Dungeness National Nature Reserve — Attraction in Folkestone and Hythe District

Lovely place for a dog walk in the sunshine, can get windy at times.

Very unusual area has a bit of a post apocalyptic feel to it, the area's vegetation is a mixture of thorny heath in pebbles and sand with various mosses and small hardy bushes that grow a yellow flower and give off an almost almondy sent in the summer, this seems to attract lots of butterflies. An abundance of wild birds of many species small pools and lakes dotted about all on a back drop of a nuclear power station, old infrastructure is scattered about the area, you may find old fishing huts with abandoned engineering for pulling out ships onto and up the beach and also old railway sidings from the building of the old part of the power station. There is a dedicated bird watching center near the golf course along the main road i've forgotten the exact name location, sorry. I believe it to have platforms and hides for the serious twitcher or long range nature photographer.

In all this area could be said to be an artists paradise, ether painting or photography there is always something interesting to whiteness, perhaps the launch of coast guards large rescue vessel into an angry surf or the fishing boats bringing in the catch of the day or just some of the abandoned engineering being retaken by nature. You will find a lovely selection of very unusual artwork close to the Romney and Hythe miniature railway at the end of the line (well worth a visit with children btw), a small viewing gallery where you can visit for free and purchase artwork. The large collection of shoes washed up on the beach is always a strange and unusual sculpture.

That mentioned there are some excellent eatery's and pubs in the area along with excellent farmshops, new romney potatoes are said to be of excellent flavour in season. In all well...

What an odd place! Long shingle beach, so you can park and walk down it for miles. When the tide goes out there is a sandy beach, but BEWARE, cos you sink in the mud even 3 meters from the shingle! So I retreated to the shingle for safety reasons - quite scary. Near the point there are boats pulled up onto the shingle. New working ones, plus old derelicts. In the sun they are very photogenic. There are two lighthouses at the end which are both elegant. The properties are a combination of at least one off grand designs, to bungalows, to almost shanty town dwellings. Then there's the nuclear power station - I wouldn't mind if it was pretty, but it was just pretty ugly! Next to it are the old coastguards cottages surrounded by a ring of a mound. Plus the little nature reserve area, which was strangely closed in after being on the beach for hours. And don't forget the little railway line running for miles just behind the first line of houses down to the power station. Couple of pub/restaurants too. Good for a long 9 mile walk - or less if you park closer. But what an odd place - lots of random ingredients, none of which seem to go together. Oh yeah - and it's windy - VERY WINDY,...

This place is like nowhere else in the world! Sometimes known as the desert of Kent this place is so quirky it's like marmite, you'll love it or hate it. Personally it is one of my favourites and I love strolling round this peninsula looking at all the odd mix of houses and gardens (if you can call them that) and watching the little train trundle along guessing which engine it is being pulled by on that particular day. The train itself is quite expensive but is well worth the price once you pass Romney Sands station. The railway cafe is nice enough, again expensive and doesn't allow dogs but if you want somewhere else there is always the pub just a short walk away which is definitely worth a visit, good food and Kentish beer! Don't be alarmed by the monstrosity of the power station I have been told that it is very safe albeit unsightly. There are two lighthouses here and you can climb to the older now redundant one for a small fee which is worth it if you have a head for heights and don't forget to look out for the dolphins which can sometimes be seen just a short way off of shore. Bizarre place...