Days by the beach

1. Viking Bay, Broadstairs - the proper sandy beach day

If the children want sandcastles, buckets, spades and a proper day on the beach, Viking Bay is our pick.

The wide, horseshoe-shaped bay sits beneath Broadstairs and has lovely soft sand, colourful beach huts and plenty of places nearby for fish and chips, ice cream or a coffee. It feels like a traditional English seaside day and is the easiest of the three for families who simply want to settle on the beach for a few hours.

Park on Western Esplanade (the earlier you arrive, the closer you will be), and walk to Viking Bay, take the lift down. Settle on the beach, and get a few coffees (costa coffee most recognizable brand), before heading into the town for a late lunch at one of the many decent restaurants.

2. Whitstable - the pebble beach and foodie day

Whitstable is not the place we choose for building sandcastles. Its beach is shingle and pebbles, but what it lacks in soft sand it more than makes up for in atmosphere and food.

We love wandering along the beach and harbour, browsing the little shops and deciding where to stop for lunch. Whitstable is famous for its oysters, but there is something here for every sort of seafood mood:

• The Lobster Shack is the relaxed option, right at the end of the East Quay, with seafood, local beer, local wine and plenty of outdoor seating. It does not take reservations, so expect to queue when the weather is good. Lieven loves the lobster & chips here.

• The Whitstable Oyster Company is the famous waterfront choice for oysters, fish and shellfish overlooking the oyster grounds.

• Samphire is an independent bistro in the centre of town, using seasonal ingredients from Kent and the South East.

• The Sportsman, a little farther along the coast at Seasalter, is the special-occasion option. It has held a Michelin star since 2008 and serves seasonal menus inspired by the surrounding coast and marshes. Booking is essential, and it is worth noting that children under ten are not admitted.

Whitstable is good all year round. We often head to Whitstable on the 1st of January, as we blow the previous year away and welcome the new one. A walk beside the sea followed by oysters, lobster or a long lunch is really the point.

Choose Whitstable for oysters, seafood, independent shops, harbour wandering and a beach day built around lunch.

3. Dungeness - the wild and wonderfully strange beach day and ...Greatstone with all sand you will ever need.

Dungeness is completely different again. This is not a conventional swimming beach, but an enormous shingle landscape of fishing boats, weatherboard cottages, lighthouses, big skies and the rather dramatic backdrop of the power station. It feels remote, cinematic and unlike anywhere else in Kent.

For children, the highlight is often Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway (also great for rainy days) Its little steam and diesel trains run across Romney Marsh to Dungeness, turning the journey into part of the day. Check the timetable before setting off, as services vary through the year.

The Old Lighthouse is another excellent stop when it is open. There are 169 steps to the top, rewarded with sweeping views across the shingle, sea and Romney Marsh. Dungeness is also brilliant for photographers, birdwatchers and anyone who enjoys a walk somewhere a little wild and unusual. The nearby RSPB Dungeness reserve has trails, hides and freshwater pools, although dogs are restricted on its main nature trails.

Take layers, even on a sunny day. Dungeness is exposed and can feel much cooler and windier than Yalding.

Greatstone is one of Kent’s best sandy beaches, with a huge stretch of soft sand and plenty of space even on busy summer days. At low tide the beach seems to go on forever, making it brilliant for paddling, sandcastles and long barefoot walks.

It is generally much quieter and less commercial than some of Kent’s better-known seaside towns, which is part of its charm. Families love the wide open beach, while the flat shoreline also makes it ideal for a relaxed day by the sea.

Combine it with nearby Dungeness for a very Kentish day out of big skies, beaches, miniature trains and wonderfully unusual scenery.

Choose Dungeness for the little railway, lighthouses, wildlife, photography and a coastal adventure with a difference. Greatstone is a great option right next to it for great sandy beaches!

Which beach day should you choose?

• Best for young children and sandcastles: Viking Bay

• Best for food and a leisurely lunch: Whitstable

• Best for an unusual family adventure: Dungeness

• Best when it is sunny but not quite beach weather: Whitstable or Dungeness

• Best in winter: Whitstable

  
  

Before you go

All three destinations are roughly an hour from Woodlands Cottages, For Viking Bay, pack everything needed for a traditional sandy beach day. For Whitstable and Dungeness, sturdy shoes are far more comfortable on the shingle than flimsy sandals.

Picture: Our family on Viking bay.