Camping in Whitstable

The land around Whitstable is gentler than the shingle beaches suggest, a stretch of flat coastal farmland, orchards and grazing marsh that runs inland from the sea wall towards Faversham and the Swale. To the west, around Seasalter, the ground flattens further into reclaimed marshland behind the beach, while the coast east towards Swalecliffe and Herne Bay rises slightly onto low cliffs. None of this is dramatic camping country in the way that Devon or the Lake District can be, but it is easy, level ground close to good beaches, which is exactly what most visitors are looking for.

Wild camping has no general legal right in England outside a handful of areas such as parts of Dartmoor, and Kent's coastline and farmland offer no exception, so pitching up without the landowner's permission on beaches, verges or farmland around Whitstable is not legal and is not something to attempt. The area's appeal for campers instead lies in a small number of established touring and camping parks just outside the town, close enough to reach the harbour and beaches by bike or a short drive while still offering the space and facilities a tent or caravan pitch needs.

The weather here is typical of the Kent coast: milder than inland areas in winter, prone to a stiff onshore breeze off the estuary even in summer, and driest in the months either side of the school holidays. May, June and September tend to offer the best combination of settled weather and lighter crowds, while July and August bring the warmest sea temperatures and the busiest pitches, particularly around the Oyster Festival weekend. Whichever month you choose, a stormproof tent or an awning that copes with wind is worth having on this stretch of coast, even when the forecast looks calm.