Tony’s Fabulous Folkestone Walking Tour: An Outline Itinerary

Dec 25, 2016 by Me In My Frightened Silence

I am proposing to run twice, possibly thrice, weekly walking tours of Folkestone next summer (May to September 2017).

There are many practical considerations, including health and safety, marketing and potential licensing, that need to be addressed in the opening weeks of the New Year, but the crucial issue is the integrity of the tour itinerary itself.

Below are my initial thoughts on what route to take, and the issues to highlight at each stop and during the walk itself.

Currently, I envisage the tour lasting no longer than two hours.

These are still early thoughts and are subject to change. Being still a relative newbie, there is a distinct possibility that I may have missed something. This is where long term residents of Folkestone and others who have, like myself, come to love the town, can help me in fine tuning the details. I would be extremely grateful for their input and support.

I intend to finalise this by the end of February, allowing two months to work up the detailed commentary and supporting material.

I am extremely grateful for your assistance in this. Don’t feel you need to be gentle with me!

Start: By the Earth Peace sign in front of The Grand Hotel on The Leas

Stop 1: The Grand Hotel
a. outline of tour – duration – route – stops – toilets – refreshments – approach to questions
b. history of The Leas and Folkestone as a holiday destination – English & French coast highlights
c. history of The Grand, including rivalry with The Metropole & links to royalty

d. introduction to Folkestone Triennial & Folkestone Artworks, specifically Earth Peace (Yoko Ono)

Walk 1: Along The Leas, passing the View Hotel, Ruth Ewan (clock) and Mark Ballinger’s (Folk Stones) artworks & talking benches

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Stop 2: Leas Cliff Hall
a. history – construction – programme
b. William Harvey statue

Walk 2: Along The Leas passing the Leas Pavilion Theatre and the Leas Lift

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Stop 3: Step Short Arch
a. Folkestone’s role in war
b. construction
c. War Memorial
d. poppies

Walk 3: Down the Road of Remembrance

Stop 4: Harbour Station / Harbour Arm entrance
a. role of trains bringing soldiers/holidaymakers
b. history of ferry / hovercraft services
c. Hamish Fulton’s metal sign
d. Grand Burstin Hotel
e. regeneration plans

Walk 4: Along the Harbour Arm, taking in views of the Harbour

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Stop 5: Lighthouse on Harbour Arm

a. history
b. Weather is a Third to Place and Time artwork
c. Champagne Bar

Walk 5: Back along Harbour Arm and towards Harbour

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Stop 6: Harbour
a. fish market
b. history of fishing c/f activity today
c. seafood stalls
d. Rocksalt

Walk 6: Along The Stade to Sunny Sands

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Stop 7: Sunny Sands
a. beach & Coronation Parade
b. views to France, Harbour Arm, East Cliff, Dover Strait, the Warren & Samphire Hoe
c. Folkestone Mermaid (Cornelia Parker)

Walk 7: Back along The Stade and across to Creative Quarter entrance

Stop 8: The Old High Street
a. history
b. role of Creative Quarter
c. Quarterhouse

Walk 8: Up the Old High Street and onto The Bayle, highlighting galleries, restaurants and coffee shops

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Stop 9: The Bayle
a. history
b. Parade Steps
c. Shangri-La
d. British Lion
e. pond – child’s mitten (Tracey Emin)

Walk 9: Around The Bayle into Church Street

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Stop 10: Church of St Mary and St Eanswythe
a. history of christianity in Folkestone
b. life & sainthood of St Eanswythe

Walk 10: Through churchyard and along The Leas towards the Leas Lift

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Stop 11: Leas Lift
a. history – construction – importance
b. take lift down to Marine Parade

Walk 11: Along Marine Parade to entrance of Lower Leas Coastal Park

Stop 12: Lower Leas Coastal Park
a. background, construction & awards
b. Fun Zone
c. Amphitheatre
d. Adam Chodzko’s Pyramid

Walk 12: Through Lower Leas Coastal Park to beginning of Zigzag Path

Stop 13: Zigzag Path
a. history

Walk 13: Up the Zigzag Path and along The Leas to The Grand Hotel

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Stop 14: The Grand Hotel
Finish by the Earth Peace sign in front of The Grand Hotel on The Leas

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Posted in Folkestone | Tagged Channel, Cornelia Parker, Creative Quarter, Dover Strait, Earth Peace, English Channel, Folk Stones, Folkestone, Folkestone Artworks, Folkestone Harbour, Folkestone Triennial, Grand Hotel, Harbour Arm, Kent, Leas Cliff Hall, Leas Lift, Mark Ballinger, Mermaid, Metropole Hotel, Old High Street, poppies, Quarterhouse, Road of Remembrance, Rocksalt, Ruth Ewan, Samphire Hoe, St Eanswythe, St Mary and St Eanswythe, Step Short Arch, Sunny Sands, The Bayle, The Leas, The Stade, The Warren, Tony Quarrington, Tony Quarrington Writer, tourism, View Hotel Folkestone, walking, Walking tours, William Harvey, World War I, Yoko Ono | 19 Comments

19 Responses

on Dec 27, 2016 at 12:59 pm | Reply Phil Harding

Excellent itinerary. Just wonder if it might be reconfigured towards the end so that people could go DOWN the zig zag path and UP on the Leas Lift? This would make it an easier walk for those who are less fit / mobile!
- on Dec 27, 2016 at 6:16 pm | Reply Me In My Frightened Silence
  
  Thanks Phil. You have a good point which I will give serious consideration to. I am very conscious of making the tour as accessible as possible. Regards Tony
on Dec 27, 2016 at 6:07 pm | Reply Folkestone Folks

Hi Tony,

We Abib and Yseult, receive your newsletter since we arrived in september in Folkestone. We have setted up a blog folkestonefolks.com We do articles on people who live in Folkestone and who are active in the community. It covers Art & craft, sport & leisure and health & food. It would be great to do something on you and on the tours that you want to organize so we can promote it. Let us know what you think.

Yseult

Le 27 déc. 2016 à 09:00, Tony Quarrington a écrit :

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- on Dec 27, 2016 at 6:14 pm | Reply Me In My Frightened Silence
  
  Thanks Yseult. I will be in touch shortly. Perhaps we could meet for coffee to discuss? Regards Tony
on Dec 27, 2016 at 9:30 pm | Reply Liz Mulqueen

On behalf of the Friends of the Leas Pavilion, could you refer to the building as that (and not “theatre”) and make people aware of the history? Would be happy to meet with you to chat about it. Thanks!
- on Dec 27, 2016 at 11:09 pm | Reply Me In My Frightened Silence
  
  Liz, of course I will. I’d also be happy to incorporate a formal stop at the Leas Pavilion. Perhaps we could meet in the New Year and discuss how I can help. I would like to write a blog article on it too. Regards Tony
  - on Dec 28, 2016 at 1:13 am Liz Mulqueen
    
    That would be wonderful Tony. I’m away until 23 January, but anytime after that would be good. Email me at lizmul@gmail.com and we’ll arrange.
on Dec 28, 2016 at 7:39 am | Reply Peter Sander

In principle guided walks will be of significant interest but I think you will have difficulty in covering four topics at each stop timing wise while stillcompleting the walk in two hours, interesting though each topic may be.
The terrain is such that average speeds of punters may be much slower than you anticipate so realistic and accurate timing is essential.
Demographically it will probably be older people and without children, who have time for such walks and the ‘spare’ money to pay their guide!
Best of luck,
Peter S.
- on Dec 28, 2016 at 10:51 am | Reply Me In My Frightened Silence
  
  Thanks Peter, food for thought. Regards Tony.
on Dec 28, 2016 at 8:21 am | Reply David Crocker

I was born in Folkestone 1938,surviving WW2 thanks to the shelter in garden.
Are you aware of Go Folkestone a local organisation which tries to save the best in Folkestone and promote the town. I have written many articles for their magazine, several on “historical happenings” on your proposed route. If I can have your email address would be happy to help with what I know
.
- on Dec 28, 2016 at 10:49 am | Reply Me In My Frightened Silence
  
  Thanks David. I will be in touch in the New Year. Regards Tony.
on Dec 28, 2016 at 7:34 pm | Reply Donna Gwinnell Lambo-Weidner

What a FANTASTIC idea, Tony! Now Folkestone is a definite Bucket List destination for me.
- on Dec 28, 2016 at 7:40 pm | Reply Me In My Frightened Silence
  
  Thanks Donna! Look forward to seeing you here or in SF in the near future! x
on Dec 27, 2017 at 12:40 pm | Reply Patricia Young

Keep up the great work Tony! Your photos of Folkestone are fantastic too and a great way to portray this great town. X
on Jan 5, 2018 at 6:26 pm | Reply Me In My Frightened Silence

Thanks Pat, I really appreciate that xx
- on Jan 5, 2018 at 7:42 pm | Reply Patricia Young
  
  You are welcome Sir x
on Jan 5, 2018 at 6:26 pm | Reply Me In My Frightened Silence

Thanks Pat, I really appreciate that x
on Apr 30, 2020 at 8:56 am | Reply Rodney

Too ambitious for old codgers like me. Very good itinerary.
on Apr 30, 2020 at 8:56 am | Reply Rodney

Too ambitious for old codgers like me. Very good itinerary.