RSPB Dungeness
Lydd, Coast
Image: RSPB DungenessRSPB Dungeness protects a wide stretch of shingle, freshwater pits, wet grassland and wildflower meadows on the Dungeness peninsula. Follow the level Discovery Trail between the hides to watch the birdlife, and pick up sightings at the visitor centre. It suits birdwatchers and anyone curious about this unusual landscape.
Highlights
- Level 3.2km circular Discovery Trail
- Bird hides with wheelchair spaces
- Shingle, freshwater pits and wildflower meadows
- Visitor centre
Good to know
- Dogs are not allowed on the Discovery Trail, the Hanson ARC trail or in hides; park at ARC and use the public footpaths for dog walks
- No overnight parking or camping
Getting there
RSPB Dungeness, Boulderwall Farm, Dungeness Road, Lydd, Kent, TN29 9PNParking: Main car park (60 spaces, 4 Blue Badge) at the end of the access track, plus a smaller ARC car park opposite the entrance.
Get directionsChecked on 15 October 2026 against rspb.org.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Nearby
Photo: Leonard Bentley from Iden, East Sussex, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0Greatstone Beach
Greatstone offers two miles of sandy beach on the Romney Marsh coast, ideal for swimming, sandcastles and long walks at low tide. The open shore also draws kitesurfers and land yachters. Families can easily fill half a day, and Dungeness is close by for more exploring.
Photo: Dr Astrid Stilma, CC BY-SA 4.0Dungeness National Nature Reserve
Dungeness is one of the largest shingle landscapes in the world, a strange and beautiful place of wooden houses, lighthouses, power stations and gravel pits. The National Nature Reserve is home to around 600 plant species and is a great spot for migrating birds in spring and autumn. Spend a few hours walking the paths, then visit the Old Lighthouse, the RSPB reserve or the miniature railway terminus.
Image: Creative FolkestoneProspect Cottage
Prospect Cottage is the former home of the artist, filmmaker and gardener Derek Jarman, set on the shingle at Dungeness with his famous garden around it. Guided, timed visits let you step inside to see the rooms and artworks where he lived and worked. It suits art and film lovers and needs about an hour, with time to look at the garden afterwards.