Why a Booktrail?
2000s: Adventures in Whitstable parts one and two combined
The Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club
What you need to know before your trail
Debs is newly separated from her feckless husband and struggling to start again on her own.
When she begins to swim every day at West Beach, he soon gathers a group of new friends around her – each of them at their crisis point. soon life is full of friendship, hope an possibilities. But can Deb escape her past, or will family ties and personal demons drag her underwater again?
Locations
Reset- England - Kent - Whitstable
- A: West Beach
- B: Whitstable harbour
- C: Old Neptune
- D: Windy Corner Stores & Cafe
- E: The Twelve Taps
Travel Guide
An author guide to the swimming in and around Whitstable
West Beach
West Beach is as glorious as it sounds in the novel. The author advises you to go west along the coast from the town centre, past the sea front houses and you’ll see the beach with its well-known shingle. Not everyone loves a shingle beach says Katie May but you should just wear a pair of beach shoes. “Don’t forget to check the tide tables if you want to swim like Maisie and Deb”
The Neptune
This is loved by locals and visitors alike. It’s located directly on the beach and has a white weatherboard white exterior so you can’t miss it. Cosy in the winter with the winter storms lashing on the windows but a magnet for the calm inside during the summer
The Windy Corner Stores and cafe
This is located on a residential street but not far from the West Beach so easily walkable in a few minutes. The coffee is great and the speciality appears to be mushrooms on toast. Good place to read or write up reviews on your laptop. This as well as other cafes helped fuel the author to write the book!
The harbour
Whitstable is still very much a working fishing town. You can see and buy the famous oysters. Katie May also gives a top tip for catching crabs – they seem to like bacon apparently!
Trendy gin bars
Julie gives Deb some advice in a gin bar but this sadly is fictional. There is real gin palace though called The Twelve Taps.
Streetview Maps
B) Whitstable - harbour
C) Whitstable - Old Neptune
Booktrailer Review
Susan:@thebooktrailer
Isn’t this just a delightful story about women who need an escape from life and who start swimming on a beach and form a swimming club! Both Deb and Maisie have problems of their own, but together they form a great friendship during their time they spend on the beach. Soon, more people start visiting the beach and the club is formed!
Ah this book was like a flash of bright sunlight and fresh air on a wintry day when I read it. Snow outside but I imagined it was Whitstable sand. Sleet on the window was sea fret…the location is a joy to behold! Sun, sea and and oysters! Not to mention cafes, pop up bars and a seaside atmosphere. Oh but those developers! aargh I was angry on behalf of the characters but it was a great story line to show the reality of beach towns up and down the country.
I think it’s great to have parts one and two together in a book now – allows you to dive in, swim and come up still wanting more.
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Whitstable High Tide Swimming Club
Destination: Whitstable Author/Guide: Katie May Departure Time: 2000s
Back to ResultsWhere Next?
