09 Jul 2021
Tags: Beach, Coast, Family Fun, Short Break, Margate, Broadstairs, Ramsgate, Attractions, Hidden Gems, Cycling, family cycling, coastal cycling, beach fun
Families visiting the Isle of Thanet this summer and its resorts of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, can naturally socially distance and make memories to cherish with these three top tips for family fun.
Be 'appy' - pick a less busy beach
The Isle of Thanet has 16 spectacular beaches and bays to discover, five with Blue Flag Awards and five with Seaside Awards - there are seven beaches in Broadstairs alone. This means that there is plenty of opportunity to escape the busier main bays and enjoy some of the quieter, lesser-known ones enjoyed by locals.
This Isle's beaches and bays are the only ones in Kent to be featured on a new national Beach Check UK App, which is free to download and has no in-app purchases. The five busiest beaches - Margate Main Sands, Botany Bay, Joss Bay, Viking Bay (Broadstairs) and Ramsgate Main Sands - are all updated in real time. The app allows users to check individual beaches or see a map showing red (crowded), amber (less congested) and green (uncongested) beaches. This means that prior to visiting, visitors can check which beaches are busy and which are less so. They can also check where parking is available and if a beach has lifeguard cover and toilets - all key information for a family day out at the coast.
The map can be viewed and the app downloaded from visitthanet.co.uk/beaches-bays
It's also important to check the tide times as some of the beaches and bays are completely covered by the sea at high tide - www.visitthanet.co.uk/plan-your-visit/weather-and-tide-times/
Don't let rain stop play
A drop of rain is an opportunity to take a break from the beach and discover some unique, hidden gem attractions.
Children of all ages love to don a hard hat and grab a torch for a tour of Ramsgate's wartime tunnels, the largest network of purpose-built civilian wartime tunnels in the UK. Find out about the 'Mad Mayor' who saved the town, and hear tales of the people who called the tunnels home during the darkest days of World War II. The tunnels are open daily in the summer with tours at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm. Family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) £22.
On a visit to Margate Caves discover their history, from a chalk mine in the 1700s to the fun, family attraction it is today. Enjoy discovering the murals on the walls and the iron age skeleton at the bottom of a bell-shaped chalk pit, discovered during excavation. The caves are open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm (last admission 4:30pm). Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £10, under 3s go free.
Nearby is the intriguing Shell Grotto, a subterranean wonder covered in 4.6 million shells. This will certainly get the questions flowing, where did the shells come from, how are they stuck on, what do the patterns mean - luckily there is help on hand with the answers. A visit lasts approx 30 minutes, but it can provide inspiration to gather shells and make patterns in the sand, when the weather dries up and you can get on the beach. The Shell Grotto is open Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Family ticket (2 adults and up to 2 children) £10.
Other hidden gems can be found on www.visitthanet.co.uk/see-and-do/find-attractions.
Check the venue's website prior to visiting as in many instances, prior booking is required.
Make the most of the coastal landscape
Explore the coastline by bike and discover main resort beaches and rural bays, become rocky shore researchers, identifying local sea life or head out on a seashore safari with the Thanet Coast Project.
The whole of the Isle of Thanet coastline forms part of the Viking Coastal Trail cycle route, Regional Route 15 of the National Cycle Network. It is one of the most attractive leisure cycling routes in Kent. The beauty of this is that much of it is along traffic-free promenades and takes in spectacular beaches and bays. With plenty of places to stop for refreshments or comfort breaks, it's ideal for families. The complete route, which loops back across coastal villages and along country lanes is 32 miles (51.4 km). This can be broken down into much smaller sections. Several local outlets offer bike hire, including buggies for the smaller ones, junior bike extensions and junior bikes.
Hire a Coastal Explorer Pack for just £5 plus proof of ID for at least half a day of awesome coastal adventure. The packs are filled with all sorts of equipment and information. Learn how to make a sundial and name clouds, play hopscotch, create sand art and read a compass, or identify the sea creatures found in rockpools with the marine identification gear. The packs are available to collect in Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate and each town pack contains information relevant to that town.
www.visitthanet.co.uk/coastalexplorers
Join one of the Thanet Coast Project's events and activities, which aim to raise awareness of the important marine and bird life around the Isle of Thanet coastline and how to avoid damaging them. Families can enjoy Seashore Safaris, a Marine Life and Rockpooling Exhibition and 'Seaweed and their Secrets' walk and talk. New for this year is the 'Smugglers Trail: Geology of the Thanet Coast' walk and talk. Online booking is required as numbers are limited.
www.thanetcoast.org.uk/whats-on/2021-events-and-activities
For further information on Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, including family friendly accommodation, go to www.visitthanet.co.uk
Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate can be reached in under 75 minutes from London on Southeastern's high speed rail service (www.southeasternrailway.co.uk).
- Ends -
General press enquiries:
Please contact Julie Edwards at Thanet Tourism - julie.edwards@thanet.gov.uk or 01843 577671
Assistance can also be given with digital images, reader competitions and press trips - and bespoke packages can be arranged, including accommodation and sightseeing, for journalists with commissions.
