Just a short walk from the harbour, between Whitstable town and Tankerton Slopes, is Whitstable Castle and Gardens. Perched on top of the cliff up a winding hill, the Castle provides fantastic sea views and beautiful manicured gardens.
Although more of a manor house than a castle, it's become one of Whitstable's most historic landmarks and arguably the prettiest. Originally named Tankerton Towers, it was build by Charles Pearson in the late 1790s as a family home.
Whitstable Castle and Gardens are now owned by a charitable trust and operates as a wedding and conference venue, as well as a centre for community activities. The Castle itself is not generally open to visitors although private tours can be arranged.
Dogs aren't allowed inside either way but they are welcome to explore the gardens. There's quite a few picturesque photo opportunities, making Whitstable Castle and Gardens a great place for taking memorable holiday snaps!
The gardens are what makes this location so special. Although small, they're well maintained and a delight to wander around. It won't take much longer than half an hour for a leisurely stroll around the terraced garden, herbaceous borders, and bowling green.
The Castle tea room offers refreshments to enjoy in the outdoor seating with a dog. Just across the road is a picnic spot offering excellent views overlooking the sea. Follow the path down the hill and it's a less than 5 minute walk to the beach.
Although there is parking available on the Castle grounds, my tip is to look out for parking along Tower Hill. It's free for up to 4 hours, which is plenty of time to visit the Castle Gardens and walk along the seafront into town. On our trip we headed down to beach then onto The Old Neptune for a drink before heading back to the car.
In the opposite direction are the Tankerton Slopes. These cliff-top lawns lead down to 'The Street'—a natural split of land that extends into the sea and can be walked on at low tide. There are plenty of beach huts and benches with excellent viewpoints for looking out over the sea.
There are numerous trails running through and around the Whitstable area. If you brought a bike, the Crab and Winkle Way provides an enjoyable 7.6-mile cycle route between Canterbury and Whitstable harbour. It passes through Blean Woods, one of the largest areas of ancient woodland in England.
If time is up on the parking, head back to the car and over to the Reculver Towers. The ruins of this 12th century church over looks a quiet shingle beach perfect for dog-walking. It links up with the Viking Coastal Trail, one of the best trails for exploring the Kent Coast.
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