Canterbury to Swalecliffe along the Crab and Winkle Way. This is taken from Wild Swimming Walks, walk number 21, distance 8.5 miles.
We will be meeting at Brixton tube at 9am, Sunday 4th September, then traveling up to St Pancras London to catch the 10:08am train to Canterbury West station.
The walk goes from the medieval city of Canterbury, through gentle countryside along part of the Crab and Winkle Way, and up to the coast for a welcome sea swim at Swalecliffe. We’ve checked the tides and this will definitely be a swim, rather than a long walk to a shallow paddle.
The walk climbs up through the grounds of the University of Kent, Canterbury and joins the Crab and Winkle Way, a cycle route named after the disused railway, and a much older salt route along which salt was transported from Seasalter to Canterbury. The route passes the ancient village of Blean and a 13th century church, dedicated to Saints Cosmos and Damian, with a magnificent crown-post roof. The church’s origins are older than the building, as it stands on the site of a Roman villa and a chapel here was mentioned in the Domesday Book.
The book’s directions end at Swalecliffe station, but depending on time we have the option to walk on along the front to Whitstable. This old fishing village is famous for oysters and by far the prettiest of the adjacent seaside towns. Whitstable station is one stop on along the line from Swalecliffe.
Book your homeward ticket for the 5:36pm from Swalecliffe to Cannon Street London. We advise booking your ticket in advance to save money. Note that you need to buy two single tickets, e.g. one to Canterbury and one from Swalecliffe.
To download the relevant chapter from the book click here >>
(pictures and map: wildswimming publishing)