Cantii Way - September 2024

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31 August 2024: Wye to Canterbury

The Cantii Way is a route around Eastern Kent
We chose to start in Wye which has ample free parking and a rail station.
It also has an excellent cafe - the Wye Coffee Shop and Kitchen - which we visited.
The route follows the off-road Great Stour Way trail all the way to Canterbury.
After visiting the sights in the city we spent the night in University accommodation.

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Our first stop following NCN1 was at Whitsable to view the many oyster stalls and fishing boats.
Easy cycling alongside miles of beach huts followed on the north Kent coast with a coffee stop on Herne Bay pier and a brief search for Penny's family roots.
We sheltered from hot sun under the Medieval Reculver towers and remains of the Roman fort.
At Margate we visited the Tate Gallery's latest contemporary exhibition.
The final section of the route took us round North Foreland Point with its small sandy coves and huge chalk cliffs and stacks.
Our 2^nd night was at at Broadstairs.

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From Broadstairs we headed south to Ramsgate with its harbour and Edwardian lifts.
The route temporarily leaves the coast to pass though Sandwich before returning to the coast at Deal.
We stopped at Walmer Castle for lunch, then headed off-route to visit South Foreland lighthouse, and Mrs Knott's Tearoom.
We then approached Dover with its iconic white cliffs and harbour.
This either involves a long loop away from the coast or an 'alternative wheeling route'
We chose the wheeling route, called the Dame Vera Lynn Way, which descends to the harbour using around 200 steps!
A climb awaited us to the west of Dover as we navigated the roads and railways serving the port.
At the top of the cliffs we came across a large concrete 'sound mirror' which was used in WWII to detect enemy aircraft.
Folkestone has recently developed an arty reputation with many outdoor art works - such as the 'holiday home' floating in the harbour.

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Before leaving Folkestone we detoured to look at Penny's old school, 60 years on!
Then at Hythe picked up the Royal Military Canal built as part of the defences during the Napoleonic wars, now an off road cycle track - on one section we were surprised to see rhino, bison and other wild animals behind a flimsy fence - we later found it was a safari park.
Heading west into a strong head wind was hard work all along a wide sea wall with hardly anyone else in sight and Romney Marsh stretching away inland.
We reached Dungeness where bikes can go along the toll road for free, and spent some time admiring the unique shingle flora, the old fishing cabins and lighthouses and coffeed at the miniature railway cafe in the shadow of the nuclear power station.
Our accommodation for tonight was at Winchelsea so we passed quickly through pretty Rye and went south, past Rye harbour and more shingle beaches, before arriving at our hotel.

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Leaving Winchelsea we visited Spike Milligan's grave - the headstone of which is inscribed 'I told you I was ill' (in Gaelic)
In Rye we explored the medieval streets and houses, and climbed the tower of St Mary's church to get an aerial view of the town.
From Rye we headed north along the Military Road
We then had to navigate our way across Ashford - mainly through a series of parks.
After that it was a short distance back to our starting point in Wye

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