Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Whitstable Crab And Winkle Way Walking Route

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Whitstable Crab And Winkle Way Walking Route

We were staying in Swalecliffe for the weekend, just outside of Whitstable in Kent, and the plan for the first day was for me to pop out early doors and get a walk in before meeting the rest of the family in Whitstable for Oysters and chips later on. It was great to get my Scarpa walking boots back on again for this walk in Kent, with all the rain I was anticipating quite a muddy walk but it was fairly dry underfoot for most of the way. In fact, my boots came back cleaner than they went out! It was a glorious day, perfect for walking; clear blue skies and a slight breeze so I just kept to walking trousers and a short sleeve t-shirt, packing a fleece in my rucksack in case it got a little chilly later.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Whitstable Crab And Winkle Way Walking Route Map

I had been recommended the Crab and Winkle Way by a few friends at work as a good walking route as it’s known for being a really good Kent walk. I roughly plotted a route that would take me from Swalecliffe, straight up St John’s Road passed Chestfield and Swalecliffe Station, through Chestfield and up Chestfield Road where I was to join a footpath on my left hand side through a delightful residential area. I followed this small road all the way round to the right hand side crossing over a road and in to Chestfield Golf Club following the waymakers in a straight line all the way up through Shrub Hill and Radfall to the road where I walked left in to Thornden Wood keeping right until a crossing of paths where I then turned right following the track as it then went round to the left to join Thornden Wood Road.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Whitstable Crab And Winkle Way Walking Route – Thornden Wood

I turned right up Thornden Wood Road passing the car parks on either side of the road walking left in to the woods by the footpath sign post as the road bent to the right. I then followed this track, turning right at the junction of tracks in to an area called The Radfall where I continued my walk all the way along the same track until I reached the road at Tyler Hill. I then turned left and followed the track that ran parallel to the road all the up until I re-joined the road through a courtyard of wooden pleated houses and a small footpath. I then walked left up the road passing a pub on my right hand side turning right across the road through another footpath that walked around a small car park where I then crossed over the road and down a track by the footpath signposts through a gate and in to fields.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Whitstable Crab And Winkle Way Walking Route – Kent Countryside

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Whitstable Crab And Winkle Way Walking Route

I then walked straight ahead crossing a few fields to join the Crab and Winkle Way cycle route by Blean Church (which I incorrectly tweeted as being in Bean… oops!) I then turned right and followed the Crab and Winkle Way and Cycle Route 1 signposts and waymakers all the way back down to Whitstable Station. I crossed over the railway bridge and then straight down Cromwell Road to the harbour area where I waited by the lifeboat station for the rest of the family to arrive.

6 delicious Oysters and some delightful crinkle cuts chips later we meandered our way back along the Saxon Shore Way coast path to Swalecliffe with my walking route covering a good 15 miles and taking about 5 hours.

Walks And Walking – Kent Walks Whitstable Crab And Winkle Way Walking Route – Whitstable Irish Oysters