Walks near Margate by train
MapA day hike in the countryside is just a simple train journey away — explore the most charmingly located railway stations near Margate and plan your next day of green.
Alternatively, view walks directly from Margate.
Chilham to Canterbury (Kent)
45 minutes from Margate, with one change.
Highly recommended
Chilham (15m in)
Canterbury Cathedral (2h45 in)
Canterbury (2h45 in)
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: Chilham (30m in) — the Chilham Square, or the Star Inn
5 end-of-walk rewards: the Monument, the Unicorn Inn, the West Gate Inn, the Carpenters Arms, or the Old Buttermarket
Warnings: A fifth urban.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Similar walk: the Saturday Walkers Club.
Dover Priory to Deal (Kent)
1 hour from Margate, with one change.
Highly recommended: Clifftop chalk paths, two significant climbs, level pebble beach coastpath, open sea views and historic town.
Coastal: almost all along the coast.
Dover Castle: A vast medieval fortress overlooking the port and the Channel to France (30m in).
South Foreland Lighthouse (National Trust; 45m in)
The White Cliffs of Dover (National Trust; 1h in)
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
4 lunch spots: Saint Margarets Bay (2h15 in) — the Coastguard (excellent), the Pines Tea Room, or the bay kiosk; plus Walmer Castle and Gardens (4h30 in)
1 end-of-walk reward: the King's Head
Warnings: Relatively busy.
Adapted from: Time Out Country Walks Volume 2.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club, Walking Post (inc. GPX) and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).
Charing to Chilham (Kent)
45 minutes from Margate, with one change.
Highly recommended
Woodland: a third under tree cover.
Canterbury (4h15 in)
Chilham (4h15 in)
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
2 lunch spots: the Flying Horse (1h45 in), or Perry Court Tea Room (2h15 in)
3 end-of-walk rewards: the Chilham Square, the White Horse, Chilham, or the Woolpack Inn, Chilham
Warnings: Penultimate section of the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury.
Adapted from: The Rough Guide to Walks in London & the South East (3rd edition).
Folkestone to Dover Priory (Kent)
1 hour from Margate, with one change.
Highly recommended: Coastal cliffs, chalk downland, sea defences, wild landslip area, wartime installations, ridge between valley and sea and town crossing.
Hilly: a third on high ground, rising above the surrounding land.
Coastal: four fifths along the coast.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Western Heights (3h30 in)
Knights Templar Church Ruins (3h45 in)
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
1 lunch spot: Camping Café (1h15 in)
2 end-of-walk rewards: the Malvern, or the Priory Hotel
Warnings: Cracked sea defences.
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walks: the Saturday Walkers Club and Slow Ways (inc. GPX).
Faversham to Canterbury (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Margate.
Recommended: Really beautiful woodland segments and occasional idyllic countryside vistas. The first segment, closest to Faversham, isn't great due to a busy road, but very quiet beyond that. Quiet and isolated.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
Faversham: Very picturesque medieval market town with many interesting shops and historic sites.
Canterbury Cathedral (5h in)
Canterbury (5h in)
Time: 7h (5h walking, 1h30 lunch, 30m break)
Lunch: No lunch venues en route. There's a playground with picnic tables at Chartham Hatch that makes a good stop for a packed lunch.
7 end-of-walk rewards: the Black Griffin, the Lady Luck, the Old Weaver Restaurant, Marlowe's, the Drapers Arms, the Old Buttermarket, or the Shakespeare
Source: Trains2Green.
Similar walk: Slow Ways.
Canterbury Circular via Stodmarsh National Nature Reserve (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Margate.
Flat Kent countryside, arable fields, woods, ancient villages, oast houses, polytunnel farms and riverside.
Time: 7h (5h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Chilham Circular via Chilham (Kent)
45 minutes from Margate, with one change.
Downland escarpment, upland fields, woods, bluebell woods, country estate and a hilltop village.
Time: 5h30 (4h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Chartham to Canterbury (Kent)
45 minutes from Margate, with one change.
Apple orchards, a chalk stream and a cathedral, along the River Stour and the North Downs Way past No Man's Orchard into Canterbury.
Woodland: a quarter under tree cover.
No Man's Orchard: A community orchard of mature fruit trees alongside the North Downs Way.
Time: 4h30 (3h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Orchard paths can be muddy; busy road section on the A28.
Walk details: Walking Post (tips, photos and local insights).
Sandling to Wye (Kent)
1 hour from Margate, with one change.
North Downs escarpment ridge, open downland, woods, sloping fields and fine views over Kent coast.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Faversham Circular via Uplees Marshes (Kent)
30 minutes direct from Margate.
Flat marshland, creek embankments, farm fields, quiet country lanes, woodland and tidal waterways.
Time: 6h (4h30 walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Wye Circular via Crown Memorial (Kent)
1 hour from Margate, with one change.
North Downs escarpments, chalk downland, beech and chestnut woods, open fields, riverbank along Great Stour, churchyard and farmland.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Warnings: Can be muddy.
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).
Birchington-on-Sea to Herne Bay (Kent)
5 minutes direct from Margate.
Entirely flat coastal walk; seafront promenade, raised sea wall, remote shingle beach, grassy clifftop slopes and a seaside resort.
Time: 6h30 (5h walking, 1h30 lunch)
Walk details: the Saturday Walkers Club (tips, local insights and turn-by-turn directions).