| Places to Visit and
Things to Do in East Kent |
| Deal Maritime and
Local History Museum |
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The Deal Maritime and Local History Museum at 22 St Georges
Road, Deal CT14 6BA ( 01304 381344)
was founded in 1972 and is administered by a charitable trust with
the aim of preserving local maritime heritage.
Exhibits include the Saxon King (the last of the Deal Galleys),
many ships models (including the Cutty Sark), colourful figureheads
and numerous pictures, prints and memorabilia of the famous Deal
Boatmen, the Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown lifeboat crews and of the
Royal Marines stationed at Deal for over 300 years.
website: http://home.freeuk.com/deal-museum/
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| Deal Pier |
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Although not in Walmer, Deal Pier
is well worth the short walk along the promenade. It was designed
by Sir W. Halcrow and Partners and opened on 19 November 1957 by
Prince Phillip. Constructed predominantly from concrete-clad steel,
it is 1026ft (311m) in length (a notice states that it is the same
length as the RMS Titanic, but that ship was just 882 feet in length)
and offers popular facilities for anglers, refreshments and, not
least, a fine view of the Deal and Walmer seafronts. For
more details, see these websites: Deal
Pier and Dover
Council (Deal Pier).
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| Deal Timeball Tower
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Located on Deal seafront, the Timeball Tower provides a
working example of a once vital means for ships off the Deal coast
to accurately set their chronometers. The iron ball on the roof
would drop at exactly 1pm every day. The building now houses a museum,
run by Deal Museum Trust, and the ball descends every hour, providing
a visitor attraction. Museum displays include communications, semaphore
and signalling.
For opening and further details, see the official website:
http://dealtimeball.tripod.com/
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| Dover and Dover Castle |
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In Dover, seen here from the Downs to the north-west of the town,
visitor attractions include:
l Dover Museum with its 3000-year-old
Bronze Age boat.
l Crabble Corn Mill, Lower
Road, River, Dover.- one of the most complete working examples of
a Georgian watermill in Europe, rescued from demolition and opened
to the public in 1990. Information: 08701 453857, website: www.ccmt.org.uk/
l Roman Painted House, New
Street, Dover- the finest Roman House on show in Britain
was built about 200AD and formed part of a large mansion or "hotel"
for travellers crossing the Channel. In 270AD it was demolished
by the Roman army during the construction of a fort, although three
of its main rooms were buried intact only to be re-discovered in
1970. 01304 203279 website:
http://romans-in-britain.org.uk/
l Dover Castle claims to have
the longest recorded history of any major castle in Britain. Visitor
attractions include: audio-visual recreation of medieval life in
the fortress, the World War II underground control centre and stunning
views from the battlements.
website: www.english-heritage.org.uk/
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| Fowlmead Country
Park |
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Fowlmead Country Park
- Opened in May 2007, the 120-hectare park and nature reserve has
been created on land formerly part of the Betteshanger Colliery. It
features first-class cycling and horse riding facilities and extensive
landscaping with woodland, lakes, open areas and walking trails. It
is open every day of the week, 9am-6pm (closes 4.30pm in winter).
The entrance to Fowlmead is off the A258 Deal-Sandwich road, a mile
north of Deal. For more details see www.fowlmead.co.uk
or call 01304 615390. |
| Langdon Cliffs |
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Langdon Cliffs
- popular cliff-top recreational area, just north of Dover. With excellent
views of Langdon Bay, the Channel and shipping from the Port of Dover.
Operated by the National Trust; currently closed to vehicles overnight
from 5.30pm.
websites: www.dover-kent.co.uk/places/langdon_
cliffs.htm and National
Trust White Cliffs information |
| Pines Garden, St
Margaret's Bay |
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A six-acre
garden on Beach Road, St Margaret's, near Dover. Set on the lower
slopes of the South Foreland white cliffs, it features a cascade and
lake, grass labyrinth, roundhouse shelter for picnics and visitor
centre. Open daily 10am-5pm, all year. The neighbouring St Margaret's
Museum houses items of maritime and local history, a tearoom and
gift shop. Open Easter and May bank holidays and daily (except Mondays
and Tuesdays) end-May to early-September. 01304 852764. website: www.baytrust.org.uk. |
| Salutation Garden, Sandwich
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Re-opened to the public
in May 2007 following extensive replanting, the three-and-a-half
acre gardens of The Salutation were originally created in 1912
by renowned architect Edwin Lutyens and gardener Gertrude Jekyll.
The magnificent house, also the work of Lutyens, provides a splendid
backdrop to a series of formal and informal areas, faithfully restored
to Lutyens and Jeykyll's original plans. Open early April to end October,
Mondays - Fridays, 10am-4.30pm. 01304
619919. website: www.the-salutation.com. |
| Samphire Hoe |
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Nature
reserve created on new land formed by spoil from digging the Channel
Tunnel. Access from the A20 between Dover and Folkestone. Parking
and information centre. website: www.whitecliffscountry.org.uk/activities/samphire
_hoe.htm |
| White Mill, Sandwich |
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White Mill Rural Heritage
Centre, The Causeway, Ash Road, Sandwich features collections
of domestic, craft and agricultural items with photographs of Victorian
life in the Sandwich area. The windmill was built in 1760 and still
has original wooden machinery. websites: www.whitemill-sandwich.co.uk/
and www.aboutbritain.com/WhiteMillRuralHeritageCentre.htm
01304 612076 |
| Cycle routes |
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A selection of cycle routes in the Dover, Deal and Sandwich
area. Includes: National Cycle Route 1 from Dover to Deal; National
Cycle Route 1 from Deal to Sandwich; the Sandwich Way Route 15;
the Miners' Cycle Trail and the Skylark Trail.
For more information, contact White Cliffs Countryside Project,
or fax: 01304 241806 or see website: www.whitecliffscountry.org.uk/activities/cycle.htm
The Maritime Heritage Trail charts the nautical history of
the Kent and Medway coasts. It suggests a number of cycling and walking
routes including one from Dover to Sandwich. For downloadable routes
and information see: www.maritimeheritagetrail.co.uk.
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| Walks |
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Circular downland and coastal walk (9.5 miles) from Walmer
Rail Station via Ringwould, St Margarets (Dover Patrol monument),
Kingsdown and Walmer Castle. Features extensive clifftop views of
the English channel, the French coast and the Isle of Thanet.
For description of route: www.kentracks.co.uk/
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Interactive Footpath
Map for Kent. A detailed map of footpaths and rights of way for
all the county. Lets you plan and print out a route. http://extranet7.kent.gov.uk/explorekentgis/map.aspx |
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Walking In Kent
- on-line advice on walking in the county - www.walkinginkent.co.uk |
| Web Links - other
ideas for places to visit in East Kent |
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Suggestions
for things to see and do in Dover, Deal and Sandwich. Includes
details of festivals and events.
website: www.whitecliffscountry.org.uk/ |
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About Britain
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website:
www.aboutbritain.com/ |
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