Herne Bay

Herne Bay is a traditional North Kent seaside town with a long Victorian pier, a wide shingle and sand beach and a direct rail connection from London. The town is functional and unpretentious, its seafront a straightforward combination of beach, cafes and the water. The pier, rebuilt after storm damage, extends into the Thames Estuary and is free to walk.

The Reculver walk is what separates a Herne Bay visit from any other North Kent seaside town. Two miles along the shore to the east, the twin towers of Reculver -- a Saxon minster built inside the walls of a Roman fort in the 7th century -- stand above the eroding cliff face above the beach. English Heritage maintains the site, which is free to access at all times. The walk there follows the seafront path and takes around 45 minutes, with the towers becoming visible on the horizon after the first mile.

May to September is the warmest season for the beach and seafront. The Reculver walk is at its least crowded in spring and autumn, when the path is empty but the towers are as atmospheric as they are in summer. The site is accessible in winter for those who want the view without the season's visitors; the cliff erosion that gradually brings the towers closer to the edge adds a particular urgency to seeing them.