After a 4-month break, a sunny weekend in March gave a good excuse to continue the coastal walking. This short 6km section takes in Broadstairs and Ramsgate which both have long walks to and from the train stations (Ramsgate's being a good half hour from the harbour)

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History of the area

Broadstairs began life as a small fishing village named Bradstow(e), and the "Jewel in Thanet's crown" now houses over 22000 people. In 1460 the first wooden pier was built, and a more permanant structure in 1538. In the same year, the York Gate was constructed across Harbour Street, complete with huge wooden gates that could be closed to protect the town from invasion from the sea.

Ship building was the major industry here in the 17th and 18th centuries, ending with the closure of the Culmer-White yard in 1824. In the 1750's smuggling was rife, with the authorities regularly sending inspectors into the town to try to purge the trade. Lifeboats came to the area in 1851, but were to leave again in 1912. The railways arrived here in 1863 (previously coaches were taken to Whitstable to allow travel by train), but it wasn't until the 1970's that Broadstairs station became electrified.

The walk

Broadstairs is a truely traditional town, seemingly unaffected by the tourism that it supports. After a steep walk from the station to the bay, the walk to Ramsgate is a very picturesque one along wide sandy beaches, next to towering chalk cliffs. Best walked at low tide - I'm not sure how much beach is present during high tide, but as it has a very shallow gradient I wouldn't be suprised if the sea comes pretty close to the cliff base.

Broadstairs
South Cliff