Club activity weekend to Deal & Dover - walking & roller skiing
19th - 21st June 2026

Here’s an opportunity for Club members from across the south east to meet up and socialise with the Betteshanger Country Park roller ski group for an active weekend in Kent.   If you can't make the full programme then come along for a day or two.

Friday 19 June - Walmer Castle

An afternoon visit to Walmer Castle and gardens.

Meet 2pm at the ticket office at Walmer Castle, Kingsdown Road, Deal, Kent Sat Nav CT14 7LJ.  

How to get there:

• By Car - Walmer Castle is south of Walmer on the A258.  It is accessible via Junction 13 of the M20.
• Parking is free for English Heritage members displaying a valid car sticker otherwise non-members must pay to park.  
• By Train - Nearest station is Walmer station 1 mile from the castle.
• By Bus - Stagecoach East Kent service 82/82A
• On foot -Warmer Castle can also be accessed from Deal by a 2 mile walk along the sea front.

This castle is an English Heritage site.  There is an entrance fee for looking at the Castle and gardens but you can access the tea room free of charge.  English Heritage membership gives you free entry.
If you are a member of the Royal Horticultural Society there is free entry on a Friday.
For non members of the above, advanced online tickets are cheaper than if bought on the day.

We will arrange an evening meal in Deal once we know numbers.

Saturday 20th June - walking the white cliffs of Dover

An 11 mile walk along the Kings Charles lll coastal path from Dover to Deal.

For those staying in and around Deal we will catch a train from Deal to Dover to start the walk from Dover Priory train station (train timetables for June have not been published yet).  For those joining us for the day from London trains leave Charing Cross station or St Pancras International.  

Meet at 10.30am from Dover Priory station front entrance.

The walk will head east through Dover picking up the Coastal footpath just under Dover Castle.  This is an interesting walk climbing up over the cliffs from Dover then dropping down into St Margaret’s Bay with a climb out using steps that makes the thighs burn! We keep the sea on our right and can’t go wrong! If a shorter walk is wanted by some there is a public bus that will go back to Dover or on to Deal.

NB: The walk has uneven terrain and long cliff drops to the sea. Chalk footpaths become slippery in wet weather.

We are aiming to stop for lunch at the Pine Gardens cafe and picnic area, the gardens are free to enter. There are also opportunities to buy refreshments and access to toilets along the way.

Watch your mobile phones for roaming charges as we are so near to France.

We will finish the walk at Deal pier. We are planning to have a group evening meal in Deal, details to follow once numbers are known.

Sunday 21st June - roller skiing at Betteshanger Country Park

Roller ski options:

Adult club roller ski session 12:00 – 14:00hrs

1. Book this mixed ability tuition with SSE coach Barbara Grogan, for full details see our website, early booking is advisable to secure a place. There will also be a reminder and information in the email updates sent by Mary Wray.
2. Roller ski independently at the Park using your own equipment.

Alternative options:

• Cycle with own bike or possibly bikes are available to hire.
• Explore Deal Castle, promenade/beach.

The Lamp Room at Betteshanger Country Park offers food and refreshments where we can meet for coffee before roller skiing and as a final get together after the days events at 14.00hrs.

How to get to Betteshanger Country Park

• By car: Sat Nav CT14 0BF, use the main entrance.  Car parking is pay as you leave.Sandwich Road, Deal, Kent.  Access off A258, approximately 2 miles from Deal and 10 miles from Dover. Don’t follow the road signs to Betteshanger village.

• By rail nearest train station is Deal 3 miles or Sandwich 4 miles.
• By bus Stagecoach no. 13 stops close to the park.

Accommodation

For the weekend we suggest accommodation should be in or around Deal so that we can meet up for evening meals together, though Dover is not very far away.  Individuals are responsible for booking their own accommodation.  We suggest prompt booking, as it's a popular summer seaside resort. 

Car Parking in Deal

A lot of the hotels and accommodation don’t have private car parking facilities so there is the possibility of using Sainsbury’s car park which is close to the train station and bookable via the Just Park app/website for a day or longer parking over night.

What to do next

1. If you want roller ski tuition with Barbara Grogan book your place direct on the LRNSC website as soon as the 21st June date is published.
2. For those wanting to join the evening meal options and the other weekend activities please register via this form by 20th April 2026
3. For those not requiring an evening meal option please register the activities you wish to join in with via this form by latest 1st June so the organisers know who's planning to come.

Remember to bring sunscreen, water/fluids and protective clothing from either wind, rain or sun.
Stay away from cliff edges on the coast.  Be mindful of water conditions if sea swimming.

NB To participate in this weekend you must be a LRNSC member with a green tier or above Snowsport England membership.

Any questions?

Please contact the organisers Margaret Chalmers or Claire Branscombe