King Charles III England Coast Path – Kent
From seaside castles to the wild north Kent marshes, the King Charles III England Coast Path is a delight to walk, whether it's the full length or a smaller section of it.
This path, which will eventually stretch around the entire Kent coast, currently exists in five sections. The final sections, completely the King Charles III England Coast Path in Kent will open in 2024.
The first section runs from the sand dunes of Camber to the white cliffs of Ramsgate, where the next section then continues to the bustling harbour town of Whitstable. From Whitstable the third stretch takes you to the Kingsferry Bridge near Iwade.
The fourth section starts at Otterham Quary in Lower Rainham and ends near Stoke Marshes. The fifth and final stretch goes from the quaint village of Grain to Woolwich where it links up with the Thames Path, creating a continuous, waymarked route from the source of the Thames to the sea.
Camber to Ramsgate (66 miles)
From the sand dunes or Camber you’ll find yourself walking through the unusual shingle landscape of Dungeness, home to rare birds, insects and plants. Visit the Old Lighthouse and take a ride along the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway.
In Folkestone and Hythe, you’ll fine independent boutiques, tea rooms and hidden cobbled walkways. Dover Castle sits magnificently on the white cliffs, and a little further along you can discover the South Foreland Lighthouse and St Margaret’s at Cliffe with it’s Pines Calyx garden and beautiful bay.
Take in the heritage and natural beauty of Deal and Sandwich and view the immense birdlife of the Sandwich Flats. The endpoint is Ramsgate a grand seaside town with a fantastic beach, and a Royal Harbour packed full of small niche businesses.
Ramsgate to Whitstable (25 miles)
Setting off from Ramsgate, follow the clifftops past King George VI Memorial Park with it’s 19th Century Italianate Glasshouse and tearoom. At Broadstairs you’ll pass popular Viking Bay and see Bleak House, Charles Dickens’ holiday home, above the clifftop.
The North Foreland Lighthouse sits in countryside atop the cliffs near Joss Bay. You will see many of Thanet’s award-winning beaches here, including the majestic chalk arch at Kingsgate Bay. When you reach Margate, one of the oldest seaside resorts in the country, you can visit the Turner Contemporary Gallery.
Following the Northern Sea Wall from Birchington look out for costal and marshland birds like the Marsh Harrier soaring above you. At Reculver Country Park stop to admire Reculver Towers, and early Roman fort. The trail then reaches Herne Bay with its picturesque seafront, historic pier and distinctive Victorian clocktower.
Whitstable to Iwade (29 miles)
The walk begins at Whitstable Harbour, a lively working harbour which is famous for its oysters and Harbour Market. Follow the sea wall from Seasalter around Graveney Marshes and along Faversham Creek into the town passing Shepherd Neame Brewery – the oldest brewery in Britain.
Leaving Faversham you’ll walk out to Oare Marshes, a Kent Wildlife Trust nature reserve where you can spot an extraordinary number of migrating birds. The nearby Shipwright’s Arms is a fantastic stopping point for walkers to put their feet up and enjoy a pint and a meal.
In Sittingbourne the Coast Path passes Little Murston Nature Reserve and Milton Creek Country Park. You’ll then head out along Kemsley Marshes and come inland around the port at Rudham, before returning to the seawall towards the Kingsferry Bridge where the trail ends.
Otterham Quay to Grain (24 miles)
This section of the KCIII England Coast Path starts at Otterham Quay in Lower Rainham. Alongside Otterham Creek you will have wonderful views across the Medway Estuary. Continue through Riverside Country Park, a great destination for wildlife watchers to spot wintering birds along the mudflats.
The trail takes you through the Medway Towns where you’ll find castles, cathedrals, museums and galleries, and many exciting events and festivals throughout the year.
Upnor is a quaint village with picturesque cobbled streets which is home to Upnor Castle, a rare example of an Elizabethan artillery fort. From here the rail heads out onto the marshes of the Hoo Peninsuala, a landscape which inspired Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations.
This section of the trail currently does not connect to the following section at Grain. The Arriva 191 bus connects King Charles III England Coast Path sections between Stoke Marshes, on the Medway Estuary and the village of Grain.
Grain to Woolwich (47 miles)
Beginning in the village of Grain, the easternmost point of the Hoo Peninsula, this is a walk for nature lovers. The wetlands here in the estuary are a haven for many migrating birds.
Past many hidden sandy beaches and wild marshes, you will come to Cliffe Pools RSPB Nature Reserve with its many breeds of birds and old ruined fortress. The village of Cliffe is just a short walk away from here.
In Gravesend, you can relax at the promenade, explore WW2 history at the Fort Gardens or visit the statue that marks Pocahontas’ burial site.
The coast path is a hidden wilderness amongst industrial buildings along the Thames as you follow it past the QEII Bridge and Dartford and onto Woolwich. You can keep following the path all the way into London and beyond to the source of the Thames.
There is now a guide for the King Charles III England Coast Path and other paths, recently published by Kent Ramblers, or why not loan a copy from Kent Libraries.