Whitstable is an exceptionally good place to have a dog. The town is compact enough to walk everywhere, tolerant of dogs in a way that not every Kent seaside town manages, and surrounded by enough variety of coastline and countryside to keep even the most determined walker happy for years.
Here are our favourite walks — from a studio that's walked all of them many times over.
The Seafront from Whitstable to Tankerton
This is the classic, and it earns its reputation. Start from the harbour, head east along the beach past the iconic beach huts, and continue along the slope up towards Tankerton — a long grassy bank that rises gently above the shingle and offers some of the best views of the estuary on a clear day. On a low tide, the whole seabed reveals itself in the distance, and the walk out to the 'Street' — a natural causeway that appears and disappears with the tide — is worth attempting if timing allows.
Dogs love this walk for the obvious reasons: the whole beach is effectively theirs, there's usually something interesting to sniff at the tide line, and the grassy slope at Tankerton is excellent for a run.
Seasalter to Whitstable
Head west from the town towards Seasalter and the walk takes on a wilder character. There are fewer visitors, more birds, and a long shingle beach backed by coastal scrub. This stretch is particularly beautiful in winter — the sky tends to do something extraordinary here when the light is low.
It's an out-and-back unless you have two cars, but the 4km each way is very manageable, and the return into town — with the prospect of coffee and a harbour view ahead — has a particular satisfaction to it.
The Crab and Winkle Way
Named after the historic railway that once ran between Whitstable and Canterbury, the Crab and Winkle Way is a long-distance trail that takes you inland through orchards and woodland before arriving in the city. The Whitstable end — from the harbour into the Blean woods — is particularly lovely in spring and autumn, with the wood changing dramatically through the seasons.
This is the walk for a dog who needs more distance. The full route to Canterbury and back is a proper day out.
Around the Harbour at Low Tide
Sometimes the best walk is the slowest one. At low tide, the harbour area reveals a whole different world — the oyster beds, the moored boats sitting on mudflats, the wading birds picking their way through the shallows. A slow circuit of the harbour, ending with something warm from one of the town's cafés, is a very good way to spend an hour.
A Few Practical Notes
Dogs are welcome on Whitstable beach year-round on the shingle. Some sections of the sandy beach near the harbour have seasonal restrictions during summer months, so it's worth checking signage. Most of the town's cafés and pubs are dog-friendly — the Lobster Pub is a particular favourite — and fresh water is usually available.
Shop our For Dog Lovers collection at LRM Studio — art and objects for people who walk their dogs on shingle beaches and know that it's one of the very best things to do with a day.
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