Around Kent > Coastal Walk > Herne Bay to Reculver
This longer walk divides into two distint parts: Herne Bay to Reculver (6km) - which has everything from cliffs, beaches and rockpools to the Reculver Towers themselves; and Reculver to Birchington (7km) - a monotonous plod along the sea wall, with the occassional highlights of Minnis Bay and the start of the Thanet cliffs.
History of the area
Herne Bay was first recorded as Hyrnan in the 1100s, was home to smugglers in the 19th century, and became a seaside resort in the Victorian era. Its most significant feature, and cornerstone to its development, is the pier. The Herne Bay Pier Company, founded by entrepreneurs that had watched the large passenger steam ships passing by up the estuary to London and spotted a commercial opportunity, built the first wooden pier in 1832. By 1834 more than 40 000 tourists were disembarking at the end of the 1km long pier and spending their money in the newly formed town. Unfortunatley the wooden structure was prone to ship worm: by 1862 it was closed for access, and 9 years later demolished.
A second, metal, pier was built and opened in 1873, at a more modest 100m long. This was not practical for commercial use however, and so a one kilometre extension was built and opened in 1899. Over the next 75 years the pier experienced first a Victorian boom, and then a somewhat calamitous period:
- During the second world war, large sections were cut out and later replaced
- Significant damage was caused by storms in 1953
- The structure was weakened by the sea freeze of 1962-3
- A major fire broke out in 1970
The great storms of 1978 and 1979 eventually brought about the collapse of the central section, and this was later further demolished to improve safety. All that remains today is the pavillion (constructed 3 years before the rest of the pier collapsed) and the island of the landing platform, over a kilometre out to sea. There has been an ongoing campaign by local businesses to have the pier rebuilt, at a cost of £8.5-12.5m - which has as yet been unsuccessful.
Besides the pier, Herne Bay is home to: 60,000 residents; the worlds first free-standing purpose-built clocktower (1837); the central bandstand (1924), recently refurbished; a Blue Flag clean beach award; and the new Neptune's Arm sea defence (1992) built to protect Central Parade. The latter was in response to the flood issues of the 1970s, which the council deemed 20 years later to be a 1-in-a-100-year recurring event. The original 1920s sea wall built for the town was made of cheap concrete, and the 1960s replacement was built on shingle that could be washed out if the old wall failed. It is hoped this third incarnation will be more effective in flood defence, but in the meantime it creates a pleasant small sandy harbour for children to enjoy.
Walking east from the town leads to the village of Beltinge, picturesque Bishopstone Glen and then up to the foot of the Reculver Towers.
The walk
I was lucky again with the weather - it started off warm and misty, ended up hot and sunny - and I even managed to aquire a healthy pink finish down my right hand side. There are a few pubs along the sea front in Herne Bay - all shut when I started the walk on Sunday morning - but from experience the Ship is worthy of a visit. There's also a Weatherspoons (The Saxon Shore) opposite the Clocktower for cheap food and ales. Providing a convenient break in the walk is the King Ethelbert Inn in Reculver - again, I was too early to sample their beers, but later visits have yielded very decent lunches.
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History of the area
Herne Bay was first recorded as Hyrnan in the 1100s, was home to smugglers in the 19th century, and became a seaside resort in the Victorian era. Its most significant feature, and cornerstone to its development, is the pier. The Herne Bay Pier Company, founded by entrepreneurs that had watched the large passenger steam ships passing by up the estuary to London and spotted a commercial opportunity, built the first wooden pier in 1832. By 1834 more than 40 000 tourists were disembarking at the end of the 1km long pier and spending their money in the newly formed town. Unfortunatley the wooden structure was prone to ship worm: by 1862 it was closed for access, and 9 years later demolished.
A second, metal, pier was built and opened in 1873, at a more modest 100m long. This was not practical for commercial use however, and so a one kilometre extension was built and opened in 1899. Over the next 75 years the pier experienced first a Victorian boom, and then a somewhat calamitous period:
- During the second world war, large sections were cut out and later replaced
- Significant damage was caused by storms in 1953
- The structure was weakened by the sea freeze of 1962-3
- A major fire broke out in 1970
The great storms of 1978 and 1979 eventually brought about the collapse of the central section, and this was later further demolished to improve safety. All that remains today is the pavillion (constructed 3 years before the rest of the pier collapsed) and the island of the landing platform, over a kilometre out to sea. There has been an ongoing campaign by local businesses to have the pier rebuilt, at a cost of £8.5-12.5m - which has as yet been unsuccessful.
Besides the pier, Herne Bay is home to: 60,000 residents; the worlds first free-standing purpose-built clocktower (1837); the central bandstand (1924), recently refurbished; a Blue Flag clean beach award; and the new Neptune's Arm sea defence (1992) built to protect Central Parade. The latter was in response to the flood issues of the 1970s, which the council deemed 20 years later to be a 1-in-a-100-year recurring event. The original 1920s sea wall built for the town was made of cheap concrete, and the 1960s replacement was built on shingle that could be washed out if the old wall failed. It is hoped this third incarnation will be more effective in flood defence, but in the meantime it creates a pleasant small sandy harbour for children to enjoy.
Walking east from the town leads to the village of Beltinge, picturesque Bishopstone Glen and then up to the foot of the Reculver Towers.
The walk
I was lucky again with the weather - it started off warm and misty, ended up hot and sunny - and I even managed to aquire a healthy pink finish down my right hand side. There are a few pubs along the sea front in Herne Bay - all shut when I started the walk on Sunday morning - but from experience the Ship is worthy of a visit. There's also a Weatherspoons (The Saxon Shore) opposite the Clocktower for cheap food and ales. Providing a convenient break in the walk is the King Ethelbert Inn in Reculver - again, I was too early to sample their beers, but later visits have yielded very decent lunches.
| The Herne Bay Rowing Club |  |
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| The Pier Pavillion - now hosting a rollerskating rink/sports hall and gym.In the distance is the landing platform of the pre-storm pier.. |  |
| A photo from the next walk, with the sea at low tide |  |
| Neptune's Arm defence | 
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| The Victorian Gardens which stretch along the seafront in town |  |
| There's a French/Continental market next to the Clocktower some Sunday mornings |  |
| Leaving Herne Bay |  |
| H.B. Sailing Club |  |
| The National Coastguard Lookout Tower |  |
| Area where the cliffs have been made less steep to protect the houses close the edge, by Beltinge |  |
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| Approaching Bishopstone Glen - where the soft cliffs have a habit of slipping in bad weather |  |
| The area from Bishopstone Glen to Reculver is part of a country park - most of which is designated a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) |  |
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| If only my A level geography teacher could see me now....(!) |  |
| Approaching Reculver Tower |  |
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