insideKENT Magazine Issue 65 - August 2017 | Page 64

DAYSOUT
SANDWICH WALK –
Flights over the Fairways
STARTING IN THE BUSTLING CINQUE PORT TOWN OF SANDWICH YOU’LL HEAD OUT ONTO
THE PEACEFUL SANDWICH FLATS, A YEAR-ROUND HAVEN FOR WADING BIRDS BOTH VISITING
AND RESIDENT SPECIES. MARVEL AT THE WONDERFUL VIEWS ACROSS SANDWICH BAY; IF
YOU’RE LUCKY YOU MAY SPOT A SEAL BASKING IN THE SUNLIGHT! WALK ON THROUGH
BEAUTIFUL ARABLE FARMLAND PASSING SMALL KENTISH FARMS BEFORE MAKING YOUR WAY
BACK TO SANDWICH TO EXPLORE THIS HISTORICAL TOWN FULL OF INTERESTING NOOKS
AND CRANNIES AS WELL AS A RANGE OF ARTISAN CAFÉS AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS.
Your walk starts from the busy quayside of
Sandwich, which was once a trading centre
and gateway to mainland Europe. Nowadays
it is about two miles from the coastline and is
used by small leisure boats for day trips and
river tours.
Follow the path alongside the river until it
flows away and the path splits to form the
Saxon Shore Way and the Stour Valley Walk.
Your walk will soon head across the famous
Royal St Georges Golf Course, one of the
premier golf clubs in the country and home
of The Open in 2011. A short distance ahead
you will walk down to the sea at Sandwich
Bay. You’ll now be on the Kent stretch of the
England Costal Path, a popular section which
shows off some of the most dramatic and
picturesque landscapes on the route that runs
from Camber in East Sussex to Ramsgate.
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Stop for a while to enjoy memorable views
across the bay looking out for oyster catchers,
grey herons and mute swans; the bay is a bird
watchers paradise so be sure to bring your
binoculars. Follow the route through the sand
dunes and salt marshes out to open fields and
pastures.
The path will pass the entrance to Sandwich
Bay Bird Observatory with a visitor centre
open daily with great information about
wildlife in the local area including some of
the rarer sightings. Take the time for a visit
and check out the bird hide there too.
From the bird observatory, more special
landscapes await as you enter the Sandwich
and Hacklinge Site of Special Scientific Interest
which is a haven for moths and dragonflies
including the elephant hawk, five spot burnet
and humming bird hawk moth. You’ll
continue on through small farms and arable
fields.
Leaving the fields you’ll be heading back
towards the hustle and bustle of Sandwich.
Explore the beautiful narrow streets and
historic houses before leaving the main road.
Follow the ancient town wall to return to the
quayside where your walk began.
Continue your day by taking a guided boat
trip from the quay to discover more about the
history of Sandwich and the local
environment. If you prefer to stay on land the
archaeological remains of the nearby
Richborough Museum is also worth visiting
which reveals the changing fortunes and
importance of this stretch of coast in the
Roman times.
If you love Kentish history and the diverse
wildlife in this area then summertime is perfect
to enjoy this walk.