Greatstone Loop via Dungeness, Lydd and New Romney

The Adventure

Starting from Greatstone Beach Car Park, be prepared for a relatively expensive parking charge—but I suppose that's the price of being right next to the beach!

From here, the route heads towards Dungeness, one of the most unusual and fascinating landscapes in Kent. A stark expanse of shingle, big skies and almost otherworldly scenery, Dungeness is a National Nature Reserve and home to the RSPB Dungeness nature reserve, making it an important haven for wildlife, wildflowers and rare plants.

Don't be fooled by the relatively flat landscape, though. Walking across the shingle is surprisingly wearing on the legs, so this is definitely one where the terrain can make the miles feel longer than expected!

Along the way, you'll encounter an eclectic collection of landmarks that seem almost impossible to find together in one place. There's the old decommissioned lighthouse alongside the newer working lighthouse, while Prospect Cottage, the distinctive black wooden home of the late filmmaker Derek Jarman, sits amongst his famous shingle garden.

Then comes perhaps the most striking contrast of all—the Dungeness Nuclear Power Station, an enormous industrial structure standing directly against the wild and exposed coastline. It's an unusual sight, but somehow feels completely at home in the strange character of Dungeness.

The route eventually reaches the Dungeness terminus of the historic Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, whose miniature steam locomotives have been carrying passengers across Romney Marsh for generations.

From Dungeness, the route continues inland towards Lydd, the most southerly town in Kent. Originally an island settlement formed from the accumulation of shingle, Lydd has a fascinating history and today encompasses the town itself along with Dungeness, Lydd-on-Sea and parts of Greatstone-on-Sea.

A welcome stop along the way is The Dolphin Inn, a traditional village pub offering a warm welcome and the opportunity to enjoy some light refreshments before continuing the journey.

Leaving Lydd behind, the route winds through quiet country roads and open farmland across Romney Marsh, eventually reaching New Romney.

Once a thriving seaport, New Romney now sits more than a mile inland following the dramatic changes to the coastline during the Great Storm of 1287. Today, it is one of the principal towns of Romney Marsh and is perhaps best known for its close connection with the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, whose headquarters and main depot are located here.

After exploring New Romney, the route heads back towards Greatstone, completing a fascinating circular adventure through some of the most distinctive landscapes in Kent.

Overall, this is a walk of contrasts—wild coastline, rare wildlife, shingle landscapes, historic towns, farmland, heritage railway and a nuclear power station all packed into one adventure.