Regency, Royal & Riviera

Town Rounders Regency, Royal & Riviera Ramsgate Town Walk Ramsgate Town Walk

Walking doesn’t have to be all compasses and yomps across the countryside. In fact, with a little imagination and the right routes, a stroll through an historic town like Ramsgate can be just as satisfying. With two walking loops, numerous attractions and an impressive list of discount partner cafés, bars, shops and places of interest to explore, Town Rounders is definitely a path worth following with a Riviera vibe.

“I’m a Londoner, so the dream weekend is a train to the coast to walk and bike and soak in seaside culture. Ramsgate’s got the lot.” Nicholas Crane Presenter of the BBC Coast series

2 | explore kent explore kent | 3 One walk. Two loops. Countless surprises.

Is Ramsgate the perfect place 21st century’s most interesting why this walk has been broken to go for a seaside jolly, some and historically rich UK down into two loops, each fresh air and the best chips in harbour towns. with its own distinctive take the land? (Peter’s Fish Bar was on the town. Enjoy every new officially awarded the title in It has elegant regency discovery, have fun and don’t 2012.) Well, yes - and a whole architecture, beautifully forget to keep an eye out for lot more besides, because positioned leafy squares and the many partner cafés, shops Ramsgate has grown from a a stunning marina! In other and bars you can call into on humble 13th century fishing words, there’s more to see than the way. hamlet to become one of the you might expect, which is

4 | explore kent explore kent | 5 Loop the Loop Loop 1 of this town walk begins with a gentle to befall the Royal Navy in peacetime) is a truly Loop 2 also begins beside the marina but quickly leafy squares and discover a whole new way of stroll down Harbour Parade past the yacht marina remarkable piece of local history that continues leads away from the harbour to introduce you looking at an old historic town. where you can pull up a chair at a local café and to play an important role in the area. It has been to a very different world. On this route, you will let the sights and sounds of this busy modern day honoured by kings (Ramsgate is the only Royal pass elegant regency town houses, including the Both loops have been designed to give you Riviera wash over you. Follow the route beyond harbour in Britain) and shaped by seismic events homes of Vincent Van Gogh and John-Gibson a sense of what makes Ramsgate such an the wonderful array of boats old and new, big and such as the Napoleonic war when it became a Lockhart and historically rich buildings like St interesting and worthwhile town to explore. And small, expensive and… more expensive... and you busy garrison town, with tens of thousands of Augustine’s Abbey (one of just four Benedictine both routes enjoy the support of a variety of local will soon discover a wealth of local history right at troops embarking and disembarking through monasteries in Great Britain) and the Gothic businesses, cafes and restaurants offering a variety your feet. the harbour. It was also the first town to be hit by church designed by the famous Gothic Revivalist of exclusive offers for Active Ramsgate walkers. Zeppelin air raids in WW1 and played a key role in architect Augustus Welby Pugin. You will relax in The old Royal Harbour, originally built in response the rescue of troops from Dunkirk in WW2. a beautiful town park, walk through picturesque, to the Great Storm of 1703 (the worst disaster Enjoy it all!

6 | explore kent explore kent | 7 Eat, drink and support Take a look... Here are some of the cafés, bars and other local business attractions offering discounts and specials offers on this route - all offers are valid until 31 March 2014.

The Churchill Tavern Pizza Express £5 lunch menu on offer from For latest offers view www. 12pm Mon-Sat. (Child and dog pizzaexpress.com/offers friendly)

Comfort Inn Salon Ramsgate Tandoori 10% discount on all treatments 10% discount

Miles Bar Rib Request 2nd bottle of same value wine 10% discount on bay and beach ½ price. (Monday - Friday, 5 - 7 boat trips, seal and wildlife trips pm, except bank holidays) and wind farm trips. (Must book in advance) Nice Things (in the Custom House) The Royal 10% discount on all purchases 1 free soft drink with any over £30 food ordered from the menu (Monday - Friday, 12 - 6pm)

Oak Hotel Sea Searcher Boat 1 free soft drink with any Trips food ordered from the menu (Monday - Friday, 12 - 6pm) 25% discount on all day fishing trips and on seal and wildlife Why make walking hard work when you can trips. (Must book in advance) follow one of the new Active Ramsgate routes The Old Custom Coffee Shop and and enjoy every step? Themed to be fun as well Carvery as informative and supported by a wealth of local Children eat free with full paying businesses, each walk has been carefully created adult. (Child under 8, weekends to surprise and reward. only)

Go to www.ramsgatetown.org for more offers

8 | explore kent explore kent | 9 Van Gogh’s Impressions of Ramsgate

The list of well known people who have lived and worked in Ramsgate over the years is surprisingly long and includes Brenda Blethyn, Francis Austen, Elizabeth Fry, Edward Heath, John Le Mesurier, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Queen Victoria and a young up and coming Dutch painter called Vincent Van Gogh. In 1876, Vincent worked as a supply teacher at 6 Royal Road and boarded at 11 Spencer Square where he made a number of sketches of the view from his lodgings overlooking the harbour and wrote a series of letters to his brother Theo. This is what he had to say on the 6th May 1876:

“It’s already Saturday evening again; the weather’s beautiful today: the sea is very calm and it’s low tide at the moment. The sky is a delicate whitish blue with a haze in the distance. Early this morning it was also beautiful, everything was clear, where now it’s more or less hazy.This town has something very singular; one notices the sea in everything….

These are really happy days, the ones I’m spending here, day after day, and yet it’s a happiness and peacefulness that I don’t trust entirely, though one thing can lead to another.

A person isn’t easily satisfied, one moment he finds things far too good and the next he’s not satisfied enough. But I’m saying this by the by, we would do better not to talk about it, but rather continue quietly on our way….”

10 | explore kent explore kent | 11 The lighthouse that moved When the decision to build a lighthouse at the was. So often and so hard, in fact, that in 1842 edge of West pier was taken, no one anticipated the radical decision was taken to move the entire just how often or hard it would be struck by errant lighthouse and rebuild it in its current position, yardarms of vessels entering the harbour. But it safely out of yardarms’ way.

Jacob’s Ladder Step lively

Believed to have been the wooden steps that led down to construction and can be found on favoured means of access to west pier, was designed and built Loop 1, just beyond the Sailor’s and from the harbour for gold by skilled carpenter, Jacob Steed Church, another attraction that coin smugglers in a rush, Jacob’s in 1754. Now stone, the ‘ladder’ deserves more than a passing Ladder, originally a series of remains an impressive feat of glance.

12 | explore kent explore kent | 13 8

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13 Loop 1 - 1.4 miles (2.3km) 3 12 Loop 2 - 2 miles (3.2km) Bus Stop Parking Information 4  Museum Toilet

0 100 200 Metres 0 ± Yards 0 100 200

14 | explore kent explore kent | 15 Street, opposite Natwest Bank and the China 4 When you are ready to continue, retrace the Garden restaurant. Keep going for another route back to the red buoy but carry straight on 120 metres until you see a post box mounted towards the Sailor’s Church. Turn right as you exit in the wall on your right hand side and the marina gates and on the side of the church turn into Guildford Lawn where you will be you will see a blue plaque that commemorates greeted by a fabulous terrace of Regency Step by step guide the contribution of HMS Fervent to WW2. houses.

2 Continue past an amenities block for the Marina Walk overview: (no public access) and head towards a small 5 Loop 1 has a final treat for you. Snuggled in the Location: Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, CT118LN wooden building. Now walk across the bridge 8 Follow the curve of the road and you will arches beneath Royal Parade there are a number adjacent to this building and over the channel eventually emerge opposite the Public Distance: Loop 1 - 1.4 miles (2.3km) - allow 45 of places to stop for a rest including ‘Ship Shape’, minutes: Loop 2 - 2 miles (3.2km) - allow 1 hour between the Marina and Royal Harbour. You will Library; a magnificent building that was a small café with a delicious selection of drinks soon pass a yacht hoist used for lifting boats restored after a serious fire in 2004. The Terrain: Mainly pavements with road crossings and food you can enjoy in a highly original and in and out of the harbour and see the RNLI stunning new stained-glass window you Open Quayside (no barriers) atmospheric setting. station to the left hand side. Please note that the see today was produced by a local artist Facilities: Shops, cafés, restaurants, pubs and quayside is open around this loop (no barriers) and incorporated designs from local public toilets along the walk so do take care of children and dogs. schoolchildren. Transport: Traveline 0871 200 22 33 Loop 2 www.traveline.info

6 Ready to begin Loop 2? Then cross the road 3 Keep on towards a large red buoy on the 9 Your next turn will lead you right into opposite Harveys pub and make your way Loop 1 quayside, past another amenities block with an Clarendon Gardens where you will continue up York Street, past Corby’s Tea Rooms until interpretation panel (but no public access) and to follow the road to its junction with Elms you reach the T-junction and turn right into 1 Loop 1 begins outside the Pizza Express follow the West Pier out to the lighthouse where, Avenue. You’ll know you’re on the right track Queen Street. (There are some public toilets restaurant opposite Yacht Marina. Make your on a clear weather day, there are excellent views when you see the Almshouses of the Parish at the end of an alley immediately to your of St George to your right. way from here along Harbour Parade towards out towards the headland at St. Margaret’s and left, if you need them). the Clock Tower where two important WW2 back towards Pegwell Bay. You’ll find a number operations launched from Ramsgate are of benches located around the base of the commemorated. Directly beside the Tower you lighthouse that also offer some great views 10 Follow the boundary of Clarendon House will find a building made from a converted across the harbour to the town. 7 Approach the next junction with Lloyds Grammar School and use the pelican shipping container that features some brilliant bank on your left hand side and turn into crossing to cross over to Beresford Road on artwork of a tumultuous sea, and an old Steam the High Street (signposted towards the the right-hand side. At the end of Beresford Tug called ‘Cervia’ that was part of a restoration post office and railway station). After 180 Road turn left into Vale Square and walk project by the Ramsgate Maritime Museum. metres, you will turn left again into George towards the fenced park/shared garden that’s

“Every inch of Kent’s coast is a leisure destination, whether it’s walking, cycling, climbing or more adventurous sports like windsurfing, sailing, water skiing, there is something for everyone on Kent’s coast.”

Sam Brearey, National, European and World Sailing Champion

16 | explore kent explore kent | 17 directly ahead of you on the right-hand side. are easily recognisable by their flint-stone Zealand High Commissioner. Turn left and Now turn right and, keeping the park to the construction. A little further on and you will then almost immediately right into Albert left (you are still in Vale Square), make your turn left, pass the public conveniences (with Street and make your way towards some way down this leafy lane towards the spire of baby-change and disabled facilities) and modern apartments. Turn left into Grundy’s Christchurch Church. Turn left past the front head towards West Cliff Promenade and the Hill and you will see Waitrose supermarket at of the church, following Vale Square round Lookout kiosk where you can grab a well- the bottom of the hill on the opposite side which will bring you to back on yourself to a deserved drink or snack, choose a bench of Queen Street. Take the right turning into junction with Vale Court. Turn right here and and enjoy some fabulous views across the Queen Street and continue for approximately head towards the Artillery Arms pub on the Western Ferry Terminal to the Royal Harbour. 175 metres, crossing over Cliff Street, Princes opposite side of West Cliff Road. Street and Leopold Street en-route. Follow There are plenty more opportunities to sit on the fourth turn on your right, into York Street a bench and take in the view, as you bear left and after approximately 30 metres you will onto the West Cliff promenade and continue reach Charlottes Court, a small alley on your 11 Continue over West Cliff Road into Royal back towards the Harbour. left situated directly opposite the Sunrise Road and head towards the prominent sign Café. for the Trafalgar Hotel painted on the side of a tall building. You might want to pause for a while to enjoy everything Spencer 13 As you pass the Churchill Tavern, the Square has to offer at this point. As well as promenade runs alongside the road and, 15 Follow Charlottes Court past a selection of the historic terraced houses overlooking approximately 165 metres on from the pub, pubs including Age & Son, The Horse and the square there is a small park (with plenty cross over the road to enter Nelson Crescent. Groom and The Harbour Street Bar until you of benches for weary walkers), a couple of Now follow the road into Prospect Terrace exit opposite The Village Grill where you will tennis courts, and two blue, circular plaques until you reach the Foy Boat public house turn right into Harbour Street, follow the road commemorating the homes of Vincent Van and bear left into Liverpool Lawn - famous back down to the Yacht Marina and end the Gogh (1876) and local author and editor, for its Regency style houses and named after walk right back where it began; outside The John-Gibson Lockhart, (who was also the Earl Liverpool, Lord Warden of the Cinque Royal public house where you can celebrate son-in-law of the author, Sir Walter Scott). Ports and Prime Minister 1812- 1827. your success with a glass of your favourite tipple.

12 Cross over into St Augustine’s Road and pass 14 Walk on a little further, keeping the ‘Lawn’ the Regency Hotel on your left shortly before on your right, until you turn into a smaller reaching the historic St Augustine’s Abbey lane and Adelaide Gardens. From here and Gothic church designed by Pugin; to the you will emerge at a T-junction opposite a right-hand and left-hand side of the road house with a blue plaque that records the respectively. Both of these historic buildings birth place of Sir William Jordan, the New

18 | explore kent explore kent | 19 The Queens Head Bodrum Look how much more Active 78 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate 14 Harbour Street, Ramsgate CT11 8LP CT11 8HA 01843 853888 01843 583434 Ramsgate has to offer... www.queenshead-ramsgate.co.uk Bon Appetit The Red Lion 4 West Cliff Arcade, Ramsgate Active Ramsgate is an initiative supported by, and aiming to might have and you could walk 1 King St, Ramsgate CT11 8NN CT118LH carefully prepared to help benefit, a growing number of out with a great deal more than 01843 586713 01843 852750 everybody, locals and visitors, local cafés, bars, restaurants and you bargained for. Also visit the www.thebonappetit.co.uk fully discover and enjoy businesses. Call in along the Special Offers section of the The Sovereign Ramsgate and the surrounding way and ask about any Active Active Ramsgate web pages. (Smith & Jones Pub) Bytes area. It is also an initiative Ramsgate special offers they www.ramsagtetown.org 34-38 Harbour Street, Ramsgate 26 Harbour Street, Ramsgate CT11 8HA 01843 581618 01843 855110 Caboose Café & Bar Public Houses The Hovelling Boat Inn (Real Restaurants and 18 Queen Street, Ramsgate Ale / Art Gallery) Cafés CT11 9DR Artillery Arms (Freehouse) 12 York Street, Ramsgate 01843 570984 CT11 9DS 6 West Cliff Rd, Ramsgate Age & Sons Restaurant www.caboosecafe.co.uk CT11 9JS 07974 613030 www.hovellingboatinn.co.uk Café & Bar 0871 951 1000 Charlotte Court, Ramsgate Café Go Go CT11 8HE 16 Harbour Street, Ramsgate The Churchill Tavern Jacksons Wharf 30 York Street, Ramsgate 01843 851515 (Freehouse) www.ageandsons.co.uk Caffe Latte 8 19-21 Paragon, Ramsgate 01843 592550 Queen Street, Ramsgate www.jacksonswharf.piczo.com CT11 9JX The Alexandra Ristorante CT11 9DR 01843 587862 70 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate 01843 590590 www.churchilltavern.co.uk The Jazz Room www.caffelatte.org.uk 88 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate CT11 8LP CT11 8LP 01843 590595 The Foy Boat (Real Ales) www.alexandraristorante.co.uk Caffé Nero 8 Sion Hill, Ramsgate CT11 9HZ 01843 595459 4 High Street, Ramsgate 01843 591198 Atlantis Seafood Bar & CT11 9AB Mariners Bar www.foyboat.co.uk Restaurant 01843 590099 35 York Street, Ramsgate Oak Hotel, 66 Harbour Parade, CT11 9DS Harbour St Bar (Freehouse) Ramsgate China Garden Restaurant 3 Harbour St, Ramsgate 01843 589632 57 High St, Ramsgate CT11 9RJ www.marinersbar.co.uk CT11 8LP CT11 8HA 01843 583686 01843 588058 07795 954872 www.oakhotel.co.uk The Oak (Freehouse) Continental Patisserie 66 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate The Horse & Groom (Shepherd Bai Thak Restaurant (Indian) 5 York Street, Ramsgate CT11 8LP Neame) 6-8 West Cliff Arcade, Ramsgate CT11 9DS Charlotte Court, Ramsgate 01843 583686 www.oakhotel.co.uk CT11 8LH CT11 8HE 01843 580290 Corby’s Tea Rooms 01843 587 687 18-20 York Street, Ramsgate www.shepherdneame.co.uk/pubs/ Port & Anchor (Freehouse) 2-4 Albion Hill, Ramsgate Belgium Café (Bar & Food) CT11 9DS ramsgate/horse-groom www.corbystearooms.co.uk CT11 8HG 98 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate 01843 850493 CT11 8LP 01843 587925 www.belgiancafe.co.uk

20 | explore kent explore kent | 21 The Gallery (Breakfasts & Pelosi’s Ice Cream Parlour CT11 8HA The Foy Boat Pub (B&B) Nice Things Snacks) 76 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate 01843 592001 8 Sion Hill, Ramsgate, CT11 9HZ The Custom House, Harbour 3 West Cliff Arcade, Ramsgate CT11 8LP www.surinrestaurant.co.uk www.foyboat.co.uk Parade, Ramsgate CT11 8LP CT11 8LH 01843 570 585 www.nice-things.co.uk Symphony Café Restaurant The Grange Harbour Fish Bar Peter’s Fish Factory 37 Harbour Street, Ramsgate St Augustine’s Road, Ramsgate Pinball Parlour 39 Harbour Street, Ramsgate 96 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate CT11 8HA 01628 825925 2 Addington Street, Ramsgate CT11 8HA CT11 8LP 01843 599899 www.landmarktrust.org.uk CT11 9LJ 01843 570010 01843 853272 www.symphonycafe.co.uk 07973 870544 Latimer House (4 star self- KFC Pizza Express Thai Orchid catering) Port of Ramsgate inc. 4-6 Queen Street, Ramsgate 52 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate 1-2 West Cliff Arcade, Ramsgate Royal Road, Ramsgate Ramsgate Royal Harbour CT11 9DR CT11 8LW CT11 8LH 07785 733221 Marina 01843 587960 01843 592186 01843 585505 Military Road, Ramsgate The Oak Hotel (2 star) CT11 9LQ La Chooza Fried Chicken Ramsgate Tandoori 100% Thai Restaurant 66 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate 28 Harbour St, Ramsgate 17 Harbour Street, Ramsgate 8-10 Albion Hill, Ramsgate CT11 8LP Ramsgate Maritime Museum CT11 8HA CT11 8HA CT11 8HG 01843 583686 (seasonal opening) www.oakhotel.co.uk 01843 582223 01843 589134 01843 588380 The Clock House, Pier Yard, Royal Harbour, Ramsgate CT11 8LS Royale Guesthouse (3 star) La Magnolia Italian Restaurant Rokka (Eat, drink and party) Thai Style (Café Bar and Thai 01843 570622 7 Royal Rd, Ramsgate & Pizzeria 64 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate Restaurant) CT11 9LE 9-12 West Cliff Arcade, Ramsgate CT11 8LN 1-2 West Cliff Arcade, Ramsgate RIB Request (Boat Trips) 01843 594712 CT11 8LH 01843 599999 CT11 8LH Ramsgate Royal Harbour, 01843 580477 www.rokka.com 01843 585505 Ramsgate, CT11 8LS www.lamagnolia.co.uk The Royal Harbour Hotel (2 07970 329907 Roma (Coffee House) Topps Edwardian Kiosk star) www.ribrequest.co.uk The Lookout (seasonal kiosk at Oak Hotel 66 Harbour Parade, (seasonal) Nelson Crescent, Ramsgate Government Acre) Ramsgate CT11 8LP Harbour Parade, Ramsgate CT11 9JF Sailor’s Church (Free) Prince Edward Promenade, West 01843 583686 CT11 8LP 01843 591514 Military Road, Ramsgate Harbour, www.royalharbourhotel.co.uk Cliff, Ramsgate www.oakhotel.co.uk 07879 051943 Ramsgate 01843 589848 Spencer Court Hotel Marmalade Café Saffron Indian Cuisine Village Grill, Café and 37 Spencer Square Ramsgate 11 Harbour Street, Ramsgate 13 Harbour St, Ramsgate Restaurant Sea Searcher Boat Trips CT11 9LD CT11 8HA CT11 8HA 8 Harbour St, Ramsgate Pier Yard, Royal Harbour, 01843 852877 CT11 8HA 01843 594582 Ramsgate, CT11 8LS 07528 072885 www.spencercourthotel.co.uk 01843 583860 07837 562076 Ship Shape www.seasearcher.co.uk Miles (Café, Bistro & Bar) Travelodge Military Rd, Ramsgate, CT11 9LG Vista (Bar, Restaurant and Café) 56 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate Royal Parade, Ramsgate 01843 597000 60 Harbour Parade, Ramsgate St Augustine’s Church CT11 8LN CT11 8LZ 01843 585008 CT11 8LN (restricted opening) 0871 984 6477 St Augustines Road, Ramsgate www.milesbarramsgate.com Sunrise Café 01843 588115 www.travelodge.co.uk/hotels/510/ 15 York Street, Ramsgate Ramsgate-Seafront-hotel The Old Custom House Coffee CT11 9DS Accommodation St Edward’s Presbytery Shop & Carvery Visitor Attractions (restricted opening) Harbour Parade, Ramsgate Sunrise Fish & Chips Comfort Inn (3 star) St Augustines Road, Ramsgate CT11 8LP 22 Queen Street, Ramsgate Victoria Parade, Ramsgate The Grange (open Wednesday 01843 598755 CT11 9DR CT11 8DT afternoons 2 - 4pm) www.customcoffeehouse.co.uk 01843 592345 Westcliff Road, Ramsgate Surin Restaurant (Thai) www.comfortinnramsgate.co.uk CT11 9LJ 30 Harbour Street, Ramsgate 01843 588840

22 | explore kent explore kent | 23 Kent Greeters Want a bit of individual attention? Kent Greeters are a band of helpful and passionate volunteers that are ready and waiting to share the local area they know and love so well. As well as taking you on a short 2 - 4 hour personalised walk, greeters will introduce you to the local highlights, hidden gems and everything else that makes up their day-to-day world. The service is created to be as helpful and fun as possible, totally free and available to groups of up to six people.

Visit their website for more details: www.kentgreeters.co.uk

For more information about Ramsgate and all the local area has to offer, you can pop into the Visitor Information Centres where the local staff will be happy to help.

Ramsgate Visitor Information Centre The Custom House, Harbour Parade Ramsgate CT11 8LP 01843 598750 Open 10am - 4pm

Thanet Visitor Information Centre For more things to do and places to stay in Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate. Droit House, Stone Pier Margate CT9 1JD 01843 577577 www.visitthanet.co.uk Open 10am - 5pm

For more things to do and places to stay in Kent, the Garden of England, go to www.visitkent.co.uk

For more walks in Kent use the This document is available in excellent Explore Kent website www.kent.gov.uk/explorekent alternative formats and can be Download the Explore Kent App and explained in a range of languages. follow this walk on your smartphone. Tel: 0300 333 5540