“Oooh, it’s actually quite warm!” I yelled to my boyfriend Tim as I slipped off the jetty. Almost immediately a sludgy slime began to engulf my legs. Gross.
After driving for what felt like forever we had arrived at Westbere Lake. Not far from Whitstable, it’s a former quarry that’s since been flooded. Where once heavy machinery hacked chunks from the rock, now little dinghy’s are moored. There’s a foliage-filled island in the middle and masses of trees surrounding the lake’s perimeter. When we visited they were all at peak summer fullness, on that tipping point of summer and autumn.
Rated as one of the Evening Standard’s top wild swimming spots near London, we expected to be elbowing back the crowds. But the place was deserted, except for some bloke in a white van driving back and forth along the shoreline. A restless fisherman or dispirit dogger perhaps?
After persuading Tim into the slimy shallows, we ended up half-crawling, half-clawing our way through reeds in our bid for open water. Once past the last line of lily pads we were met by a stiff wind crashing mini waves in our faces. Not quite as romantic as I’d hoped, I suggested we up the stakes and swim to a buoy in the middle. He cautiously agreed. After much thrashing around we made it. Clinging to the buoy we attempted a kiss, almost drowning each other in the process. Who says romance is dead? Then it was back to the shore for a picnic.
After the picnic and some exploring of the shoreline we left the lake and white van man to try out the local pub. Reputedly the oldest in Kent, Ye Olde Yew Tree Inn is full of low doorways and authentic looking beams. I plumped for a half of the local cider which was dry and refreshing.
Then it was back to London via Canterbury – also totally worth a look around. Steeped in history, it’s full of cute gardens and quaint little bridges crisscrossing the river which are romantic to wander across. The cathedral was interesting too, huge with so many different spaces within it. Well worth an explore.
Day trip from London done!
The damage:
• £25 on petrol
• £5 on snacks for me
• £7 on drinks and crisps in the pub. We packed a picnic of left overs so that bit was free.
• £3 on ice creams from the ALDI
• TOTAL: £40 – bang on budget!
Romance rating:
Quite high despite the slimy shallows, abundant reeds and smell of pond weed that lingered for the rest of the day.
Dirt Cheap Dater 