My friend married her ling them partner last year, and my OH and I stayed at Woodhill Campsite near Faversham when attending the wedding nearby. Very sadly, her husband recently died after a long illness. To lift her spirits I took her camping to the same site, as it made an easy journey for her whilst delivering a complete change of location. She wasnt able to join mw as warly as hoped so I battled with my Monterey 4 in more wind than I'd have liked... and bent several pegs... very hard ground. I had a cider to celebrate woman against the elements and a metal poled tent. She arrived after a scenic detour aka getting lost. I was born in Kent, near Dover, but my friend is an Essex girl by birth and I was keen to show her and revisit places from my
childhood. We spent 3 days visiting Folkestone Warren (the closed C&CC site was a shame to see) but had a good walk along the beach and harbour arm, and lunch at the Little Switzerland cafe. Fabulous views amd saw lizards on the steps. A delight. Also went to Dumpton Gap beach between Ramsgate and Broadstairs, an unexpected gem whuch looked like anywhere bar the UK in the glorious weather. We walked to Broadstairs along the sea wall and beach (low tide) but quickly retreated to Dumpton. Broadstairs was rammed by cars driving on pavements and the beach amd bars with people. Overwhelming. In contrast, stopping halfway between we found much needed peace and tranquility as my friend had a crumple point. We had dinner at the local pub, The Alma, that night: worth the walk up the hill in the dark! The next day we went to Joss Bay where I had spent days out with my family, when my father relented to sitting on sand rather than the pebbles of Dover beach. He did enjoy winkling and whelking, eating them later with a hat pin. Then home the next day. She had a hairdo booked so I ended as I began, fighting an imaginary dragon.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
The Monterey without the extension... just relieved to have put it up without damage to me or it!
Dumpton Gap - bad name for a good place!
North Foreland Lighthouse - near Joss Bay: when I saw this as a child I knew I was close to sandy beach heaven. Thanet was known for its cabbages if not kings.
Kingsgate Bay at low tide with dramatic chalk stacks.
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------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Thank you, glad to oblige Kent has much to commend it inland and coast, and I really miss living by the sea. Although like most areas there's a tremendous amount of house building going on, on what was agricultural land (Thanet grew alot of cabbages in the past, rich alluvial soil). Great cycle route from Ramsgate to beyond Margate and back through farmland. Deal, Dover (castle) and reinvigorated Folkestone. Then onto the sands at Dymchurch amd weird landscape of Dungeness. Inland, Canterbury is a must and the quaint villages amd orchards with pantiles, oasthouses and hop gardens. My grandmother grew up in The White Horse pub at Marden: it's still there.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Glad you have had a good trip and thanks for the photos and write up.
Not camped in Kent yet, and only an overnight trip next year before an earlyish tunnel crossing for my European trip.
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We will be visiting Kent next month, and I know we will visit Broadstairs while we are there as it's one of our favourite places. I was sent to a convalescent home there as a young boy, and I've loved the place ever since.
My parents took me to Herne Bay too for our summer holiday on many occasions.
Colin - maybe it was the Royal Seabathing Hospital in Margate?
It's still there but private apartments now I believe.
Herne Bay icecream parlour... mmm...banana split or knickerbocker glory. I had elderly relatives there but remember the treats more than the people... I was small .
My father lived in Broadstairs as a child as my grandparents briefly had a boarding house there (travelling salesmen mostly). It is lovely, but avoid busy weekends as it gets rammed.
Try and go on a lowish/falling tide, as the walk around the sea wall towards Ramsgate is lovely on a sunny day or bracing on a windy one!
Take a seal watching trip from near Sandwich (delightful small town), and well, there's alot to see and do in my birth county both seawards and inland.
Then there's Dover Castle (I'm biased), the wonderful white cliffs and the surprising natural reserve of Samphire Hoe en route to Folkestone (which has changed beyond belief, but a shame the C&CC campsite is no more).
Anyway, enough of that, and I've not even spoken about a seal trip or the loveliness of orchards, hop gardens and oasts. I do miss it although not happy about what 'they' have done to Dover. Ho hum.
Post last edited on 23/08/2025 10:53:27
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
Hi bridgeywidge, no it was definitely Broadstairs, I can remember the approximate location but I have never been able to find the actual building since. I remember there was a tunnel staircase that led from the gardens down through the chalk cliffs onto the beach. There were gates top and bottom so that only the staff could allow access to it. It was run by nuns and I was there for about two weeks. At the end of my stay my parents collected me and we were taken to Broadstairs station for the journey home. I think I was about 7 years old, which would make it mid 1950s. You never hear of convalescent homes now, do you? I wonder what happened to them?
We still sometimes visit Broadstairs for a day trip from home, but never at the weekend! It can be manic. One place we never fail to visit in Broadstairs is Morrellis Icecream parlour. Always busy though, even mid-week.
Never gone seal watching in Kent, I'll have to look out for that. We have gone many times in Norfolk as we lived there for 15 years before moving back to Hertfordshire in the late 1980s.
I still have fond memories of Herne Bay, Whitstable and Reculver, and I'm sure we will visit them all again. Also the beach at Minnis Bay.
Thanks for your reply and interesting recollections about your convalescence: yes, those things have definitely gone by the wayside. It reminded me of stories in the books I received as Sunday School prizes! I think we were only sent there to give Mum some downtime as she cooked lunch...
I'm sure you've done some googling to see if you can locate the property, and the tunnel must have seemed so exciting!
Yes, Morellis... lovely place. They had several across East Kent at one point if I recall. That's a step back in time also .
I like Kent too and proud to be a Maid of Kent although spent more years in Herts than I did there!
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
I've moved about East Anglia quite a bit really. Born in north London, moved to Essex when I married, then 3 different addresses in west Norfolk where we lived for 15 years, then finally back to Hertfordshire where we have been since the late 1980s. I have traced my family back 3 generations though to a little village in Suffolk.
Always had links to Kent though as one of my great-grandmothers lived there. I can't remember exactly where but I do remember going there as a very small boy. Kent is a beautiful county, but then so is Hertfordshire, both very underrated in my opinion.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
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via mobile 20/8/2024 at 7:20pm
Then home the next day. She had a hairdo booked so I ended as I began, fighting an imaginary dragon. 
I did try from mobile but failed!
Kent has much to commend it inland and coast, and I really miss living by the sea. Although like most areas there's a tremendous amount of house building going on, on what was agricultural land (Thanet grew alot of cabbages in the past, rich alluvial soil). Great cycle route from Ramsgate to beyond Margate and back through farmland. Deal, Dover (castle) and reinvigorated Folkestone. Then onto the sands at Dymchurch amd weird landscape of Dungeness. Inland, Canterbury is a must and the quaint villages amd orchards with pantiles, oasthouses and hop gardens. My grandmother grew up in The White Horse pub at Marden: it's still there. 
although not happy about what 'they' have done to Dover. Ho hum.
