POINTS OF INTEREST

POINTS OF INTEREST

Viking Ship ‘Hugin’, Pegwell Bay, Ramsgate
Full size replica of a Viking ship which sailed from Denmark to Thanet in 1949 to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of the invasion of Britain, the traditional landing of Hengist and Horsa and the betrothal of Hengist’s daughter, Rowena, to King Vortigen of Kent. Picnic site. Car parking charge, toilets and refreshment kiosk available in season.

Sandwich and Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve (on the northern estuary of the Stour between Sandwich Bay and Ramsgate)
The estuary is home for populations of wintering and migrant birds. The adjacent saltmarsh supports an array of salt-tolerant plants. The sand dunes are a mosaic of flower-rich areas. Picnic site. In poor weather conditions, some of the tracks can be tricky to negotiate.
Tel: 01622 662012

St Augustine’s Cross, Cottington Road, Cliffsend, Ramsgate
St Augustine and 40 monks landed at Ebbsfleet on the Isle of Thanet in 597AD, returning Christianity to England. Later that year, St Augustine was enthroned as the first Archbishop of Canterbury. The cross at Cliffsend was erected in 1884 to commemorate the site where St Augustine was said to have celebrated his first Mass.

Minster Museum, Craft and Animal Centre, Bedlam Court Lane, Minster
A three-in-one attraction with a mini zoo, museum depicting agricultural machinery from early 19th Century, and rural life over the past 100 years. Next door is Minster Abbey, one of England’s oldest inhabited buildings, founded in 670AD.
Tel: 01843 822312.

The Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens, Quex Park, Park Lane, Birchington
Magnificent Regency mansion, set in 200 acres of parkland. View the beautifully furnished rooms and the internationally acclaimed collection of 19th century African and Asian treasures. Picnic area, fully licensed restaurant.
Tel: 01843 842168.

Sarre Windmill, Canterbury Road, Sarre
Sarre village once stood on the banks of the Wantsum, separated from the mainland by a mile-wide stretch of water. Its windmill, the only one working commercially in Kent, produces high quality stoneground flour from locally grown wheat, sold in the mill shop. Farmyard, museum, play area and tea room. Gift shop.
Tel: 01843 847573.

Monkton Nature Reserve (Thanet Countryside Trust), Canterbury Road, Monkton, Ramsgate
A 16-acre site comprising nature trails, ponds, hide, woodland, wild flowers with orchids in June, cliffs of geological interest and picnic area. Astronomical observatory, public evening viewing by arrangement. Field study centre offering dinosaur and other exhibits, fossil collection, diorama, library. Gift shop.
Tel: 01843 822666.

St Nicholas-at-Wade
This attractive village has two fine pubs – one a 16th Century timbered inn – and a striking Norman church. Well worth a visit.

The Paragon, Ramsgate
The largest and finest collection of veteran Edwardian, vintage and classic cars and motor cycles in the south east of England.
Tel: 01843 581948

Ramsgate Maritime Museum, Margate Museum
Ramsgate Maritime Museum: exhibits include artefacts from an 18th century wreck, navigation, RNLI, fishing, shipbuilding, model boats, Ramsgate Meridian Line, Historic Ships Collection. Margate Museum: Margate’s local and maritime history as an early seaside and sea bathing resort. Old Police Station, Courtroom and Cells. North Foreland Lighthouse: there has been a warning beacon on this site since 1499. Now you can climb to the top of the last lighthouse in the country to be fully automated.
Ramsgate Maritime Museum – 01843 570622
Margate Museum – 01843 231213.

Dickens, Maritime, Smuggling Museum, Fort Road, Broadstairs
Charles Dickens’ favourite holiday home and where he wrote ‘David Copperfield’. Now a Dickens and Smuggling Museum, rooms include the maritime room, atmospheric and inspirational writing study and smuggling cellars. Nearby is the Dickens House Museum (Victoria Parade). This lovely old house has been adapted as a museum to commemorate the novelist’s association with Broadstairs.
Tel: 01843 862224.

Spitfire & Hurricane Museum, Manston, Nr Ramsgate
Situated on one of the very few surviving airfields which participated in the Battle of Britain. Two splendid wartime aircraft are on display plus hundreds of interesting artefacts, together with the Battle of Britain tapestry, tributes to The Dambusters, the Channel Dash etc.
Tel: 01843 821940.