OUTDOORSINKENT
PLANES , TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES CONT .
RIVER STOUR
SANDWICH BAY SPITFIRE EXPERIENCE
Some of the earliest explorers that came to Kent travelled by boat across unpredictable oceans . The first stop of Julius Caesar is said to be Kent ’ s most easterly point : Pegwell Bay , from which the Romans launched their invasion of Britain ; a momentous time in history that shaped our future forever . Today , explorers can witness this coastline from the same perspective that Caesar himself did by venturing out with Dover Sea Safari . Choose from three different trips or a private boat charter including : The White Cliffs of Dover experience , a Seal Trip or a Goodwin Sands exploration . The Secret Seal Safari is designed to observe common harbour seals , not just whizzing you across Pegwell Bay , but instead bringing you up under the iconic White Cliffs of Dover and along this breathtaking coastline . Upon reaching Walmer , they head north , passing through Deal and taking in a close view of Deal Pier . Then they go onward through to Sandwich Bay , entering the mouth of the River Stour through Pegwell Bay . As well as Caesar ’ s landing point , the lovely Pegwell Bay is a large nature reserve known for its migratory wading birds and wildfowl . There ’ s plenty of time for a bit of spotting if you ' d like to bring your binoculars . Engines off and drifting by in silence , you can observe the seal colony ’ s natural inquisitiveness towards people while basking on the river bank and popping up around the boat . If history is more your inclination , the Goodwin Sands trip sights seals , but also incorporates the hundreds of shipwrecks wrecked by the infamous sands . Sometimes ghostly yet always a sight to behold , these wrecks are occasionally revealed above water after years being hidden with the shifting of the sands and changing of the tide .
If you are a person without a set of sturdy sea legs then flying might be more your style to see this stretch of the Kent coast . The ultimate way to achieve this birds-eye-view is with Lydd Air Sightseeing Tours . Enjoy a Champagne and canapés reception before a pre-flight briefing with the captain . Tours take place on Saturdays during the early evening , giving passengers a totally unique perspective with vision ahead and below from large panoramic windows that offer unrivalled photographic opportunities . As well as the White Cliffs Tour , a 25-minute flight that operates over the sea and gives an opportunity to view this awe-inspiring coastline , there is also a Romney Marsh tour that takes 15 minutes and instead has views over the sweeping Camber Sands , quaint Rye Harbour , picturesque rural village of Appledore and the surreal Romney Marshes .
Plane experiences in Kent are vast and varied including incredible trips that will get the adrenaline pumping and are certain to be remembered for a lifetime . One of the most iconic experiences is without a doubt the Fly with a Spitfire Experience by Aero Legends from Headcorn Aerodrome . A spine tingling mix of aerial artistry and flying theatre , the Spitfire suddenly appears as your wingman as you , in a helicopter , fly within smiling distance . A plane synonymous with Kent , watch it dance and manoeuvre around you with breathtaking ease . Your trip also includes photography for a cherished memento . This experience is not only exciting but extremely emotive , flying in the very airspace where some of the most intense battles were fought . The sight of the Spitfire being put through its paces will take your breath away and make your heart race as you imagine the emotions of the pilots in ‘ the long hot summer ’ of 1940 .
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