50 ways to enjoy Kent's coast this summer - part one
Above: Kent's Thanet coast (Kent Life Magazine)
Above: Kitesurf the Kent Coast (Kent Life Magazine)
Above: Surf Kent's waves (Kent Life Magazine)
Above: It's not strictly coastal, but Kent's go karting scene will certainly get the adrenaline pumping! (Kent Life Magazine)
Above: Blow away sailing's fusty image with a blast in a Laser. (Kent Life Magazine)
If sitting on the beach just soaking up the rays isn’t your style, then don’t worry – there’s plenty to do on, under and in the wet stuff. Here’s our guide to Kent’s coast for the adrenaline junkie
WHAT: Kitesurfing
WHERE: Thanet
WHY: Massive adrenaline
If your memories of kite flying were running endlessly up and down a park with a trail of ribbon behind you, you’re in for a surprise. Today’s powerkites are big, scary and, when put with a short board, extremely good fun.
A £200, two-day kitesurfing course with Ride Kitesurfers in Thanet will teach you how to rig your kit up, the basics of kitesurfing and, above all, how to do it safely. Become part of the world’s fastest-growing new watersports.
CONTACT: Ride Kitesurfing School: 07977 147115
WHAT: Landyachting
WHERE: Greatstone
WHY: See the beach up close, at 60mph
The sea isn’t for everyone, so if you prefer to admire it rather than be in it, have a go at landyachting. You won’t need an encyclopaedic knowledge of ropes or nautical terms, but you will need some bravery and lots of enthusiasm.
The two-mile stretch of beach at Greatstone is a great place to be taught the basics, and a weekend course with Kirawee Landyachting will put you on the right tack for £140.
CONTACT: Kirawee Landyachting: 01797 362132
WHAT: Scuba diving
WHERE: Margate
WHY: It’s a whole new world underwater
Ever been snorkelling and wished you could get down to the bottom, and stay there? Kent may not have the crystal blue seas of the Caribbean, but it does have some excellent wreck dives and more interesting fish life than you’d think. There are endless qualifications, but start with a four-day PADI open water course at Kent Scuba, from £285.
CONTACT: Kent Scuba: 01843 297430
WHAT: Surfing
WHERE: Joss Bay
WHY: Sports don’t get much cooler
Learning to surf isn’t just an excuse to wear flowery shorts and buy an old VW camper van. It’s also extremely good fun, easy to pick up and, when you catch that first wave and feel yourself moving under the power of just the sea, very addictive.
Take a group of friends and £35, and start dominating the waves with the Joss Bay surf school.
CONTACT: Joss Bay Surfers: 09781 2991155
WHAT: Dinghy sailing
WHERE: Whitstable
WHY: Inches from the water, powered by wind. Why not?
Sailing might have a historically fusty image, but once you get a Laser trimmed properly in a good wind, it’ll soon blow the cobwebs off that image. With hundreds of different boats to choose from whether you’re a racer or a cruiser, there’s something to suit everyone. Get yourself on an RYA course at Whitstable Sailing Club and get hooked!
CONTACT: Whitstable Sailing Club: 01227 282800
WHAT: Deep sea fishing
WHERE: North Kent
WHY: A chance to catch your dinner
Ok, so it may not be particularly extreme, but you probably won’t go home empty handed from this one. During summer you’ll mostly be on the hunt for bass, smoothounds and, if you’re lucky, black bream and the occasional conger. Charter Fishing Kent will take you out on their 10m boat, and offer you the advice you need to not go hungry.
CONTACT: Charter Fishing Kent: 01227 373372
WHAT: Go karting
WHERE: Lydd
WHY: The start to a career in F1
You don’t need to be aquatically minded to get the adrenaline pumping on Kent’s coast! If an engine and wheels are more your thing, head down to Lydd International Raceway and hone your skills around the 1240m kart track.
With challenging chicanes, fast-flowing corners and plenty of opportunities for overtaking, whether you’ve got your own kart or you need to hire one, it’s an excellent place to get started, race your mates or improve your lap times on a circuit with an impeccable safety record and beautiful watery surroundings.
CONTACT: Lydd International Raceway, tel: 01797 321895
WHAT: Wakeboarding and waterskiing
WHERE: Faversham
WHY: Because you can’t trust the weather
While harnessing the wind’s awesome power may be good fun, you can’t rely on it to be blowing in the right direction at the right time, so when it isn’t, turn to other sources of power – big boats.
Tantrum Wakeboarding and Waterskiing in Faversham is non-profit, and will teach you all you need to know about being dragged behind a boat at high speed, in whichever form you choose. They’re out most weekends and evenings, so get down to the jetty and learn something new!
CONTACT: Tantrum Wakeboarding, tel: 07967 789482
WHAT: RYA powerboat course
WHERE: Rochester
WHY: Re-create the boat chase scene from The World is Not Enough
If you’re more of a petrolhead than a windguru, then powerboating could just be for you. Combining Kent’s finest wet stuff with a powerful engine and a sleek boat, there is more to controlling a powerboat than there looks, but some of Kent’s finest RYA instructors are on hand to take you through the basics.
Over a couple of days, a level two course will give you a sound introduction to boat handling and the associated background knowledge, leaving you with an internationally recognised qualification and a desire to move on to the intermediate course!
CONTACT: Medway Cruising School, tel: 01634 843 576
WHAT: Paintballing
WHERE: Hythe
WHY: A day out in the country - just different
If running around some ancient woodland with a mask on trying not to get hit in the face by flying paint doesn’t sound like your kind of day, probably best avoid paintballing.
If, on the other hand, that sounds exactly like your kind of activity, then head on down to Heane Woods, in Saltwood near Hythe with some friends, and get kitted up with a gun and some protective kit. One of Europe’s fastest-growing sports, paintballing is surprisingly good exercise and an excellent day out in the country.
CONTACT: Saltwood Paintball Games, tel: 01303 237099