Need a break from the buzz of the city, or just fancy exploring the countryside on your doorstep? Well, you’re in luck. The North Kent coast is just over an hour by train from London, and it’s got a lot to offer the jaded two-wheeled urbanite. Unspoilt medieval towns, delightfully secluded villages, chic and quirky seaside resorts, a renowned art gallery, a retro-style amusement park, and an eccentric museum, to name but a few of its attractions.
To help you on your way Cyclechic has come up with a short series of guides to some of our favourite refuelling spots. First up, Faversham to Whitstable (click here for a handy scalable cycling map).
We recommend letting the train take the strain for the first leg of your journey as there’s a regular service from St Pancras International and Victoria Stations, but avoid weekday peak times (Mon-Fri 7-10 am and 4-7 pm) if you don’t have a folding bike. Better still, travel at weekends and Bank Holidays as they’re always off-peak. Weekender tickets allow you to hop on and off at stations along the way, so you don’t have to cycle the whole route (handy if you plan to take full advantage of North Kent’s delights).
We may be biased suggesting Faversham as your first stop (it is the new home of Cyclechic after all) but we think, like us, you’ll soon fall for its charms. It’s a picturesque market town with masses of history, plenty of pubs and a good mixture of cafes.
If you want to ease yourself into the country life, but still want a metropolitan style menu and a decent coffee, you could swing by The Yard. As the name suggests, this bijou establishment is tucked away in, well, a yard. The antique bike out front that acts as a sign is a good start to our cycling tour, and inside you’ll find delicious locally sourced food, doorstop sandwiches, hearty soups, fresh, modern salads, and generous portions of scrumptious cake for when you feel like spoiling yourself (they also do the most insanely tasty frappacino if you need a cool drink with a caffine kick). The decor is comfortably bohemian with paintings and photos by local artists lining the walls, and they play just the right kind of music at just the right volume. The Yard is very popular at lunchtime so make sure to book ahead, but the staff are friendly and can usually fit you in at a pinch if you’re on a flying visit.
Maybe you fancy something a little stronger. Why not try a micro-pub, it’s a Kent thing, you’ll like it. Furlongs Ale House, close by to The Yard should be just what you’re looking for. It’s small of course, but it has a big heart, as well as a good supply of local beers. If ale isn’t your thing, there’s some surprisingly fine Kentish wines, locally distilled gins (served with Fevertree tonic, natch), and you shouldn’t leave without sampling the Pennypot cider.
Furlongs and The Yard were recently featured in Olive Magazine’s best places to eat and drink in Faversham, so you don’t have to take our word for it. But now the secret’s out you’d better hurry or there might be a queue to get in.
You’ve put it off long enough, it’s time to get on your way, Whitstable here we come. We’d recommend taking the Graveney Road a sedate country road once you get off the main highway. Don’t worry though, it won’t be long before your stopping again, this time at a genuine cycling hub, the Freewheel pub in Graveney. It really is a one stop shop for all your needs, two wheeled or otherwise. It’s got a workshop for emergencies, coffee roasted in Faversham, Rosie Lea teas, Kentish cheeses, nice buns by Nice Buns (titter yea not missus), pies, ploughman’s, and much more. If you’re parched from your ride, and the sun’s over the yardarm, we’d recommend a thirst quenching ale from Gadds of Ramsgate, or the pub’s own Freewheel Gold. Even the oil in the workshop is made in Kent. The Freewheel has its own cycling club, and hosts the annual Divas on Wheels women-only charity bike ride. If you only stop once on your tour of the area (not something we’d recommend), make sure it’s here.
You’re back on the road again, you’ve raced through Seasalter, gazed longingly at the Michelin starred Sportsman pub, got your first glimpse of the sea (hurray!), and before you know it your on the main drag into Whitstable, described rather confusingly by the Independent newspaper as ‘the new Chelsea’. It does sometimes have the feel of a London sur Mer, maybe a mini Brighton, especially at weekends when there is a sudden influx of metropolitan visitors. But Whitstable has soul as well as oysters, and there are plenty of places to help revive your cycling legs.
First stop, Blueprint Coffee on the High Street. Beans by Ozone, locally sourced milk, cakes and pastries by Whitstable artisan bakers, including keen cyclist The Flour Arranger, sounds just your cup of flat white, right?
Close by is The Twelve Taps, another funky micro-pub, modern stripped-back layout, cool artwork, beers a plenty, and gin, lots and lots of gin. Park up in the small but perfectly formed courtyard out back, then settle back with a cool one, or a coffee if you want to keep a clear head.
Lastly, you can’t visit Whitstable and not sample the famous oysters. May we recommend The Forge, a delightfully unpretentious seaside shack with a lovely view of the beach and harbour, selling a variety of edible bivalves, and beer and wine to go with them. Pour yourself a glass of fizz or Whitstable Bay Oyster Stout, and tuck in to a half dozen medium trestles (ask the oyster shucker, they’ll explain). Now all that’s left is for you to sit back, listen to the sea wash over the pebbles, and watch as the sun dances on the gentle waves. Bliss.
Had enough for now, or maybe you sampled one gin too many in the Twelve Taps? Not to worry, the trains run from Whitstabe back to London to a civilised hour in the evening so there’s usually no rush. Or maybe you’ve just got you cycling legs and fancy going on. You wouldn’t want to miss out on some fabulous Neapolitan pizza, now would you. Or perhaps you’d prefer to sample some traditional Kentish fare in the grounds of a wonderfully strange country-house museum. We’ve got that covered and more in the next post, Whitstable to Birchington, so stay tuned.
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