Margate
I visited Margate once, years ago. Longing for a beach walk, I decided that this would be a great place to go and explore, and a great way to fill the old lungs with some fresh sea air. It was a beautiful blue-skied, sunny day so I set off from London Victoria, taking the train to Broadstairs. (It was also the start of this freezing cold weather, so I was sure to wrap up warm!)
From the station in Broadstairs, I headed straight for the beach which was so beautiful with such a bracing cold wind; I felt so alive! I also have a pair of vans which are well and truly past their best, with holes all over them – anyone who knows me will vouch for the fact that no matter where or what the occasion, I will be wearing them – so naturally within 5 minutes of walking on the sand, my shoes were filled with grains. It genuinely felt great! (I did then have that Dido song in my head all day, linked there just in case anyone wants a hand to set the scene).
As recommended by a good friend of mine, I walked from Broadstairs around the headland to Margate. I had no idea where I was going so decided to walk along the beach, hoping that I wouldn’t be phoning for a rescue team when the tide stranded me. Luckily, needless to say, I survived the day without making said phone call. The walk as beautiful, there were so many incredible rock formations along the way. I also came across Joss Bay, which I actually visited years ago when I last was down in Kent, but I was so happy to stumble across it again – I don’t know why but I felt a real peace and comfort here. In Summer it’s filled with surfers, but in Winter it was pretty much deserted (as was most of the headland) with a few hardy dog walkers out braving the cold.
As the walk takes you closer to Margate, you go past Walpole tidal bay, which was so beautiful (I thought tidal pools only existed in warmer climes, how wrong I was). It’s open an hour either side of high tide for swimmers, so definitely one that I’ll be going back for on a warmer day – it didn’t look so inviting with the waves being blown across the wall, spray flying everywhere!
As soon as I arrived in Margate, I headed for Peter’s Fish Factory on The Parade and got myself a classic fish and chip lunch, eating it on the beach and successfully not sharing any of it with the seagulls around me!
By this point I was in desperate need of a warm up, having spent the best part of 4 hours outside in the bitterly cold wind, so I headed to the Turner Contemporary, Margate’s art gallery. They have some really interesting exhibitions on, and a great gift shop (with loads of lovely cards). There is also a sculpture by Antony Gormley which has been installed in the seabed just outside the gallery. It was mesmerising watching from the warmth of the gallery as the tide turned and engulfed the sculpture.
I then walked around Margate but to be honest, by this point I was chilled to the bone and the sun was setting so I hopped back on a train to London, and was graced with a beautiful sunset on my way, which definitely made up for a disappointing England Scotland six nations match. TOP TIP: always sit on the Western side of the train in the evenings, there is nothing more frustrating than being stuck on the wrong side as the sun is putting on a glorious display.
I arrived back in London two hours later, to be greeted by hoards of football supporters and people rushing around. I looked down at my sand filled shoes, and my trousers which were also covered in sand from the wind which had only a few hours earlier been whipping around my legs, and I felt as thought I had just come back from a parallel universe. I felt so rejuvenated, and so lucky to have escaped the madness of the city even if only just for the day.
Until next weekend…!
Every Weekend Away 