Ramsgate to Canterbury via Sandwich
- Start point: Ramsgate promenade
- Start time: 10:00, Saturday 11th June 2011
- Distance: 25 miles
- Ride leader: Dominic and Jill Depaolis (ramsgate-ride@bigwheelofkent.org.uk)
Getting to the start point
The ride will leave from the eastern end of West Cliff Promenade (at the Paragon end). This is 1 mile from Ramsgate Railway Station and is on the Sustrans Regional Cycle Route (RCR) 15 also known as the Viking Trail.
If you are travelling to Ramsgate by car follow signs to the harbour. Parking restrictions apply so best to park on the outskirts of Ramsgate and cycle to the start point.
The ride
The route follows the Sustrans RCR15 to Sandwich where we will meet up with cyclists from Deal and Sandwich. From Sandwich the route follows National Cycle Route (NCR) 1 to Canterbury. Most of the route is along country lanes and paved cycle routes. The section from Fordwich to Canterbury has a compacted grit surface. The route is suitable for all types of bike though riders with road bikes may prefer to follow the A28 Sturry Road from Fordwich into Canterbury. The route is flat with only very minor hills.
The route from Ramsgate to Sandwich is mostly off road along paved cycle tracks. It goes round Pegwell Bay past the replica Viking ship and the historic landing sites of the Saxons in 449 and of St Augustine in 597. Before entering Sandwich you follow the perimeter of the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.
At the Quay in Sandwich you can have a look around the “Tour de Sandwich” event that is also happening on June 13th before joining riders from Sandwich and Deal for the second leg of the ride.
Sandwich is one of the best-preserved small towns in Britain and you will be able to appreciate it as the ride follows the one-way system. You will then pass Richborough Castle. Although now over a mile from the sea it was in Roman times the main port into Britain. It is also the start of Watling Street that went through Canterbury and on up to London. The ride then meanders along small lanes across reclaimed marshland, through villages of Westmarsh, Elmstone, Preston and Stodmarsh. After Stodmarsh the route climbs a low ridge before dropping down to Fordwich. You will then follow a cycle track into Canterbury.
Getting back to the start point
For the return journey there are direct trains running from Canterbury West Station to Ramsgate. For Sandwich and Deal change at Ramsgate onto the Dover line.
