New Romney  Dungeness  Dymchurch Coast Guide

New Romney is located in Romney Marsh in Kent about one mile from the sea. It used to be a sea port until the River Rother silted up and marine activities stopped. Dungeness is a low lying headland that projects out into the English Channel. Dymchurch is a small seaside resort that lies two meters below sea level* when the tide is in. 

                                                                    Lydd beach near New Romney

New Romney is now a small country town surrounded by rich farmland which was once the marsh area. It is about a mile from the sea where there is a long shingle beach which is used for recreation including swimming but beware of strong tides along the coast. Some fishing boats still operate from the foreshore. A few of the buildings in the town including the Norman church have entrances below ground level which is a result of the inundation in the 15th century which also silted up the harbour. There is one notable tourist attraction at New Romney namely the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway which is a narrow gauge railway which runs 13 miles along the coast to Hythe. 

Dungeness

The headland at Dungeness is perhaps most famous now as the site of a nuclear power station however it is also the site of two lighthouses. The current lighthouse, black and white, dates from 1961 but the original one was built in 1615. The black lighthouse (in photo) dates from 1904 but is not used as a lighthouse any more however it is open to visitors. 

The vast shingle area of the headland is home to many plants and birds and is a Nation Nature Reserve as well as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The area is mostly undeveloped so that nature has taken over and many rare species thrive in the area. 

Dymchurch

Dymchurch* lies below sea level and has had a sea wall since Roman times. It was originally built, so it is believed, to protect the rich agricultural land of the marshes. Remarkably, given current spending cuts, a new wall was built in 2011 at a cost of £60 million in order to protect the small town and the agricultural area inland. Dymchurch is a seaside resort and has two large holiday parks which also have leisure facilities such as rides and amusements. There is also a long sandy beach which was recently awarded Blue Flag status. The narrow gauge railway has a station here and runs to Hythe 13 miles to the east. 

 Source: wikipedia

Nearby attractions 

Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. 

Port Lympne wildlife park.

Martello Tower

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