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Crab and Winkle Way Cycle Route



England > Kent > Whitstable
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Cycle Route Details
Route NameCrab and Winkle Way
Distance : miles (km)10  (16.09)
Duration(hh:mm)01:20
Difficulty
Posted Byhappy
Calories Burned405.00 kcal
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Cycle Route Location
CountryEngland
Town/CityWhitstable
County/RegionKent
Start LocationWhitstable Harbour
End LocationCantebury
Cycle Steps
This is part makes up part of the Inverness to Dover cycle route provided by the National Cycle Network. It uses in parts a dismantled railway line and provides much to see along the way.
Starting in Whitstable Harbour turn right on to Harbour Street. Cycling along take the 2nd exit on your left on to Albert Street.
Cycle to the end of Albert Street and go round the 90 degree bend to the right head on to Action Road. Turn left at the end and head straight on, crossing the road and heading under the railway.
Once through the tunnel turn left and cycle until you come back onto the road, on your right you will see Seymour Avenue. Turn right and cycle along Seymour Avenue.
Take the first left on to All Saints' Close. Keep your eyes peeled for the track on the left that takes you on to Crab and Winkle Way.
Keep cycling along the path until you come on to South Street. Cycle along South Street, just after the layby on your right take the route off South Street heading south and crossing the A299.
You will now come back on to the dismantled railway line in the Clowes Wood. Keep heading south and you will come to the Winding Pond and Winding Wheel Seat. This was apparently where they wound the locomotives up the hill.
The route veers off to the right here heading out the forest. Staying on the track you will eventually cross over Chapel Lane and Tyler Hill Road where major production of tiles and pottery during the 13th and 14th centuries due to the great supply of materials.
After crossing Fishbourne Stream, shortly after you will arrive at the corner of Park Wood Road. Turn left here and cycle on to the next T-Junction. Turn right again and then first left on to the roundabout.
Take the first exit onto the track that leads you to Leycroft Road. Head along Leycroft Road turn left at the T-Junction and then first right on to St Stephen's Green leading on to St Stephen's Road.
After crossing the bridge over the railway turn right on to North Lane. Cycle to the end of North Lane turning left on to Whitehill road and then first right heading back over the railway onto Queens Drive.
Head off the end of Queens Drive under London Road and heading left once on Westgate Court Avenue on to the path.
Crab and Winkle Way image 13 This will bring you up passed Neal's Place. Looking East at this point you get a fantastic view of Cantebury.
Carry along the path on to the road. Turn left on to the main road and then pass the first exit on your right to Giles Lane and take the path on your right shortly after. This will take you back on to the path heading back to Whitstable.
Landmarks/Pubs for lunch/Sites to see?
If you can have lunch in Whitstable, you have to try the Oysters. Cantebury is of course full of Cathedrals and Museums. Clowes Wood is managed by the Foresty Commission which usually means there is lots of cycle tracks to experiment with.

Your comments?
posted by:noobootsRating : difficult :
I'm a complete beginner and quite unfit, so this was too hard for me.

We actually started at the end of south street as I was nervy about cycling on roads and thought that we could do bits of the route that are not on road.

The initial bit over the A299 was bad enough but then the slop up into the woods, I had to walk this bit, then could only see that the slopes continued upwards.

I gave up. We will re try this one when I have built up a bit.

posted by:SaddlesoreRating : difficult :
Being a complete novice I read the other review and thought damn what have I let myself in for.

We left from Canterbury and joined the route near the Pilgrims hospital. It was a lovely ride, seemingly the first half felt like mainly uphill but the second half was down hill, obviously what goes up must come down applys. The journey back was just as lovely.

I walked up most the hills as despite hitting the lowest gear I still was making no progress!

I would recommend this for anyone as long as you take your time, don't push yourself too much and just enjoy the scenery, no road riding until you hit Whitstable and even then it is limited!

posted by:HannahRating : difficult :
Easiest ride I've done to date (I am fit, but not to the extent that I can ride to and from Whitstable and Canterbury on a daily basis).

Did it in the summer of 09 when it was really hot, the weather wasn't a problem though, as a majority of the ride is under the trees through Clowes Wood, which was lovely.

The ride overall...stunning, beautiful, enjoyable and easy!

I'm actually running the crab and winkle (both ways) and then doing a bike ride along the Viking Trail (recilver to margate) for charity in the summer of 2010!

Good luck!

posted by:RickRating : difficult :
Excellent ride, a steep hill on the way out of Whitstable and on the return out of Canterbury, but other than than great.

Some of the "pinch points" for bikes were a bit tight but no problems.



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