be able to spot the winding river , which once you ’ ve descended the tower , you can take a trip along and out to sea to spot some of Kent ’ s marine wildlife - which may or may not include seals !
Once you reach Deal you will be rewarded with a beautiful seaside town , currently going through a bit of a renaissance period , with boutique restaurants , places to rest your head and plenty of shops .
If all that wandering and uncovering has got you hankering for a meal pit stop then the Bell Hotel is the perfect place . Sitting next to the River Stour , and opposite one of the town ’ s defences is the patchwork front Barbican , once you step through the Edwardian revolving doors you are joining the long list of people who have travelled to this hotel since Tudor times . With a substantial amount of dining space both indoors and out , and a menu that encompasses dishes featuring Kentish Ashmore cheese to traditional fish and chips , you won ’ t be left feeling hungry here .
Venturing just outside of the town you will find Richborough Roman Fort that was founded by Romans who landed on the shores nearby in 43AD . Once a fortification on Watling Street that connected the area to London , Richborough developed into a civilian town and port which held an amphitheatre , of which you can still see today alongside the huge stone walls .
Moving further south toward the nearby town of Deal , you ’ ll need to spot the famous Ham Sandwich signpost ( yes you read that right !) pointing to the nearby hamlet of Ham and toward Sandwich . On your journey be sure to stop off at Betteshanger Country Park , which reflects on Kent ’ s past as a coal mining hotspot . Today the area is an outdoors haven with 250 acres in total . So , if you ’ re looking to do a different type of activity from golf then you can join a parkrun or hire a bike and head out on the 3km tarmac track and 10km of mountain bike trails , but if you ’ re with the kids then take them out on the rope walks , swinging steps and swinging rope snake .
With sweeping views across the English Channel toward Belgium , Henry VIII presumed that the town would be the ideal place for an attack by invaders and constructed the Tudor Rose-esque Deal Castle . Today , the castle is managed by English Heritage and on a wander around you can discover the captain ’ s residence to the keep which provides beautiful views toward the cliffs at Kingsdown .
Stepping closer toward the sea you ’ ll see traditional fishing boats on the shoreline selling the day ’ s catch , as well as the 300-metre-long pier . Reconstructed in 1957 , like the town , the pier still feels as though it ’ s holding onto its heritage , being a popular place to watch fishermen pull up mackerel or whiting . Continuing your voyage out to sea you ’ ll come across the pier ’ s café , which serves up local treats with unobstructed views right across the Channel .
Heading inland and to the town itself , you may get a little lost in the tiny lanes that were popular with the smuggling that occurred in the town , with many of the properties having remains of secret tunnels and places where the smugglers could hide ! Once you ’ ve found a way out , it ’ s time to take to the high street and smuggle some of your own goods back home . Whether you are after French wines , limited edition home furnishings or a new piece of art , Deal high street is a bohemian and creative spot which was picked up in 2013 when the town won High Street of the Year .
If after a few too many cakes or seafood delights you want to burn off the calories , take a walk along the flat and pristine shoreline toward Walmer
Sunset view from Deal Pier © White Cliffs Country
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