With a clean stretch of around 150 metres of sand it’s very popular for walkers, and is also a dog-friendly beach.
If the tide is in the beach can still be accessed via a sloping path, which is located along the esplanade, close to the entrance of King George VI Memorial Park.
It’s not far now, and I continue on. Walking along the beach, the sand feels hard enough underfoot, which makes it easy going. In the far distance you can just start to make out the edge of the harbour.
Just a short stroll, and welcome to Ramsgate!
FINISH
Thanks for joining me! I hope you enjoyed my blog. The Viking Coastal Trail is a delightful and very easy-going walk, that’s accessible for everyone. I’ll definitely be heading back there soon!
Before you go, if you’re planning on visiting this beautiful Thanet coastline, and are looking for somewhere to stay, I’ve included some options for you below.
WHERE TO STAY
Margate
Victoria Hotel – just a short walk from the beach. Check out dates and prices here
Fort Road Hotel – an upscale hotel with restaurant and bar/lounge. Check out dates and prices here
The Albion Rooms - Comfortable bed & breakfast with free breakfast and 24-hour front desk. Check out dates and prices here
Broadstairs
The Royal Albion Hotel - a beachfront hotel with comfortable rooms. Check out dates and prices here
Yarrow Hotel - Edwardian hotel with full-service spa and free breakfast. check out dates and prices here
Botany Bay Hotel - A comfortable hotel near Botany Bay beach. check out dates and prices here
Ramsgate
Holiday Inn Express - Comfortable hotel with free breakfast and business centre. Check out dates and prices here
The Royal Oak Hotel - Comfortable hotel in Ramsgate with 24-hour front desk. check out dates and prices here
The Falstaff - Comfortable hotel with free breakfast and business centre. check out dates and prices here