GREAT ESCAPES
WHITSTABLE
Synonymous with oysters, Pip, Squeak and Wilfred, the Crab and Winkle Railway and Peter Cushing.
Whitstable is like no other town by the sea. Its traditional charm, strong arts culture and rich maritime history complement its modern appeal.
W
hitstable’s main claim to fame is its oysters, which remain an intrinsic part of this sea town's character and are
celebrated every July at the Oyster Festival. Oysters and other delicacies from the sea can be enjoyed at the local restaurants and pubs or taken home from the fresh fish market at the harbour.
Shoppers can delight in the town's bohemian
charm with independent craft and gift shops, galleries, delicatessens and fashion shops trading side by side with butchers and bakers. When you need to recharge with a drink and food you will be spoilt for choice with a wonderful selection of cafes, restaurants and pubs. Whitstable is also one of a very few in the country that has a pub on the beach. Whether you take the main route through the town or enjoy haphazard progress through quiet lanes and
alleyways - which proved ideal escape routes for smugglers in the late 1700s - you will encounter eccentric names such as Squeeze Gut Alley, so named because you will find it pretty difficult to get through but it will eventually lead you to the working harbour. Constructed in 1831, the harbour lies at the mouth
of the river Swale and is Whitstable’s visible link to its interesting past, which included diving, fishing, shipbuilding and worldwide trade. There is also a historical connection with the Canterbury and Whitstable railway - the Crab and Winkle Line - the first regular passenger steam railway in the world. These days, Whitstable harbour remains a working
harbour. On West Quay there is fishing, and related activities, such as the selling of the catch, continue on South Quay. This location also offers leisure and sporting activities, with Greta Barge Tours proving to be a popular attraction. A typical day on board Greta
Beach huts line the promenade at Tankerton. images reproduced courtesy of Visit Canterbury 52 County Life
www.countylifemagazines.co.uk
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