From coastal walks to beachside beer gardens, this tiny fishing village is packed full of seaside charm
Kent is home to a hell of a lot of great towns for a weekend break, but if you’ve done enough city stuff and you want to venture a little further than the likes of busy Whitstable and Margate, Dungeness could be the perfect place for your next adventure. This tiny fishing town is found at the southernmost point of Kent, and it feels a bit like reaching the end of the world (in the best way possible).
You’ll find vast stretches of shingle, lined with weathered wood cabins and abandoned fishing boats that look over the wide open sea. It really is a great place to unwind and disconnect, and there are plenty of coastal walks, beach-side beers and fresh-off-the-boat seafood to be enjoyed. So, here are the best things to do in Dungeness.
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Head to the top of the Old Lighthouse, a historic Grade II-listed building that saved ships from the perils of the English Channel between 1904 and 1960. From the top you can see for miles across Dungeness and Romney Marsh.
Dungeness is a magnet for all kinds of bird life, so grab your binoculars and head to the RSPB Dungeness Nature Reserve. Take the circular trail and enjoy the vistas of wildflower meadows, shingle ridges and marshland. The reserve is known for its rare and hard-to-see birds. Listen out for booming bitterns and keep your ’nocs to handy for spotted flycatchers and wheatears.
If the salty sea air hasn’t already given you an appetite, the sumptuous smells from the Snack Shack most certainly will. Dig in to homemade flatbreads with the catch of the day from its very own fishing boats. For the best fish and chips around, head to The Pilot Inn, which sits right on the edge of the beach.
Romney Marsh is as flat as a pancake, so makes for perfect cycling country, even if it can get a tad blustery. Hire a bike in Dungeness or New Romney and take in the desert-like scenery of the largest expanse of shingle in Europe. Go past the Wild West-esque weathered, derelict huts and fishing boats as well as the iconic coal-black Prospect Cottage – the former home of film director Derek Jarman.
Try a local beer from Romney Marsh Brewery’s beer garden at the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway station in Dungeness (it’s aptly named Ales by the Rails).
Stay for the sunset. There’s something extra-special about the sunsets at Dungeness (and neighbouring Camber Sands too). As the sun sinks to the horizon, watch a spectacular show of pinks, blues and oranges fill the sky and reflect on the open sea. A photographer’s dream.
Locations don’t get better for exploring this unique corner of Kent than this striking architectural gem of a holiday house – right on the shingle. Integrated into the landscape, the modern design is inspired by the old tarred exteriors of the fisherman’s huts that are dotted across Dungeness. Enjoy the expansive sea views from its folding glass windows, or watch as the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway passes by the end of the garden. It’s a totally dreamy spot. Shingle House.
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