The Isle of Thanet, Kent, England.

         The very furthest point of the Kent coast, lying on the southwest corner is Margate. This quintessential seaside town, is the largest of three towns that makes up The Isle of Thanet. The other two, are Ramsgate, and Broadstairs. They are all coastal towns, each one quite different in character, from the other. However, all three are blessed with wonderful sandy beaches, and are good holiday destinations. I say blessed, because much of the beaches  along the south coast, including towns like Brighton, are shingle. 

          All beaches along the southerns stretch, are backed by the well known white chalk cliffs, a continuation of Dover. It is possible, at low tide, to walk from Ramsgate to Broadstairs, along the wide beach, following the cliffs eastward in the general direction of Margate. It is a brisk walk of perhaps forty five minutes. On leaving Broadstairs again, you could walk part of the way to Margate, at least to Joss Bay. The rest of that coastline is too rocky, and uncertain. The stretches between exits from below the cliffs, too long to hazard. You could walk the cliff path instead for this portion, as its truly wonderful, meandering along a stunning cliff top, by a broad expanse of the English Channel. These same paths follow the cliff top from Broadstairs, to Ramsgate too. 

                                   The isle was once a very real island

            These three towns, making up the Isle ofThanet. Was once a small island, cut off from the mainland of Kent by a wide sweep of the sea. Over the last one hundred years, sand has clogged the waterway, until it is no more than a narrow stream. Named the River Wantsum. The main road crosses it still, on the way onto Thanet, although all you can see is the sign stating the name of the river. Being isolated for so long before this, resulted in the population having their own quirky character. The locals call the place, 'The Planet of Thanet'. Of course, the population is more fluid today, with Europeans coming in, and always people like myself, discovering the area. Make of the name what you will, it's still worth a visit, with each town so accessible to the other.

                                           The off shore wind farm, margate

             There is an offshore wind farm near margate, built over the last couple of years. It is the third largest, off shore wind  farm in the world. Local opinion is divided on its efficiency. Publicity asserting the case both for, and against the site, abounds. Some locals going so far as to assert the farm creates a windy environment for the whole area. Although, as an inhabitant of the area, I must say I have noticed no drastic changes in regard to the wind. Any coast in England has it's fair share of windy conditions, being on an island as we are. Someone said to me yesterday, it being now December and the midst of winter, that 'the wind does not so much go around you, as through you.' Well, that's coastal living for you. Although this last summer, it was like the Riviera here, hot, and sunny for month, after month.

            Margate is, or was the playground of Thanet. In the sixties, and seventies it had a booming holiday industry. With its own grand fairground, a sort of Cony island of the south. Then in the eighties, it hit a decline, from which it has never recovered. Only now, is there concrete plans to rebuild, and reopen the complex. Even without this, it is still a place worth a visit. It has a great curve of beach, where donkeys still offer rides to children in the summer, and shell fish stalls, and cafes sell snacks, and food. It has a nice little harbour arm, retaining the charm of the Victorian era. To walk around its crowded streets, is to catch a glimpse of earlier times, with little squares, and old shops. In the past few years, the very modern Turner gallery, has been built. Celebrating the life, and works of the great painter Turner. Who lived, and worked for long periods in the area.

                                                         MARGATE BEACH

       Broadstairs, is a far more genteel place, with its own pretty bay, and sandy beach. Enclosed by a nice little breakwater, and small harbour. A mooring place for many small fishing boats,and dingies. The housing stock is grander overall, and with a grand hotel,The Albion. One of the many places around the town that Charles dickens wrote his famous books. A small castle sits on the small hill top overlooking the sea. The original Bleak house of the book of the same name, another favoured lodging house of his. His study, can still be visited, after you have taken tea in the garden below. It is run as small hotel, one of many in the town. Yet if you see it there in the winter, when the mist, and fog swirls around its un-sheltered walls, you can see how it got its name, of Bleak House, for bleak it is. You will find many mentions, and names from Dickins books around the town.

                             BROADSAIRS BEACH, WITH BLEAK HOUSE AT THE REAR.

              With ramsgate, the beach is just as good as the others, with a couple of beach cafes, and a few rides for children. Once, there was a railway track, and station which ran down to the beach. Relocated a few decades back, it illustrates how popular was this beach in Victorian times. Above, on the cliff top was a grand, spa hotel where every type of water treatment was available. Today, the grand building is converted into flats. Accross from there is a small theatre, cinema complex. Apart from that, there are a couple of small hotels, and a whole raft of bed and breakfast houses. The small town has all amenities, with a newly built public swimming pool, and gym. What's special about Ramsgate, is it's large harbour. Until last year, it was a ferry terminal, running to Europe, and I think, is likely to be so again in the future. Besides this, is the Royal Yacht Harbour. By the side of this busy harbour, are a string of more upmarket cafes, and restaurants. A very pleasant place to sit in either summer, or winter when they are warm, and cosy. The whole centre of the town has a Victorian feel, with many interesting buildings. These networked with the old alley walk ways common to many parts of London. To the west of the town, towards the main roads to London lies Pegwell. Once a village, it is now a place where the local annual fairs are held on its grass headland, near the old Priory. That area holds a couple of large blocks of apartments, and is a pleasant place to walk, with wide esplanades. A nice hotel, with interesting clock tower, and two pubs with good food, sit furtheralong  the cliff top, in Pegwell proper.(not officially part of the original Thanet?)

                                   Ramsgate esplanade and main beach

            Continuing on, into the distance brings you into the harbour, past the old casino. Along by the marina you will discover a whole range of cafes, most with outside, and inside eating areas. Between the two places, is a building site, where one day?, so they say will stand a modern complex of apartments, and shops right next to the beach. How that will cope with rising seas in the coming years,  I do not know. Except the plans are very upmarket, and desirable. Becasue of the recession, the whole project has been delayed many times. I think fair to say, beset by problems of all kinds.

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                ON THE SEAFRONT, OLD HOUSES BUILT INTO THE CHALK CLIFFS, 

        In Ramsgate. Above this, on the clifftop, you will find the Granville Theatre, a working theatre, and cinema still. Overall, Thanet is worth a look, being diverse, one town from the other. All having their own unique character. Once, it's locals were unique too, being an island, the  people tend to be different. Not so much now I think, after the last decade or so, the influx of london evacuees, and latterly Eastern Europeans flooding in, have inundated Ramsgate the worst.

          Despite this, ramsgate is overall, slowly dragging itself upward, and onward. Good luck to it I say. Why is it that politicians can never see that swamping any area with with too many outsiders puts eveyone under extreme pressure. Be it local, national, or international, an influx in great numbers is impossible to absorb. Especially if they are mainly unemployed, or unemployable. I know you won't see me wandering about in town at night times. It's not the kind of atmospher I enjoy, I prefer a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere altogether. Sorry Ramsgate.