insideKENT Magazine Issue 64 - July 2017 | Page 76

VISITKENT
THE ENCHANTING ISLE OF THANET
THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE JUST AROUND THE CORNER, AND WHERE
BETTER TO SPEND THEM THAN ON THE EXCITING AND ENCHANTING ISLE
OF THANET? THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF NEW THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN
MARGATE, BROADSTAIRS AND RAMSGATE, AND PLENTY TO KEEP EVERYONE
ENTERTAINED THROUGHOUT THE WARMER WEEKS AHEAD.
Thanet has much more going for it than you may think. Londoners
have been escaping here from the hustle and bustle of city life for over
200 years. Back then it was their chosen destination for a relaxing break
beside the sea, and not much has changed now except that visitors are
now privy to a fantastic expansion of activities, amusements and
wonderful food and drink across the area. The atmosphere is laid back,
the beaches are beautiful, the sea air is fresh, and as for those romantic
Turner skies…Turner himself remarked that “the skies over Thanet are
the loveliest in all Europe…”, and you’d still be hard pressed to find an
equivalent anywhere abroad, let alone the UK. It’s no wonder they’re
so famous.
Perhaps the ultimate UK destination for families, Thanet is jam packed
with opportunities to engage and delight curious little minds. From
leisurely walking and traffic-free cycling along the 32-mile Viking
Coastal Trail, to scuba diving and sea safari for more adventurous junior
explorers, there is an activity on offer to suit every family member
regardless of age or physical ability. And, when relaxation calls, there’s
15 sandy beaches to choose from on which to simply sit back and soak
up the glorious atmosphere.
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Thanet’s three main resorts – Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate –
each have their own personality and style, and each of them hark back
to Georgian and Victorian times when their true worth was first
discovered. The striking 18th- and 19th-century architecture in all three
resorts suggests a vintage feel, but with an undeniable element of kitsch
and cool too. This blend of retro tradition and modern development is
what’s needed to keep an area alive and thriving and it certainly works
for Thanet, which is characterised by a wide range of exceptional and
independent places to shop, eat, drink and stay – each with their own
spin on their cultural and social surroundings.
The chalk cliffs – at 19 miles, the longest continual stretch of chalk cliffs
in the country no less – that edge the Isle of Thanet (which is a
misnomer, actually, as the ‘isle’ its moniker suggests has been part of
the mainland since the 17th century) offer up a string of secluded, sandy
bays that are completely unspoilt and allow for some great walking,
cycling and exploration. The rockpools and the rare chalk reefs are
teeming with wildlife, plus these are the best and the closest surfing
beaches to London, so if catching the waves is your bag, you need look
no further.