Nearest train station: Martin Mill/Dover
Nestled within a glorious opening in the White Cliffs of Dover, the beach at St Margaret’s Bay has the look and feel of a hidden cove, particularly given its beauty and seclusion.
It is of course a well-known spot among the locals of the nearby villages of St Margaret’s Bay and St Margaret’s at Cliffe as well as the neighbouring towns of Deal and Dover, but is perhaps one of Kent’s lesser-known beaches.
The good news for wild swimmers is that its gradual drop-off and good-sized bay area make it a pleasant spot for a good sea swim, with the added plus of being able to see France across the Channel on a clear day!
One tip for this hidden beach in Kent is to make sure you bring swimming shoes if you’re visiting at low tide. The descent down to the deeper water is pretty rocky and shell-ridden, and we ended up with some sore feet on our last visit.
How to Get to St Margaret’s Bay
We’ve provided detailed instructions on how to get to this hidden beach in Kent by various means of transport below, as well as general travel information nearby.
By car
Setting your sat nav to CT15 6DU will bring you to the St Margaret’s Bay car park. This can get busy and is relatively limited in size, so an alternative is to look for street parking in the village.
The drive down to the car park by the beach is also pretty windy and narrow, so street parking in the village and then walking down to the beach may be a better method.
By public transport
St Margaret’s Bay is located between the larger settlements of Deal/Walmer and Dover, and trains running between these two towns often stop at Martin Mill station. From here, the 93 bus will take you down to the Bay Hill stop in the village, with the beach being a 10 minute walk from here.
If you’re arriving into Dover Priory station, the 93 bus runs from the adjacent Priory Street and will take you to the Bay Hill bus stop in around 45 minutes.
By bike
The White Cliffs of Dover is a cracking cycling route with moderate inclines along the way. You start at Deal or Sandwich (or indeed at Dover) and follow the route to St Margaret’s Bay along the cliff path.
Take a look at some of the excellent routes around the White Cliffs of Dover in this cycling guide here.
What else is nearby St Margaret’s Bay?
The obvious one is of course the White Cliffs of Dover! If you’re finished up with your swimming at St Margaret’s Bay then you can follow the cliff path westward towards the South Foreland Lighthouse.
From here it’s a 30 minute or so walk along the breathtaking clifftops before you get a really good view of the Port of Dover down below. Stop on one of the many benches along the way for a picnic before heading back to St Margaret’s Bay for part two of your swim!