The Crab and Winkle Way from Canterbury to Whitstable

The Crab and Winkle Way is named after the Canterbury and Whitstable Railway, which opened in 1830 and closed in 1952. From Canterbury West station, signed streets and paths climb past the University of Kent, and a traffic-free path then crosses farmland and Clowes Wood, joining the line of the old railway and passing the Winding Pond, dug in 1829 to supply the engine that hauled trains up the hill. The route drops into Whitstable and finishes at the harbour.

It is 24.0 km (14.9 miles) there and back with 158 m of climbing; allow about 1¾ hours of riding. The grade is Easy. There is a 60 m climb out of Canterbury and a rolling middle section; the surface is about two-thirds tarmac and one-third firm stone, with no gates, stiles or steps.

About a third of our line is on roads. From the edge of Canterbury the route is mostly traffic-free, but there are streets at both ends, and on the way into Whitstable it uses South Street, a lane with no pavement. Whitstable's own hire shop does not recommend the route for small children.

There is paid parking at Canterbury West station, a picnic place at the Winding Pond, cycle hire in Whitstable, and everything else in both towns. Both have stations, but on different lines.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.