Cantii Way

Why do both routes avoid the Margate corner?

I think the main reason is that it's shared path with loads of peds, so really slow. But if you've not been to Margate then may be worth doing, and won't be so crowded in winter. Makes a contrast from all the lanes.
I did it about 15 years ago and thought it was OK, apart from a cafe which had the most disgusting fried breakfast ever and where the guy moaned because I charged my phone on his electricity.
Margate used to be a bit down at heel but is being gentrified. Broadstairs / Ramsgate are more up market. It's ukip / reform country.

Ramsgate are more up market

Big claim

Context is all though! More upmarket than Margate.

I've not been to either in a decade so quickly googled average household income and got £38k for ramsgate vs £23k for margate, so felt it was behind dispute...

So, should I ride the original route or YALs? I have no skin in the game either way, just figured it'd be something we could do over a long weekend and I might then try and slink off for that Calais to Dieppe ride too. Maybe leave the camp shit at home and hotel it.

Hippy let me re-look at the route and I'll do a little shuffle to maximise for 50mm slicks (and ensure the hikeabike section is removed)

Cheers!

Did you tweak it already? I see it has been updated Dec 23 now.

Oh yes I did! It's not too off-road tbh, but the bit through Kings Woods around Wye is definitely woodsy and I can't confirm what condition it will be in. I did a pretty careful job but will give it one more go over. Soz for the delay, sick kid plus xmas

Haha no need to apologise for doing people a favour! Appreciate your work. We're just pencilling in a plan now.

It's going to be edited to suit hotels and stuff but we also put back in riding past Deal Castle (your route cut inland a bit further north).

https://www.strava.com/activities/13203064731
https://www.strava.com/activities/13211231348
https://www.strava.com/activities/13217314015

Shit! Is it a crap route?!?

I mean, it's no Alps epic but nah no issues with your route. Doing it in winter was probably asking a bit much given the hours of daylight and the pretty crappy tile bagging day I created to get us to Ashford. When we came out of the pub to another flat and the fog had moved in again we were just like "fuck it, train from here is the same price as train from Ashford, let's go"

Nice ride! A couple of long days for mid-winter. I assume you were hotelling it, not camping?

Great to get so much coast. I can't remember what the wind was doing but hope you had more from behind than in your face. I don't reckon you lost out by cutting it short. The coastal stuff is great, the lanes inland can be pleasant enough but nothing extra special, and after a couple of long days, it must have been good to get back at a decent time.

Trying to persuade family to go to Whitstable for new year's day sea food lunch in one of the pubs, but weather looks like it will win the argument.

I thought I recognised that Premier shop at first as a control from the Oasts and Coasts, but it was in Deal - I guess they all look the same - then I realised why you photographed it.

I'm planning to do this at some point for a chilled midweek tour, so will be helpful to have a look at the various route versions.