insideKENT Magazine Issue 85 - April 2019 | Page 84

VISITKENT
SPRING FORWARD ON
THE ISLE OF THANET
SPRING HAS FINALLY SPRUNG, AND IT HAS CERTAINLY BEEN WORTH
WAITING FOR. THE WEATHER IS SLOWLY BUT SURELY GETTING WARMER,
AND THE DAYS ARE DEFINITELY GETTING LONGER – THERE IS A FRESHNESS
TO THE AIR, AND THE FLOWERS ARE BEGINNING TO BLOOM.
At this time of year, many people’s minds turn
to getting out of the house (at last!) and enjoying
the positive turn in the weather. They want to
stretch their legs, shake off the last of the winter
darkness, and become more active as they do
it. They want to take in lung-fulls of fresh air
and do it all under clear blue skies.
That’s why they should come to T he Isle of
Thanet. Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate
has plenty to tick all of these boxes and
many more.
SPRING INTO ACTION
The Viking Coastal Trail
The Viking Coastal Trail is a magnificent 32-
mile (51.4km) circular cycle route, but you don’t
have to cycle it to enjoy it. Walk, jog, run, or
– yes – cycle all or part of it, and you’ll enjoy
almost entirely traffic-free promenades which
offer seemingly infinite sea views and the
picturesque chalk cliffs.
You’ll also be able to enjoy some pretty villages
when you take the inland element of the trail.
If you don’t have a bike but fancy the idea of
cycling through some of the most beautiful of
Kentish scenery, you can hire on location.
Find out more about the trail and what it offers
at www.vikingcoastaltrail.co.uk.
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Golf or Adventure Golf
There are three golf clubs and two golf centres in
Thanet, so no matter what your ability, or even if you’ve
never taken up a golf club before, you can enjoy trying
your hand at this entertaining game. Choose from the
full 18 holes at an open qualifying course, or book a
floodlit session on a driving range – the choice is yours.
For those who love adventure golf, Thanet caters to
you too. Dodge dinosaurs, weave around water features,
discover a lost island, or even feel like Gulliver on his
travels as you tower over miniature buildings. Whether
you take the game seriously or it’s a chance for some
family bonding (or both), Thanet is the place to go.
WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HISTORY
When you think of T he Isle of Thanet, you’d be
forgiven for immediately thinking of beaches and
bays, but there is a lot more to The Isle than that.
There is a rich heritage here, and it is discoverable at
every step. The cliffs, for example, are an astonishing
80 million (yes, million!) years old, and it is here where
the Romans landed.
In the 18th century, thanks to doctors recommending
restorative sea water bathing, it was where the seaside
holiday boom was begun; Margate was the first place
in the country to have donkey rides and provide
deckchairs on the beach.