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Route directions PDF (right click to download)
GPX file (right click to download)
Glorious Bike Rides
Glorious Bike Rides
Route directions PDF (right click to download)
GPX file (right click to download)
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Jean and I did this today and enjoyed it immensely! Here is a trace of our actual ride: http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=pmxuearncblqkyub
There are two minor updates to note and some further info in places visited that others may enjoy:
Update 1: We left Canterbury West station and turning left as instructed, then at the first roundabout we went straight on and joined the signed ‘Crab and Winkle link’ track, which takes you to the University and across its campus, mainly off-road, clearly signed as ‘Crab and Winkle’ and NCN 1 until it joins the route on Jack’s map and GPX before Blean.
Update 2: This is a bit more problematic. Just after Reculver the Saxon Shore Way footpath quickly disappears into a field covered by a crop. It can’t really ridden on any kind of bike. Jack’s written route directions seem to take note of this, but the map and GPX don’t. So don’t try to follow for this stretch, but use the road via Reculver Lane and Brook Lane following signs to Marshside until you rejoin the route just before it crosses the A299.
Additional info:
We enjoyed our visits to the churches at Blean, Stodmarsh and Fordwych, all of which were open and are very characteristic early Norman Kentish churches with original wooden roof structures and other interesting interior features. Jack has described Blean church and its history. We found the small church at Stodmarsh. The church was first built in the 12th and 13th centuries and modernised around 1880. The porch contains notable carvings known as “Crusaders’ Crosses”. The X-shaped brace that supports the bell turret is believed to be unique in Kent. (Wikipedia)
Lane, Not Sewer!
Oh that I had read your second paragraph before setting off! It is indeed the case that the map and directions part company at Reculver until the Chislet windmill, where they rejoin (incidentally with a curious small dogleg on the map suggestive of the correct route and possibly indicating an abortive edit… we shall never know). The route on the directions works fine – Reculver Lane, then Brook Lane. The route on the map is not passable by bike – specifically the southbound section along the wonderfully named ‘Hogwell Sewer’.
Not that this detracts in any way from a superb ride, really delightful. If only it were longer! In retrospect, an obvious piece of advice: don’t take a picnic/snack, the many offerings on the way are so great, including ‘real’ shops in Whitstable selling local produce. Fab!
Giles
Dear Giles and George
Apologies, that was a slip on my part with the GPX file and map south of Reculver. Now fixed on both.
George’s way out of Canterbury via the University may well be worth a try, and superior to my route, which was not exactly inspiring, though it does the job and includes a rather splendid view of the city and cathedral from a park.
Thanks both for the suggestions and for alerting me of the GPX error.
Jack
Did this route yesterday. What a lovely and interesting route. City centre, back roads, cycle lanes, gravel tracks, promenade, grass lane and even muddy bridleway. With a huge variety of views and interesting things to see on route .. plus nice pit stops along the way. Do it ! You won’t be disappointed.
Did this ride today (16/3/14) and loved it.
***Warning*** If anyone is thinking of doing this ride in the next few weeks, be aware that the road is closed her south of Upstreet due to flooding and you really can’t get past on a bike, so do check before travelling. I ended up on the A28 for part of the trip back to Canterbury, which was far less pleasant.
My favourite of the rides so far.
We did this one today and absolutely loved it!! Very beautiful scenery with a mix of everything – seaside, farmland, woods, etc. Stodmarsh and Fordwich are amazingly beautiful. The Blean church is a must see.
For cheap oysters at Whistable, people can check out a little seafood stall right by the fish market – 60p per oyster (rock oyster), a bargain 🙂 Also found some very cheap fresh seafood right by the pub below the Reculver abbey – there is a little stall that makes tiny baskets of fresh seafood for 2 pounds each. The pub itself is also very cheap (cheaper than those in Upstreet or Stodmarsh.
Only little challenge for us today – the path in Chequers Wood (right after Fordwich) was flooded so we took the main road instead (A28). The road was busy, but there is a cycling lane which made it safe for us.
We both ride Bromptons and the road was perfect for it. Just the section near Blean was rocky and bumpy – but all good.
Off to the next then… we love the book, so practical, great selection of routes, and very interesting explanations too.
Perrine
1. Hobbits should turn left outside Canterbury West station for an excellent second breakfast at the Goods Shed, or to buy a picnic at the farmers’ market inside (6 days a week)
2. Continuing 50m in same direction brings one to the roundabout and signs for the Crab & Winkle cycle link George mentions. Excellent quiet route out of town. Watch out: at the far side of the university, following NCR1 signs can leave you heading back towards the city centre.
3. The off-road route to Whitstable would be uncomfortable on a road bike, with enough loose surface grit to make me nervous. (Doesn’t take much.)
4. On Saturdays, Whitstable Farmers Market a good source for a picnic to eat at the beach.
5. Beach at Whitstable harbour popular for swimming, but a lot of gravel to cover in bare feet before the water is deep enough. Swim in sandals or use the steeper beaches E of Whitstable.
Particularly loved the quiet byways from Reculver to Fordwich. Best ride we‘ve had this year – many thanks!
Attempted this on the 8th April, it seems like a lovely path but due to a combination of a late start, getting a bit lost coming out of Canterbury plus a generally sedate pace I didn’t think we would have time to finish before it got cold and dark — instead we opted to continue on along the Viking Trail up the coast to Margate. This was a nice compromise, although not dramatically shorter than doing the full route (44km compared to 51km), but there was no chance of taking a wrong turn with the sea on the left. The path along the coast after Herne Bay also had a lot less Sunday foot traffic, so we ended up making better time than I expected, 4.5h in total, including the initial route confusion and a brief stop for lunch.
Note that train tickets to Canterbury (or Margate) from London are more expensive than some of the other locations in the book (>30GBP return, even for super off-peak).
Looking forward to trying this route with the whole family in a couple of weeks. Our first from the book!
Would you be able to say if this route would be suitable for a cycle trailer?.. It’s down as ‘good for families’ in the book, so hoping so – but I’d seen online a comment about the Crab & Winkle route having some gates you’d have to lift it over… not an unsurmountable problem – but good to know!
Thanks
Just completed this with my wife. We started from near Wye on NCN 18, which is mostly off road through to Canterbury. After excellent coffee at the Goods Shed we picked up the Crab and Winkle, following the route through the University. A very pleasant route, though getting seriously overgrown in places. Was looking forward to lunch in Whitstable however the crowds of people around the harbour made it difficult to even push a bike through. On to Reculver, the route marred only by the expansion joints in the concrete surface of the esplanade, plus the inevitable headwind. On the southern leg we stopped at Puddledock woods Camping (www.puddledockwoods.com), a really lovely and welcoming site (the owner gave me a cold beer from the fridge when I told him the nearby pub was closed for refurbishment). Next day was back to Canterbury and then onto Wye. This is a really enjoyable route with varied scenery and plenty of places to stop and will probably do it again sometime.
Really enjoyed this ride as a way to explore an area I haven’t visited before. I hadn’t expected quite so much track/gravel (and even grassy!) surfaces so it took a little longer than I had planned, but didn’t detract from the enjoyment. I’ve not come across anywhere else so far that you can ride directly along the sea and that was a real highlight. After Reculver the route becomes largely lanes with some nice scenery, but I found the last leg on the cycle track into Canterbury wasn’t that pleasant.
As others have said this route is well supplied with stopping points so don’t bring your own lunch!
Hi Jack
Me and a friend rode this on Monday in perfect sunny weather. The run in and out of Fordwich was a particular highlight, loved it.
I did this ride last weekend in reverse so I could arrive into Whitstable around lunch time for a well earned pint and fish & chips! It was a great ride, although one note is that the path between Canterbury and Fordwich is closed for a few weeks as they’re rebuilding a footbridge. I used the A28 and it was mostly fine on a Sunday morning with so-so bike infrastructure.