This ride will be led by Barry D. It is limited to 6 riders plus pillions.

8.20am: Meeting for Briefing at the petrol station at Cambridge Services and ending at same location

8.30am Departure

ROUTE OUTBOUND

This is a new route as the café is now a block of flats so we will go to one in Biggin Hill.  Meet at Cambridge Services’ Garage then M11 to M25 to Dartford crossing over the Queen Elizabeth bridge (after approx 1 hour).  West on A225 then back roads and after about 35 minutes from the crossing, arrive at the famous town and airfield of Biggin Hill at the Spitfire Cafe for breakfast arriving between 10 – 10:30.

From the Spitfire Café, we travel South and East to the south of Ashford to Hythe to see the sea, then North and East to Temple Ewell and Dover before climbing past Dover Castle to St Margaret’s at Cliff and then drop down into St Margaret’s Bay with a choice of the “Coastguard” pub & Restaurant or “Riverside Snacks” (Beach Hut with good snacks and coffee) for food/drinks. Should get there about 1pm.

Noel Coward and Ian Fleming both lived in the bay and Jan Leeming is a current resident, with “Boysie” from Fools and Horses recently moved in and out.  All the cross-channel swimmers go from this beach.  Look out for France which you may see, and your phone telling you that you are in France already!!

ROUTE HOME

From the Bay, North towards Kingsdown past Walmer Castle and adjacent to the beach to Deal Castle and Deal with the Deal pier on your right.  Quick ride down Deal backstreets.

Then head West of Sandwich before turning North for Herne Bay and the north coast.  Head South West for Faversham and through the hamlets that takes us to the Hook and Hatchet PH for afternoon refreshments before the final push home.  North from the PH back along the small roads and then head for Maidstone, quick burst on the M2 (about 11 miles) and West of Chatham North to Northfleet, Swanscombe, Greenhithe and then back to the Dartford Crossing for the tunnels northbound, onto the M25 and then M11 homebound.