| Walmer Castle |
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Built as one of a line of coastal forts
by Henry VIII as protection against feared invasion, Walmer
Castle is the official residence of the Lord Warden
of the Cinque Ports. It is normally
open to the public from March to October. |
The
castle features links to many famous men and women - including
the Duke of Wellington, retailing magnate W H Smith and
the late Queen Mother. Superb gardens, tea and gifts shops
and special events throughout the year all help to make
the castle a top visitor attraction.
More details of Walmer Castle, opening times, admission
charges and events, see: English
Heritage website.
More Walmer Castle photos
on WalmerWeb.
For further photos of Walmer Castle, see the Castle
Facts website. |
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| Memorial Bandstand |
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The Deal Memorial Bandstand
on Walmer Green is the venue for free band concerts
most Sunday afternoons throughout the summer. It was built
in 1992 as a memorial to the 11 people killed in the IRA
bombing of the town's Royal Marines Barracks on 22 September
1989. |
Operation of the Bandstand
and organisation of the concerts is by the voluntary members
of a charitable trust.
For a history of the Bandstand CLICK
HERE.
For dates of concerts, see coming
events.
For photos of the Bandstand and seafront
CLICK HERE. |
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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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| 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.
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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. |
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| Cycle routes and services |
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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
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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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Detailed cycle routes. For door-to-door
cycle routes as well as extensive advice on public transport
and car journeys in the UK, see
Transport Direct. |
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Bicycle Hire Centre. Based on
Walmer seafront at Plot 96, Walmer Green (near the paddling
pool). Open 7 days a week throughout the summer including
all Bank Holidays (weather permitting).
For details, see: www.beach-cycle-hire.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 |
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| Walmer Seafront Paddling
Pool |
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Situated between the beach and The
Strand, Walmer, this popular leisure facility comprises
a paddling pool for children of 10 years and under,
changing accommodation, toilets, putting green and a refreshment
kiosk. |
| Normal opening
times: 10am to 6pm, mid-May to mid-September. For more
details, see: Dover
Council (Walmer Paddling Pool). |
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| Jubilee Mosaic |
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The Mosaic Wall on Walmer seafront
close to the Paddling Pool was created to celebrate HM
The Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002. The arts project involved
local schools and many members of the local community.
For more information: see photo
album and brief
history. |
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| Deal Castle |
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On the northern-most boundary of Walmer
parish, Deal Castle is another of Henry VIII's
coastal fortresses. Open to the public throughout the
year.
For more details of Deal Castle, opening times, admission
charges and events, see: English
Heritage website.
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| WalmerWeb has several
Deal Castle photos
and there's more on the castle's history on DealWeb. |
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| 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; e-mail:
) was founded in 1972 and is administered by a charitable
trust with the aim of preserving local maritime heritage.
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| 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. |
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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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| 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. |
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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:
Dover Museum with its 3000-year-old Bronze Age
boat.
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/
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.
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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/
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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| 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.
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| 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. |
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| Deal Greeters |
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A
free service
to help visitors
explore Deal |
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As part of Kent Greeters, the Deal Greeters
provide a free service to take small groups of up to
five visitors around Deal for up to two hours to tell
them about the town, its features and history. The local
Greeters are all volunteers who love to share their
enthusiasm for the town.
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The service
can be especially valuable for local residents who would
like to help visiting friends and family discover Deal.
To book, call
0750 008 0076, giving as much notice as possible.
More details: www.kentgreeters.co.uk. |
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