Botany Bay, Broadstairs

The most photogenic of Thanet's chalk bays, Botany Bay serves up freestanding white stacks, arches and a clean sweep of sand that looks almost Mediterranean from 50m up. The classic shot is a low sunrise orbit of the main stack with the tide half in — the chalk glows orange and the reflections in the wet sand do half the work for you. Airspace here is unusually relaxed for the South East: Manston aerodrome, 5km inland, has been closed since 2014 and carries no FRZ, though an airspace change process is underway ahead of a possible 2029 reopening, so this may tighten in future — worth a Drone Assist check each visit. The practical hazards are tidal: the bay cuts off at high water and people regularly get stranded, so time TOAL from the beach around a falling tide. Fulmars and other seabirds nest on the chalk in spring — keep lateral distance from the cliff face. Summer afternoons get busy with families; shoulder-season mornings are ideal.