It’s not all about work!
With a 21 mile coastline and 21% of the district designated as part of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AoNB), you won’t be lost for things to do in your leisure time. From stunning beaches, to some of the best golf courses in the country, and from world renowned heritage to stunning parks and gardens, there’s something for everyone in the Dover district.
Messing about in boats!
As the closest part of the UK to mainland Europe, you’re never far from the sea. Opportunities to take to the sea are many and varied. For serious swimmers, Dover marks the start of the greatest endurance swim of all, the English Channel! Most weekends during the summer will see swimmers training in Dover harbour for this epic, 21 mile open water swim.
If sailing rocks your boat, there are many local clubs, including the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club in Dover, the Downs Sailing Club in Walmer, and the Sandwich Sailing & Motorboat Club. Boat moorings are available at Dover Marina, or the Quay in Sandwich. The £2.5 million Dover Sea Sports Centre is located on Dover seafront and offers a whole host of RYA accredited sea sports, including sailing, wind surfing, rowing, and kayaking from a purpose built facility, including changing rooms, disabled access and facilities. There is also a restaurant with views across Dover harbour.
Anyone for golf?
The Dover district boasts some of the finest championship Links golf courses in the country, many of them in spectacular coastal settings. The premier golf course in Kent is Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, which has played host to The Open on 15 occasions.
The nearby Royal Cinque Ports Golf Club is another fine Links course and hosted The Open in 1900 and 1920 which has hosted the Amateur Championships, along with a third Links course at Princes Golf Club, one of the leading venues for society and corporate golf days with extensive function facilities. Further along the coast, Walmer & Kingsdown Golf Club is located high on the famous White Cliffs with panoramic views across the Channel to France. This ‘hidden gem’ welcomes youngsters and families into a very friendly and community-feeling club.
Leisure Centres
Dover District Leisure Centre »
Dover District Leisure Centre opened to the public on Monday February 25 2019.
The centre offers a wide range of facilities including a 25m county standard swimming pool, 15m learner pool, 4 court sports hall, health & fitness studio, clip n climb wall, sauna and steam room, 2 outdoor 3G pitches and 2 squash courts.
Tides Leisure Centre is a multi-sport leisure centre.
The swimming pool proves to be very popular with families, with its beach style pool, wave machine, slides and jacuzzi pools. The centre also offers a 4 court sports hall, health & fitness club, sauna/steam suite, and a superb Indoor 4 court Tennis Centre and Terrace Café.
There is a range of membership packages available, or you can simply pay as you go.
Located on Dover's historic seafront the facility offers a range of sports including; sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, rowing, and swimming and a coastal sea safari.
And if you are not taking part in sport, then you can relax and enjoy a meal in the highly-regarded fish restaurant on the upper floor offering spectacular views of Dover Castle, the White Cliffs and Dover Harbour.
Deal Indoor Tennis Centre is adjoining to Tides Leisure Centre in Deal and features 4 indoor acrylic courts, spectator areas and a comprehensive membership and coaching programme.
The courts were funded by the Lawn Tennis Association and opened in the summer of 2011.
There are 6 tennis clubs in the district and contact information can be found on the British Tennis website.
This traditional paddling pool is situated on Walmer Green looking over the beach and lawns.
Goodwin Academy (formerly Castle Community College) offers an outstanding all-weather floodlit pitch suitable for many sports, but in particular football. The pitch can be hired for both training and matches on weekday evenings, weekends and throughout school holidays. Additional facilities include changing rooms, a gymnasium and coaching rooms/classrooms.
Deal Pier is a significant local landmark and public amenity offering excellent views of Deal sea front.
It is internationally recognised as an angling venue and features a glass-walled café-bar at the end.
Situated between Deal and Sandwich, Betteshanger Country Park (formally known as Fowlmead) offers a day out in the fresh air for all the family. This former coalfield site has been transformed into both a nature reserve and a leisure/sporting venue. The park offers a range of activities including cycling, walking, running, orienteering, confidence course and play area. Bikes can be hired and used on either the purpose built 3 mile tarmac track or on the surrounding leisure tracks. There is also a BMX circuit and single-track trails for mountain bikers. The site is home to numerous sporting weekly/monthly sporting events and clubs, and well as a site for ‘Healthy Walking Groups’. Make a day of it and bring a picnic whilst taking in the sweeping views of the East Kent Coastal plain.
Sandwich Sport & Leisure Centre is a multi-sport leisure centre with facilities that include a state of the art fitness suite with spin cardio theatre, 4-court sports hall, aerobics/activities studio, squash courts, tennis courts, netball courts, and a brand new 3G artificial turf pitch and a crèche facility.
Aylesham Welfare Leisure Centre is one of the district's newest facilities and offers a state of the art fitness suit, a Multi-Use Floodlit Games Area (suitable for netball, basketball, tennis, and football), a floodlit artificial turf pitch (suitable for football and rugby with shock absorption padding built in) and grass pitches for hire (football, rugby & American football). There is also a social bar, cafe, and changing rooms within the facility.
For more information visit Freedom Leisure or telephone 01304 840661.
The Miners Welfare Scheme was set up by the Mining Industry Act of 1920. Today it is run by the Coal Industry Social including Betteshanger Social Welfare Scheme (BSWS).
All of the collieries are closed in Kent, welfare clubs are the last bastions of the mining community and will remain open to keep the Mining Heritage alive.
There are many clubs on offer including indoor and outdoor bowling, bingo, football and cricket, fishing & pigeon racing, an allotment section, Welfare Brass Band, judo, knitting and much more. All of the sports and social sections welcome new members, young and not so young are all welcome.
For more information on what's on and what to do in the Dover district please visit www.whitecliffscountry.org.uk