Walks From Whitstable – Ideas For Exploring Further Afield

On a weekend visit to Whitstable, once you’ve explored the town and shoreline, sampled oysters, and shopping on the lively High Street, you might want to explore further afield. Here are some ideas for walks from Whitstable, or bike routes should you prefer. There are lots of options for building up an appetite for a pub lunch, or more oysters…

Walking and cycle paths from Whitstable

The Crab and Winkle Way

One of the best walks from Whitstable is the Crab and Winkle Way, a 12.2 km (7.6 mile) path between Canterbury and Whitstable (from ‘cloisters to oysters’) on the old railway line built in 1830. This was one of the first steam railways in the world, which closed in the 1960s.

You can walk or hire bikes from Kent Cycle Hire in Whitstable, and then enjoy a leisurely ride through the countryside and woodland, passing the University of Kent and Canterbury Cathedral along the way. Grab lunch in Canterbury before returning on the Crab and Winkle Way when you’re ready.

The Oyster Bay Trail

The Oyster Bay Trail is a 13 km (8.1 mile) coastal path between Whitstable and Reculver which can be walked or cycled. The classic seaside town of Herne Bay, with pier and bandstand, sits at the middle point of the trail – some on-road cycling if required through Herne Bay, although in a traffic calmed area.

As you walk or cycle this route, you can enjoy great views of the coast and the Kentish Flats Offshore Wind Farm, and the Isle of Sheppey. On reaching Reculver, you will be rewarded by the sight of the Reculver Towers (see below).

Circular Reculver Walking Tour (5.8km)

When looking for walks from Whitstable on the AllTrails App, we found the circular Reculver Walking Tour which starts from the Reculver Towers car park. Note – the car park at Reculver costs around £2.70 per hour, so can be expensive if you are planning tp leave your car for a couple of hours or more. However, there are toilet facilities and HatHats Café.

Whilst the Reculver Towers and Roman Fort are owned by English Heritage, the site is free to visit. No membership or admittance fees required.

Site of the Roman Fort

In 43 AD the Romans built a fort at Reculver called Regulbium. Regulbium was built to protect the Roman province of Britain and its riches. It helped to guard the north end of the Wantsum Chanel and prevent entry by Saxon and Frankish raiders.

The fort was occupied for around 200 years, from around until 200 AD until the Roman Army left Britain in 407 AD. Although the Roman Fort is no longer visible, it would have been large, arranged around a grid of streets with barracks, storehouses, and bath house. A regiment of around 480 men was based here.

The Reculver Towers

When the Roman army left Reculver, the fort was neglected until 669 AD, when a priest from Canterbury built a monastic church within the walls of the ancient fort.

The monastic church was later adapted as Reculver’s parish church until 1805. At the time of the Roman fort, the sea was almost a mile away. However, over time, the sea crept closer, until by the early 19th century it was so close that the villagers were forced to move inland, and a decision taken to demolish the church.

Loved the mixture of bricks, stones, pebbles and cement with shells used to make the walls!

Only the double western towers of the church were spared in the demolition, to serve as a navigation aid for ships. You can see these towers from far away which are look quite imposing in their commanding position on the cliffs.

AllTrails Circular Walk Route

After exploring the Reculver Towers, the walk heads off inland across farmland and cultivated fields. We passed a windmill (a private residence) and walked a short section on the road, before heading into an area of woodland with a stream which our dog enjoyed.

We crossed more cultivated fields leading the church of St Mary the Virgin before the route turned back towards the coast. On reaching the clifftop grasslands, we joined up with the Oyster Bay Trail and passed through the Reculver Country Park.

Reculver Country Park

The Reculver Country Park is a lovely flat area on the cliffs. Note – as the cliffs are tall and steep, you should keep your dog on the lead. In fact, I read some reviews saying that fines are issued for not having dogs on leads (although I didn’t notice any signage about this).

Look out for the three sculptures celebrating Local Heroes on the cliff path. These sculptures represent people who have made a difference to the area and include:

• 617 Squadron RAF, the ‘Dambusters’ – who practiced over the sea near Reculver, as the towers here were like those on the River Ruhr in Germany. 617 Squadron attacked three dams in May 1943 during WWII using ‘bouncing bombs’. A pilot from Herne Bay died during the raids.
• Oyster Fisherman – oysters having been farmed here since Roman times in the perfect marine environment for the Whitstable native oyster.
• Roman Woman – in relation to Regulbium, Roman women were not allowed to serve in the army but could acquire education, own land, and run businesses.  They were expected to be loyal to the Roman Gods. 

There’s a visitor centre displaying more information about the history of the area and the wildlife including insects and birds such as Sand Martens and Skylarks.

You’ll then find yourself back at the car park and café. If I’m honest, the start and end of this walking route are the most interesting sections (the Reculver Towers, and Reculver Country Park) however it was a nice route on which to stretch our legs before seeking Sunday Lunch back in Whitstable.

Trip extensions

Although there are many more walks from Whitstable to explore, from Reculver you are close to Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate if you wish to visit any of these nearby towns in Kent. Just south of Ramsgate (about 10 miles southwest of Reculver) at Ebbsfleet is St Augustine’s Cross.

St Augustine’s Cross is a Celtic cross erected in 1884 by the Second Earl of Granville, to commemorate the nearby landing of St Augustine in 597 AD. St Augustine is believed to have preached his first sermon on English soil to King Ethelbert near this site, making the re-introduction of Christianity into southern England. The cross depicts archbishops, angels, and beasts.

For more walking ideas from Whitstable, check out the AllTrails App which has many options for coastal or inland walks. There are plenty of options to try.

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