Hopefully a straightforward one this. Is an Off-Peak Day Return Staplehurst to Margate valid via Dover please?
I'll be walking from Margate to Deal this weekend, but want to confirm that Deal is an appropriate break of journey point for this ticket.
Many thanks,
A ticket from Staplehurst to Margate is valid via Dover. However, it is only valid via Deal if you use a direct train between Staplehurst and Margate which takes that route - so you cannot break your journey at Deal.
Meanwhile, a ticket from Tonbridge to Margate would be valid to break your journey at Deal. The precise reasons behind this are a little complex, but I expect that as
@BluePenguin says, you would in practice be fine breaking your journey at Deal. Even if a member of staff knew that your ticket isn't valid for break of journey there, the worst they could do is to charge you the difference to the cheapest fare which would allow you to do so. Which would be something like the Tonbridge ticket.
In short, I wouldn't worry about it.