Nearest train station: Minster
Plucks Gutter may not sound like the most appealing location, but we were lucky enough to stumble across an incredibly secluded swimming spot on the River Stour, in east Kent by exploring the areas of the hamlet and following the River Stour east.
Located just to the southwest of the Thanet villages of Minster and Monkton, the hamlet of Plucks Gutter is famed for the Dog and Dug Inn pub as well as being the home of a variety of boat clubs. You’ll be able to park up (for free) in a car park over the road from the pub, where you can cross over the bridge on Gore Street to descend to the banks of the Stour before following it eastward.
Flanked by beautiful farmland, we followed the banks of the Stour eastward (in the direction of Pegwell Bay) for about 20 minutes before finding a clearing in the hedgerows that allowed us easy access into the water as well as a great pitstop for a picnic. Even in the height of summer, the banks can be quite muddy and clay-ridden, so take care when getting in. The exact spot was shortly after a wooden bridge over one of the smaller streams that ran into the river proper, though there are plenty of access points further along and on either side of the river.
Caution: The currents in this section of the River Stour in Kent were of moderate to high strength on the day we visited. It gets pretty deep in the central parts of the water so strong swimmers only. Otherwise, stick to the shallows adjacent to the riverbanks.
How to Get to the River Stour at Plucks Bottom
We’ve provided detailed instructions on how to get to this super secluded spot in the River Stour in Kent by various means of transport below, as well as general travel information nearby.
By car
Enter the postcode CT3 1JB into your sat nav, which will take you to the hamlet of Plucks Gutter. Upon crossing the River Stour via a bridge on Gore Street, the free car park will be immediately on your left, opposite the Dog and Duck Inn.
After this, take a right down Gore Street and walk over the bridge before you you see a public footpath sign. Descend down a grassy bank to the footpath which traverses the northern bank of this section of the River Stour as it flows towards Pegwell Bay.
By public transport
The nearest train station to Plucks Bottom is Minster, which is served by Southeastern on the Ashford to Ramsgate Line and the Kent Coast Line. From here, take the 11 bus from the church to Plucks Gutter, which takes about 18 minutes.
The 11 bus runs from Westwood to Canterbury.
By bike
As Thanet residents ourselves we’re big fans of the Viking Coastal Trail that loops the entire Isle of Thanet, passing through the glorious coastlines of Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate as well as the idyllic villages inland.
The trail passes through the neighbouring villages of Minster and Monkton, so why not take a brief detour by turning left along the A253 after Monkton and then left again on Gore Street, which will lead you to Plucks Gutter after a mile or so.
What else is nearby Plucks Gutter?
Aside from the lovely Thanet coastal towns of Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate which have some of the best beaches in southeast England, the River Stour has plenty of wild swimming opportunities if fresh water is more your thing.
Check out the nearby swimming at Fordwich as well as the Westbere Marshes Lake, which are only ten minutes or so away.