This walk links 3 historic towns, Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate on the Isle of Thanet, the far east peninsular of Kent. It’s an 8ish mile section of the England Coast path and is also part of the Viking coast trail. It’s a pretty easy walk and each town has a train station so you can easily shorten it if you don’t have the time….or just don’t want to do all of it. The walk from Margate to Broadstairs is much longer than Ramsgate to Broadstairs. Both those sections are also very different, well, the way I walked them they were anyway…
The whole walk can be done at sea level or on the clifftop, or a bit of both. For most of the way from Margate to Broadstairs, I stayed at sea level, then moved to clifftop for the last bit from Broadstairs to Ramsgate.
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The tide was due to be half way out when I would be arriving in the area, so I choose to start at Margate.
Detailed logistical information including an interactive map, and more walking ideas will be at the end.
Well, let’s get into it shall we.
Margate – The Start
![A view of the beach at Margate on a cloudy day.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate.jpg)
Arriving in Margate I felt a sort of nostalgia for my childhood. I realised that this was the first time in a long time that I had been somewhere like this. I mean, I have been to many seaside towns as an adult but this one was different. As far back as I can clearly remember, the majority of the English coastline I have walked along has been mostly shingle and rocks, with a touch of sand. I have been to many beaches abroad, but the climate is different.
The air smelt salty, and was heavy with English humidity. There was a lot of noise, of people talking, kids playing, music coming from different directions. The sky was gloomy, but that never stops the British flocking to the beach in the summer.
Margate had a sort of retro feel to it, as I walked to the beach passing by a place called Dreamland, an old amusement park….something I will be coming back for.
I spent a lot of my childhood in Essex with my grandmother, playing on the beach a few minutes walk from her home. Here, today, the air, the smell, the sounds all transported me back to that time.
Margate to Broadstairs walk – just under 6 Miles
As I left Margate, I left all the craziness and noise with it. Cliffs to my right, ocean to my left, uncovering the rocks and seaweed as the tide was pulling out with views ahead of me of the same, and dark cloud looming above. I was struck by how still the air was. Heavy and still. The only sounds were the gentle waves of the ocean and the occasional seagull. There weren’t many people around but when someone did come round the corner their footsteps were magnified.
Then I saw this and was momentarily freaked out.
![The cloud covered grey sky and sea with an iron man sculpture in the water in Margate.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-2.jpg)
I felt a little bit like I was at the end of no where.
This section of the walk is along a promenade, which reminded me a little of the undercliff path on the walk from Newhaven to Brighton. Except this one was almost deserted and had a sort of gloomy feel to it. So when the option came to walk up onto the clifftop I took it.
![A view of the promenade under the white cliffs on the walk from Margate to Ramsgate.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-walk-5.jpg)
Not far along, I got a nice little view of standup paddle boarders below.
![A view looking down at the stand up paddle boarders on an overcast day.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-4.jpg)
![A view of stand up paddle boarders with margate in the distance, on the walk from Margate to Ramsgate.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate.jpg)
Then decided to head back down and embrace the gloom. I found myself kind of drawn to the bleakness.
![Zoe posing on the promenade on the Margate to ramsgate walk. With wind blown hair on a dark cloudy day.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-2.jpg)
As I continued along on my walk from Margate to Ramsgate, with each cliff corner I walked around, I would find myself at another sandy beach cove.
Here is Botany Bay
![A sandy beach with footprints under the white cliffs on the walk from Margate to Ramsgate.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-3.jpg)
![A sandy beach under the white cliffs on a cloudy day when walking from Margate to Ramsgate.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-walk.jpg)
At times, particularly when walking around cliff corners, the terrain became a bit….tricky. Trying to walk over rocks, shingle
I was pleasantly surprised when I walked back up after Botany Bay to find a folly and a castle.
![A path with a fort to the right and bushed to the left on a cloudy day on the walk from Margate to Ramsgate.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-walk-2.jpg)
![A view overlooking a beach cove on the walk from Margate to Broadstairs.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-walk-3.jpg)
Then I headed back down to Kingsgate bay….
![A sandy beach next to the cliff with Kingsgate castle perched on top.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-walk-7.jpg)
![A beach cove with people walking at the waters edge and the white cliffs in the distance.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-walk-6.jpg)
![A beach cove on the walk from Margate to Ramsgate, next to white cliffs and an arch.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-walk-9.jpg)
Walking around the next cliff corner I found myself at Joss bay.
![A beach cove with flags and surfers coming out of the water. The sky is clearing up.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-walk-8.jpg)
![Walking on the rocky sea bed with the white cliffs to the right.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-broadstairs-walk-5.jpg)
A lot of the walk was on terrain like this. Not the easiest to walk on, but I rather enjoyed knowing I was walking somewhere that is only accessible for part of the day (when the tide is out).
Arriving at Broadstairs
Someone had told me that there are lots of cute beach huts at Margate. Well, I didn’t see them. However, as I turned around the cliff corner I was greeted by what looked like hundreds. This must be what they were talking about. All painted different
This is Stone Bay, in case you were wondering.
![Beach huts underneath the white cliffs on the walk from Margate to Broadstairs.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-broadstairs-walk-6.jpg)
![3 painted beach huts near Broadstairs.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-broadstairs-walk-8.jpg)
![Colourful beach huts under white cliffs on the walk from Margate to Broadstairs.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-broadstairs-walk-9.jpg)
![Zoe posing on the path next to all the colourful beach huts on the walk from Margate to Broadstairs.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-broadstairs-walk-7.jpg)
Continuing on past the huts I reached the town of Broadstairs. A charming seaside village with an interesting interjection of modern into old world. Narrow lanes, historic architecture, cute cafes, modern restaurants,1950’s ice cream parlours. The place was bustling with people, but not in a ‘too crowded’ way. I didn’t stay here long because I was on a walking mission, but my interest was peaked. I will be back here very very soon.
![A small road with an arch and people walking on the street at Broadstairs.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/broadstairs-3-1.jpg)
![Broadstairs town with lots of people walking and retro shops.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/broadstairs-2.jpg)
![Broadstairs beach with lots of people on a sunny day.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/broadstairs-6.jpg)
![Groups of people on the beach at Broadstairs. There are sun umbrellas and windbreakers dotted about.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/broadstairs-5.jpg)
![The beach at Broadstairs with a bouncy castle and lots of people.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/broadstairs-7.jpg)
Fun fact: Broadstairs was a favourite holiday spot for Charles Dickens
Broadstairs to Ramsgate walk – 2.5 miles
This section of the walk from Broadstairs to Ramsgate, on the cliff top, was a lot prettier. I’m not saying better, as it depends on what you are looking for in a walk. The first section from Margate to Broadstairs, at sea level
![Green space next to the road on the walk from Broadstairs to Ramsgate.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/broadstairs-to-ramsgate-walk.jpg)
![A road with pretty bushes and flowers and a blue sky on the walk from Margate to Ramsgate.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/broadstairs-to-ramsgate-walk-2.jpg)
Ramsgate
Arriving at Ramsgate with its Regency and Victorian architecture, I was greeted by a ya
![The marina at Ramsgate filled with small boats and yachts.](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ramsgate-walk.jpg)
Fun fact: It is Englands only Royal Harbour.
Even more fun fact: Ramsgate has its own meridian line. 5min 41s ahead of GMT.
By the end of my walk from Margate to Ramsgate, what struck me was how similar but different each place was. All had that old world feeling but in their own very unique way. I’m going to go back sometime soon and properly explore all of them.
Logistics for the walk from Margate to Ramsgate:
Start/finish: Margate or Ramsgate station.
Getting there: There are direct trains from both London St Pancras and London Victoria stopping at Margate, Broadstairs
Distance: 8.3 miles (on my tracker. The exact distance will depend on where you start and stop it)
Time: 3 hours
Elevation gain: 1079 ft (If you go up to the cliff top)
Tips: Check tide times and do the Margate to Broadstairs section of the walk at low tide.
Margate to Ramsgate walk Map
Click on the little box in the corner to follow the trail.
More of the South East Coast path:
If you continue south, you will walk the Ramsgate to
If you want more cliffy type walks, you could try walking from Newhaven to Brighton which also has an under cliff path. Or if you want cliffy with more of a challenge, I would recommend the Seven Sisters walk, or the walk from Folkestone to Dover.
If you want a really hilly walk, I would recommend the route from Hastings to Rye (which is also a personal favourite of mine.)
If you fancy something which also features a sandy beach and Medieval town then I recommend Rye to Camber Sands.
For more, you could read my post about the best coastal walks near London.
If you would like more info about the English Coast Path then check out the National trail’s website.
Pin it for later – The walk from Margate to Ramsgate via Broadstairs
![](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-walk-copy-2-683x1024.png)
![](https://shewalksinengland.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/margate-to-ramsgate-683x1024.png)
4 comments
Do you do these walks by yourself?
I do indeed 🙂
We are planning to do it once the lockdown is lifted. This review is very helpful!
Amazing! I can’t wait until we can get out and walk again!