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Kent’s Boxing Day swims, walks and races in 2023

05:00, 21 December 2023

There’s nothing quite like a bracing winter walk to help the turkey and mince pies go down after an indulgent Christmas Day.

Some brave individuals might even manage to prise themselves off the sofa for a chilly winter dip in the sea or a heart-pounding run on Boxing Day.

Shake off your festive feast with a walk, run or swim on Boxing Day. Picture: iStock
Shake off your festive feast with a walk, run or swim on Boxing Day. Picture: iStock

This year, there are a number of different walks, runs and swims you can take part in after knocking back one too many Quality Street chocolates and glasses of Baileys this festive season.

To ease you into the post-Christmas activities, there’s a picturesque walk taking place around the grounds of Ightham Mote on Boxing Day.

The medieval manor in Ivy Hatch, near Sevenoaks, will be open for visitors to enjoy a light breakfast in the café before heading out into the estate for a brisk walk.

Ightham Mote will be decked out for Christmas – although you’ll need a separate ticket to see inside the house. Picture: ©National Trust Images / Arnhel de Serra
Ightham Mote will be decked out for Christmas – although you’ll need a separate ticket to see inside the house. Picture: ©National Trust Images / Arnhel de Serra

The walk should last between 60 and 90 minutes and will take you around the 14-acre gardens, including lakes, woodland and orchard.

Tickets cost £15, including breakfast from 8.45am, and can be booked online here.

If you want to pick up the pace a little, the annual Saltwood Boxing Day Run returns this year.

The event, which has attracted thousands of runners in previous years, kicks off from The Green in Saltwood, near Hythe, at 12pm.

Start your January health kick early with a Boxing Day run. Picture: iStock
Start your January health kick early with a Boxing Day run. Picture: iStock

Participants will then tackle the three-mile route, which loops through the surrounding fields and country trails, and receive a medal at the end.

It costs £12 to register and is open to all ages and abilities. You can secure your spot in the race here.

Deal’s Boxing Day Dip saw lots of swimmers dress up and head into the sea last year. Picture: The Unofficial Photographer
Deal’s Boxing Day Dip saw lots of swimmers dress up and head into the sea last year. Picture: The Unofficial Photographer

For those of you who are brave enough to face the elements with a spot of cold water swimming, you can take part in two daring dips this Boxing Day.

The Deal Rotary Icebreakers’ Boxing Day Dip has been taking place on the beach near Deal Pier since 1981.

The charity swim is organised by the Rotary Club of Deal and the Deal Rotary Pirates and has raised more than £85,000 for local charities over the years.

This year, the dip starts at the slightly later time of 1.30pm and swimmers will need to be out of the water by 1.45pm.

It costs £7 to take part and you can register online here.

A cold swim on Boxing Day has become a popular tradition
A cold swim on Boxing Day has become a popular tradition

Finally, if one dash into the cold water isn’t enough, you can start even earlier with Folkestone’s Boxing Day Dip.

The annual swim has become a staple of the town’s Sunny Sands beach and helps raise money for both the Folkestone Lions and swimmers’ chosen charities.

There’s also a prize for the best fancy dress outfit, so don’t be surprised if you see people rushing headfirst into the sea dressed up in Christmas jumpers and Rudolph antlers.

The fancy dress competition will be judged at 11.45am before the dip officially begins at 12pm.

You can get an online form here to register and start fundraising for the event.

There will also be prizes for the most money raised and the oldest and youngest ‘dippers’.

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