Canterbury & Kent Coast

DISTANCE 42.3km (26.5 miles) CLIMBING 420m (1,378ft) TIME 2hrs to 3hrs 30mins

Start/ inish The Oaks Day Nursery car park (grid ref TR 130/600, postcode CT2 7FL)

Route summary A long and scenic ride on mostly good tracks with easy navigation, making it a good winter/wet-weather option. Alternatively, it’s a nice summer route – ice cream and a dip in the sea optional

1

Head north along the Crab & Winkle Way cycle path, beside the playing fields. When you reach a track crossing before a wood, go right (with the C&WW), into the trees. At the T-junction, turn right, for 500m. Go right again at the next T-junction. After a short distance turn left, onto a wide permissive cycle track.

2

Continue to a track crossing. Pass the green barrier and turn left on the road for 100m. Then go right, on a (hidden) track into the woods. Cross the road and continue ahead, on a wide track through the trees. After nearly 2km, bear left at an obvious fork. Keep ahead as the track turns to tarmac, leading to a main-road junction.

3

Go left on the main road (not the first left, which is a B-road) for 150m, then turn o left, on a bridleway. Follow this to a gate (which may be locked) at a road. Go right on the tarmac and follow it round to the right. Turn right at the T-junction, up through Herne. After passing the church, bear o left, onto Albion Lane. 4

Turn left at the T-junction at the top, onto Ridgeway Road. Pass the barriers at the end and join the bridleway to the left. Follow this along the field edges to the road in Millbank. Go left on this for 1km, then turn right, to Highstead.

5

As you enter Highstead, bear o left (straight ahead e ectively, because the road bears right). Shortly after, fork right. At the next fork, go right again, on what becomes a rough track. When you come to a track crossing, go left. Continue over a minor road, onto Reynolds Farm Road.

6

Just before the dual carriageway (A299), turn right. Go left, over the bridge/A299, and left again on the far side. At the T-junction, head right, to Reculver. Turn left to join the cycle path along the coast. Keep following this, on and o -road, until you reach the East Quay car park in Whitstable. 7

Turn left to follow the cycle way (1) signs around the roads and alleyways of Whitstable, passing the railway station. Eventually you’ll find yourself on the Crab & Winkle Way again. Follow this all the way back to the start, retracing your earlier steps for the last section.