Around Kent > Coastal Walk > Reculver to Birchington
The second half of the walk starts at the Reculver Towers, follows the Thanet Coastal Path along the Northern Sea Wall, and joins the Wantsum Walk at Minnis Bay. The cliffs rapidly build up, and after Grenham Bay a turn inland allows access to Birchington train station. For more photos of Reculver and the area inland from here, see Walking>Reculver.
History of the area
Reculver Fort was built by the Romans in the first century and was later enlarged in 210AD. Originally a kilometer from the sea, it serves as a stark reminder of the forces that shape this dynamic coastline. St Marys Church was built within the fort walls in 669AD, and the towers added in the 12th century. Most of the church was demolished in 1809, and the site was later bought by Trinity House. This organisation look after all the lighthouses in the UK, and the towers were maintained as an important navigational aid. Trinity House also laid down the original groynes to protect the area, which has since seen a 200m sea wall (1954), boulders (1996), rock groynes (1999) and the 4km Northern sea wall added. Shingle is also regulalry added to replenish the beaches in this area.
The walk
The Towers are sometimes open to the public, and I took the opportunity to take some snaps from the first floor (unfortunately the windows on the top floor are opaque). East of Reculver is a 4km trek along the featureless sea wall, which eventually ends in Minnis Bay - a haven for families with small children. Here, the cliffs build up again and at high tide the beach completely disappears - leaving a view to the left of just the sea, and to the right of just the seawall-protected cliff. At low tide, the route is more picturesque, with rockpools and platforms to walk across. After passing Grenham Bay, I made my way up to Birchington station through the Beresford Gap.
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History of the area
Reculver Fort was built by the Romans in the first century and was later enlarged in 210AD. Originally a kilometer from the sea, it serves as a stark reminder of the forces that shape this dynamic coastline. St Marys Church was built within the fort walls in 669AD, and the towers added in the 12th century. Most of the church was demolished in 1809, and the site was later bought by Trinity House. This organisation look after all the lighthouses in the UK, and the towers were maintained as an important navigational aid. Trinity House also laid down the original groynes to protect the area, which has since seen a 200m sea wall (1954), boulders (1996), rock groynes (1999) and the 4km Northern sea wall added. Shingle is also regulalry added to replenish the beaches in this area.
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Reculver was positioned as it is to protect the northern end of the Wantsum Channel - which at points was 2 miles across - from Saxon invaders. A similar fort was built at Richborough on the eastern end of the channel. Even in 839AD, the Vikings were able to sail to Canterbury to perform raids on the city. By the 16th century the channel was no longer navigational, and further silting up and land reclamation projects have since joined the Isle of Thanet to the mainland. To protect this channel, some of which is below sea level, the Northern Sea Wall was built. Image sourced from hbay.co.uk |
The walk
The Towers are sometimes open to the public, and I took the opportunity to take some snaps from the first floor (unfortunately the windows on the top floor are opaque). East of Reculver is a 4km trek along the featureless sea wall, which eventually ends in Minnis Bay - a haven for families with small children. Here, the cliffs build up again and at high tide the beach completely disappears - leaving a view to the left of just the sea, and to the right of just the seawall-protected cliff. At low tide, the route is more picturesque, with rockpools and platforms to walk across. After passing Grenham Bay, I made my way up to Birchington station through the Beresford Gap.
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| The hilly landscape looking east along the Northern Sea Wall |  |
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| Looking back towards Reculver |  |
| The first of two saltwater lagoons (previously photographed last year on a similarly hot day) |  |
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| Minnis Bay |  |
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