insideKENT Magazine Issue 76 - July 2018 | Page 70

VISITKENT
THREE FANTASTIC THINGS TO DO IN
MARGATE, BROADSTAIRS AND RAMSGATE
THE ISLE OF THANET HAS BEEN A HAVEN FOR LONDONERS (AND PEOPLE FROM
PLENTY OF OTHER PLACES TOO) FOR CENTURIES. THERE IS JUST SOMETHING
ABOUT THE RELAXED SEASIDE VIBE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY ON A SANDY
BEACH AND TAKE IN THE BRACING FRESH AIR THAT BRINGS PEOPLE BACK, TIME
AND TIME AGAIN.
Coastal Explorer Packs
Viking Bay, Broadstairs
Thanet has a wealth of beauty to admire and
enjoy, and there are many different activities
to take part in across all three of the stunning
Georgian and Victorian resorts of Margate,
B roadstairs and Ramsgate. Each town has its
own distinctive character, and that’s what
makes visiting Thanet such a treat.
So, if you’re planning to visit Thanet over the
summer (or if you already live here and want
to make the most of it), what is there to do?
Put simply...a lot. Here are just a few examples
of the fantastic array of activities on offer.
ENJOY THE BEACHES AND BAYS
The Isle of Thanet is lucky enough to be home
to 15 beautiful beaches and bays. Six of them
are Blue Flag-award winners, and four of them
have Seaside Awards.
A day at the beach is not an expensive day out
as much of the fun can be had for free. Build
a sandcastle, for example or, why not go
exploring the rockpools that are scattered
across the bays and beaches? If the weather
is good, paddling in the sea is always fun and
produces a lot of laughter and fantastic
memories to take away.
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If you want to really make the most of the
beaches that Thanet boasts, a more active way
to see as many of them as possible is to explore
them by foot or bike. Follow the Viking Coastal
Trail (Regional Route 15 of the National Cycle
Network) and you can break this down into
small sections, stopping to enjoy the views,
to play and to eat and drink. More info can be
found here: www.vikingcoastaltrail.co.uk.
Other fun and education coastal activities
include:
Seashore Safari
// 31 Jul, 8.30am // Minnis Bay
This is the ideal chance to explore Thanet’s
chalk rocky shore and its fascinating rockpool
wildlife. You’ll be provided with an
identification sheet and all the equipment you
might need, plus there will be help on hand
to identify anything you find on the day. This
lovely activity lasts for two hours, and is free,
although there is a suggested donation of £1
per person. More information and August
dates at www.nekmpa.org.uk.
Coastal Explorer Packs: Family Adventure
Trails – Activities, Challenges, Games!
The brilliant Coastal Explorer Packs are filled
with all the equipment you need to discover
so much about Thanet’s rich heritage and
naturally beautiful coastline as possible, as well
Canoe Trail © Explore Kent
as learn essential explorer skills such as how
to make a sundial and a compass. You can
hire a Coastal Explorer Pack for just £5. To find
out more visit
www.visitthanet.co.uk/coastalexplorers.
Surf and Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Lessons
There are two amazing places to learn how to
surf or stand-up paddle board (SUP) on Thanet.
They are the Joss Bay Surf School
(www.jossbay.co.uk) and the Kent Surf School
at Viking Bay (www.kentsurfschool.co.uk).
Boat Trips
There are boat trips of all varieties to choose
from including the chance to see seals in their
natural habitat, get an up-close view of the
huge turbines at the Thanet Offshore
Windfarm, see the impressive Maunsell Forts,
or try your hand at angling. Take a look at
www.seasearcher.co.uk or www.go2sea.co.uk
for more details of what you can do and where
you can go to do it.
Canoe Safaris
Try something totally different with a canoe
safari. This is the ideal way to really get 'up
close and personal with a broad array of coastal
wildlife and birds in their natural habitat. If
you want to know more, go to
www.ramsgatetown.org/activeramsgate/can
oeing-kent-coast.