Welcome to Deal Festival of Music and Arts 2012 - 29th June to 8th July

Photographs provided by Harold Chapman.

Welcome to the Dover Deal and Sandwich

A Stunning stretch of coast rich in beauty, history and culture. So many hidden gems to discover see and experience, right at the entrance to the Gateway to Europe.

White Cliffs and Intrigue

The majestic White Cliffs of Dover run right along the coast towards Deal taking in the beautiful St Margaret’s Bay.

The stunning Pines Gardens at St Margaret’s Bay hide a labyrinth of tunnels which run underneath passing the National Trust’s South Foreland Light House and Langdon Cliffs, then on to Shakespeare Cliff at Dover’s Western Heights.

Ian Flemming author of the famous James Bond Novels wrote his novels at St Margaret’s Bay and drew his inspiration from this rugged stretch of coast and its intriguing smuggling past dating back to the Napoleonic wars.

Castles and Forts

Towering high up on the white cliffs of Dover, you can see Dover Castle with its secret war time tunnels, one of three historic castles built by Henry VIII that are perched on the Dover Deal and Sandwich coastline. Walmer Castle where the late Queen Mother was Lord Warden with its fabulous gardens and Deal Castle which looks out over the Towns Pier which has recently received a national award for architecture from the Royal Institute of British Architects.

It was on Deal Beach that Julius Ceasar first landed and a plaque now marks this spot.

Further along the coast past Sandwich you will find the ancient Roman Fort at Richborough, once a busy port for the market town of Sandwich now owned by the National Trust. The Fort can be visited by the popular Sandwich River bus from Sandwich Quay, stopping for lunch at The Grove Ferry Inn. You can also take the River bus on seal spotting trips from the Sandwich Quay.

Walks Cycle Rides and Wildlife

The Deal, Dover and Sandwich area is popular with walkers and cyclists. The ancient Saxon shore way runs from Dover along to Pegwell Bay at Sandwich.

Deal has just obtained National walkers status in recognition of its fabulous walks and the warm welcome it provides as a walker friendly tourist destination. The Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory hosts a programme of events which include walks and talks exploring and learning about the rich bird life present at the sandy flats of Sandwich Bay.

Deal’s former Coalfield site with it’s rich mining history, is now the site of Fowlmead Country Park, which holds an Olympic standard cycle track, bird watching platform and hosts regular running events for families and dedicated running clubs.

Golf Sailing and Fishing

The Deal Dover and Sandwich coast boasts four fabulous golf courses with all year round play for men and women of all ages. The most famous Royal St Georges, is due to host the Open Championships in 2011.

The ancient fishing town of Deal, is host of the National Angling Championships.

There are numerous water sports, sailing and yachting clubs along the Dover, Deal and Sandwich coastline. Sandwich Bay, because of its flat shallow waters, is a haven for kite surfers and Kite landboarding.

Music Art and Culture

Deal is unquestionably the cultural hub of Kent. Deal’s population includes a strong creative core of folk from all walks of life including musicians , artists, poets, writers, and actors, who arrive in the town and choose to make it their permanent home drawing inspiration from the spirit of Deal. The annual Deal Festival of Music and the Arts, which has been running for over 25 years, sees a programme of diverse and internationally acclaimed artists performing for two weeks in July across the Dover, Deal and Sandwich area. The Festival is partnered by South East Artists whose works can be viewed in homes across the area which are open to the public during the Festival fortnight.

There is a wide variety of local restaurants supporting the town’s many events offering varied and exciting menus prepared with great local produce from the surrounding area.

Deal has one of only three Timeball towers left in the world which was used to help the British Navy navigate at sea during the Napoleonic wars. Its local History and Maritime Museum is home to some of the Countries greatest treasures and its vast collection of artefacts are frequently used on TV Documentaries such as Time Team. Deal’s annual Maritime Festival in September brings thousands who flock to enjoy the Braderie and open air events on Deals picturesque seafront.

The Memorial Band Stand at Walmer Green in Deal marks the spot where 11 young bandsmen lost their lives in the Deal Bombing in 1989. Regular Free Summer concerts are held here on Sunday afternoons and thousands flock to see the famous Royal Marine musicians who return to the town to play in honour of their fallen comrades.

The South East Festival of Architecture sees events in Dover, Deal and Sandwich.

As one of the oldest medieval towns in Great Britain, Sandwich streets tell tales of its past as a popular market town and busy Roman Port.

The secret ‘Salutation’ gardens of Sandwich are on Monty Dons top ten gardens to visit in the UK with architecture of the house designed by Edwin Lutyens being a mirror of the garden designed by the famous Gertrude Jekyll , now beautifully restored to their former glory for your enjoyment.

With so much to see, and do one trip is not enough!

Useful links:

www.fowlmead.co.uk

www.english-hertitage.org

www.Nationaltrust.org.uk

www.dealbandstand.org

www.downssailingclub.co.uk

www.festivalofarchitecture.org

www.sbbot.co.uk

www.dealanglingclub1919.co.uk