Sandgate - Town Centre Beach

The surprisingly charming coastal village of Sandgate lies a couple of miles west of Folkestone, a short drive from the Channel Tunnel terminal.  The town has some good pubs and places to eat, as well as a number of antique shops and quaint independent shops which might be fun to explore on rainy days. 

The pebble beach here stretches between Hythe and Folkestone and is backed by a two-mile long promenade which is used by pedestrians and cyclists.  The area of beach immediately adjacent to the town slopes quite steeply into the sea and at high tide the water becomes deep quite quickly. 

On clear days it might be possible to see the outline of the French coast in the distance. Whilst, occasionally, dolphins may be spotted in the bay.  For many years, one particular dolphin, known affectionately as Dave was regularly spotted here. 

Along the seafront there are a series of Martello towers, and a small castle, reminders of the town’s heritage as a bastion against invaders from the continent. 
There is a pay-and-display car park at the eastern end of the beach.