Herne Bay and Whitstable are small coastal towns on the edge of the Thames Estuary. These are award winning coastlines with wildlife a plenty.
Whitstable has long been World-famous for its oysters. Native oysters have been harvested here since the Roman times. During the summer, the oyster Festival takes place and the sea is blessed in a ceremony. You can try fresh oysters at the harbour.
At low tide, you will see what is known locally as ‘The Street’, this is where two different tides divide. You are able to walk along this as long as you make sure you’re back before the tide comes back in!
Whitstable Castle is always worth a visit. It was built as a home for the Pearson family back in the 1700 and known as Tankerton Towers. It is now managed by the Whitstable Castle trust.
It is also home to the first ever railway line, the Crab and Winkle. The line ran from Whitstable to Canterbury.
Herne Bay and Whitstable have a long history of smuggling. Within these towns you will find many hidden alleyways- one of the favourites is ‘Squeeze gut Alley’-just make sure you breathe in!
Herne Bay is a Victorian town that is pleasing to the eye. Many brightly painted homes and perfected gardens adorn the seafront.
Protruding into the Thames Estuary, you will see Herne Bay pier. Many years ago when this was first built in 1899, passengers would get a paddle steamer to London. In a big storm in 1978, a section of the pier collapsed, and since then, the lonely lady pier head has stood alone.
Nowadays, you can walk along the pier, get a coffee, buy local hand-made crafts, take a ride on the Helter Skelter or just watch the sun go down.
In the distance you can see the impressive Reculver towers, these twin towers are what remains of a Roman fort. Over time it has been an Anglo-Saxon monastery before becoming a church for the parish of Reculver.
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