Seaside walk from Broadstairs to Ramsgate along the beach
I have done this walk so many times, but I can never get tired of the sea view and calming atmosphere this walk has. My mum also loves this walk, so over the years it has become our tradition to always walk it, whenever we are at Broadstairs or Ramsgate.
This walk is about 2.5 miles long one way and usually takes me around a couple of hours or so to do, but it depends whether I stop for a coffee at Ramsgate or not (and I usually do!). It’s a perfect walk to do if you are visiting Broadstairs for a day and have a few hours spare and fancy an easy walk.
The starting point is at Viking Bay in Broadstairs and you just take the path on the sea level to the right and keep walking!
MORE WALKS IN KENT
- Royal Military Canal Walk Guide >>
- Darent Valley Path (easy level walk) >>
- Saxon Shore Way – Long Distance Walk Guide >>
The walk basics info
The Broadstairs to Ramsgate seaside walk is very easy and suitable for 1/2 day (if you want to walk around Ramsgate harbour for a bit and also to stop for refreshments at the beginning or end of your walk). Also perfect as an early morning or early afternoon walk as you only need 2 – 2.5 hrs for the actual walk.
- Starting Point: Broadstairs or Ramsgate (I usually walk it from Broadstairs)
- Distance: 2,5-3 miles to Ramsgate harbour (back to Broadstairs 5-6 miles in total)
- Difficulty Level: very easy, level walk on fairly flat surface (and some stones and beach shingle)
- Type of walk: you’ll walk on the beach promenade, beach shingle and concrete (take a sunhat in summer, there is not much shade)
- Facilities (Toilets): There are public toilets at the start and end of the walk in Broadstairs and Ramsgate
- Navigation: The path is not marked as such, but you just walk along the sea and you shouldn’t need a map
- Parking: Free street and paid parking in Broadstairs and usually plenty of spaces
- Refreshments: Tearooms, pubs, coffee houses both in Broadstairs & Ramsgate
- Make it longer: Once you get to Ramsgate you can explore the town or you can continue to Pegwell Bay with Viking Ship and the old site of the hover craft ferry. This is an extra 4 km (2,5 miles) one way.
MY OTHER FAVOURITE WALKS IN KENT
- Walk from St. Margaret’s to Dover with great sea views >>
- Walk from Farningham to Eynsford (Easy level walk) >>
- Walk from Ide Hill to Bough Beech Reservoir >>
What can you see on this walk
Viking Bay
This sandy beach is going to be the starting point of our walk. It’s always super busy with families as it has children’s rides, trampolines and other entertainment. You can have a refreshments at the two beach cafes on the sea level or if there are plenty of cafes and restaurants if you are coming down from Broadstairs High Street.
Louisa Bay
Family friendly and much quieter than the Viking Bay Beach, where you can also find Louisa Bay Cafe, which has great food, cold drinks and ice-cream.
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Dumpton Gap Beach
As you continue your walk, you’ll pass by Dumpton Gap, another small beach that’s great for a quick rest or a picnic. During the main summer season, there is also a little cafe hut with refreshments. The cliffs here are really impressive, and you might even see some interesting birds or marine life.
Ramsgate East Cliff Promenade & Beach
This is another large sandy beach, which is dog friendly all year round. You get a great view of the natural chalk cliffs here and some local art decorated concrete shelters. You can walk up to the Victoria Gardens from here or continue to walk on the sea level.
Ramsgate Harbour
The walk will take you to Ramsgate harbour, where you’ll find plenty of cafes and ice cream shops where you can relax after your walk. One of the best views is from the terrace of the Ramsgate Pavilion (now a Wetherspoons Pub). If you have the time, you can also visit the Ramsgate Tunnels that you will see on your walk before you get to the harbour.
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Important information you need to know about this walk – you need to watch for the sea high tide
One of the cool things about this walk is that you can do it either on the beach or along the clifftops, depending on the tide. If the tide is low, you can walk along the beach and explore the rock pools and caves that are usually hidden underwater.
Make sure to check the tide times before you go. As a guide, the best time for this walk is either late morning or after lunch as the low tide is around 2 pm. You can also start in the afternoon, but make sure that you come back before 5 or 6 pm (the high tide is around 8 pm).
Alternative walk if the sea level walk is impassable
There is one part, close to Ramsgate, where you need walk through a part that’s normally under water during high tide.
If you do get caught by the water, don’t attempt to walk it, but walk up to the top of the cliffs at Ramsgate and walk to Dumpton Gap, where you can come down to the sea level again and follow the concreate walkway back to Broadstairs.
From Dumpton Gap take the the South Cliff Parade that climbs up the hilly cliff and continue through the King George VI Memorial Park. You can make a small detour to see the Italianate Glasshouse at what used to be part of a garden to an East Cliff Lodge. The Glasshouse and the gardens are open during the main summer season on Saturdays from mid-day to 4 pm.
The top walk also has ‘Alison’s Sea View Cafe’ in the park, where you can grab a cup of tea and continue through the Winterstoke Gardens to Victoria Parade down to the Ramsgate Harbour.
This blog post was originally published on 9 February 2025 and last updated on 9 February 2025
