Kent Channel Coast Tourist Information

Sandwich & Sandwich Bay

Historic Sandwich, one of the original five Cinque Ports, has a large number of surviving Medieval and Georgian buildings, and the historic Cinque Quay area is stunning, with boat trips on offer along the River Stour upto Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre. Historic conservation town Sandwich is one of Kent's prettiest, and makes for a superb seaside and riverside base from which to explore the National Nature Reserve and Bird Observatory at Sandwich and Pegwell Bay NNR. Sandwich is perfectly placed for pushing into surrounding tourist hotspots such as Canterbury, nearby Deal, Ramsgate and Broadstairs north on the Thanet coast and indeed the historic attractions of Dover with easy access to Cross Channel transport links,

Sandwich also has a number of attractions in its immediate area. Vineyards, gardens and animal parks are all within easy driving distance and two championship golf courses are also in the Sandwich area, both of which have played host to the Open Championships.

Deal & Walmer

Onetime famous historic Cinque port Deal is today a picturesque and relaxing seaside resort with an extensive attractive shingle beach, pier and pretty centre with local museum. Deal is ideally placed for a choice of outstanding local golf courses including the Royal Cinque Port Golf Club. The town also features the renowned and wonderfully preserved Deal Castle, built by order of Henry VIII.

Henry VIII's two Castles, Deal Castle and Walmer Castle, built specifically to defend and service the important anchorage site at Deal are impressive Kent castles. In his capacity as Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports the Duke of Wellington spent 23 years at Walmer Castle and you can view many of his personal items and rooms inside Walmer. A superb way of visiting both castles is via the connecting cycle path running along the beachfront.

Dover & Dover Ferry Port

Of the five historic Cinque Ports - Hythe, Dover, Romney, Hastings and Sandwich, only Dover retains its importance as a working port. Dover is the closest port to mainland Europe, just a mere 21 miles from France and the white cliffs of Cap Blanc Nez near Calais, which comr into view on clear days. Dover is both rich in historic sites - its castle is one of the most dramatic in Kent and with its network of wartime tunnels Dover Castle played a strategic role in both World Wars of the 20th century. Evidence of Dover's importance within the Roman empire and further back to the Bronze Age is revealed through the numerous internationally important archaeological finds in Doveer including the Roman painted house and within the castle grounds the Roman lighthouse. One of the most important Bronze Age finds - the Bronze Age boat was discovered in the 1950s and a reconstruction is on show in the superb Dover Museum.

The White Cliffs of Dover, gateway to England and important iconic image in the British psyche, are now one of the UK's protected heritage coasts offering some of the best cliff coastal walking in the country. Lesser known is the stunning countryside inland from Dover and Deal - old Kent mining territory now being rejuvenated by the Miner's Trail and the new Kent Coalfields Heritage Initiative which is opening up a hidden history of Kent mining. Dover Festivals, including the annual Film Festival, are also picking up speed. So much more than simply the main Kent Channel Port town awaits here in Dover.

The Port of Dover is one of the busiest leisure passenger ports in the UK, with four main ferry companies offering upto 55 ferry crossings daily across the English Channel. Main Dover Ferry providers include P&O Ferries, SeaFrance, Speedferries and Norfolkline Ferries, and destinations include Calais, Boulogne and Dunkerque. Onboard services on the ferries are particularly good for families, with lots going on for the kids. With UK airports increasingly becoming a nightmare, ferries across to France with your car are both easy on the pocket and stress-free!

Folkestone & Eurotunnel

Folkestone might be best known for its close proximity to the Channel Tunnel/Eurotunnel shuttle link situated just to the north west of this Kent town, however as a holiday base Folkestone has much to offer. Folkestone has a history as a popular seaside holiday resort. Located within the Shepway southern region of Kent which incorporates the Hythe and Romney Marsh area stretching down to Dungeness. Direct railway links from London in the mid-1800s made it an accessible Victorian seaside holiday destination. Today its rediscovering those roots with its attractive one mile long Leas Promenade and Leas Valley Park restoration, its outstanding town centre, particularly the old town area and harbour which has long been a favourite for fine fresh fish. The choice of local attractions includes the nearby Battle of Britain Museum to the north at the RAF Station Hawkinge, the nearest Royal Airforce Station to occupied France during the war. Other family attractions nearby include the popular Port Lymne Animal Conservation Park northwest of Folkestone.

Folkestone Racecourse is Kent's only horse racing course, site for 20 racedays annually, both flat and turf. With great value accommodation in the town, a host of scenic cliff top walking close to hand particularly north to Samphire Hoe and fast transport links to Canterbury, Dover, the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway and the RSPB nature reserve to the west at Romney Marsh, there's ample excuse to linger in Folkestone and spend a few days of your holiday here before pushing across the Channel via Eurotunnel, the fastest cross-channel route to France in just 35 minutes!

For speed, comfort and convenience opting for crossing the channel from the easily reached Channel Tunnel link just north of Folkestone is a popular choice (directly off the M20 off at Junction 11A - the Channel Tunnel has its own motorway exit). Eurotunnel Shuttle from Folkestone to Calais is the quickest route across the Channel at around 35 minutes.

Romney Marsh

Romney Marsh is gaining a reputation as a cycling mecca, particularly for family cycling holidays. The superb Romney Marsh Meanders cycle pack (see the Romney Marsh Countryside Projects' webguide right to download a sample) gives details of 5 self guided cycle rounts around the stunning flat lanes of the Romney Marsh. Leisurely flat cycling, perfect for family cycle holidays, is on the menu here. The national Cycle Network (Sustrans) Route 2 weaves into the Romney Marsh for a stretch, and you can undertake longer cycle runs all the way to pretty Rye in Sussex if you're seeking a more demanding challenge. The annual Shepway Cyclethon takes place in June.

One of the most popular attractions in the Hythe and Romney Marsh area is the historic Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway. A 'mainline in miniature', this little public railway (the world's smallest!) opened in 1927 and stretches for 13.5 miles from Hythe to Dungeness taking in Romney Marsh.

The Shepway coast south of Hythe, incorporates another of the old original five Cinque Ports New Romney, together with seaside sandy beach mecca Dymchurch and to the far south Dungeness National Nature Reserve with RSPB Dungeness visitor centre on-site. With the stunning natural wetlands area of Romney Marsh easily accessed from all these coastal destinations, visitors have the best of sublime seaside and countryside worlds. Romney Marsh is perfect terrain for both walkers and cyclists and a superb choice of family attractions are down this way including Family Farm attractions, Mazes, the classic Romney Hythe & Dymchurch railway running all the way from Hythe down to Dungeness and historic gems such as Lympne and Saltwood Castle, the Royal Military Canal, the Old Lighthouse at Dungeness and more Martello Towers are dotted along the coastline.