Author Archives: manonabeach

About manonabeach

On a beach…welcome to manonabeach.com, where I’ll regularly add video of my beach visits, so you can enjoy a flavour of the beach, even when you’re not there.

Dymchurch

View map of beach Parking available Toilets available Dog friendly Beach cleaned regularly Good water quality for swimming

Season: autumn

At over three miles in length, Dymchurch beach provides a safe swimming area, with clean bathing water.  Ever popular with visitors, there is much to see and to do here, from water sports and donkey rides to cafes, restaurants and Martello Towers to gaze at, dating back to Napoleonic times.  The recently added sea wall enables visitors to walk from Hythe Military Range to St Mary’s Bay.  The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch narrow-gauge railway is well worth a ride.

What the beach means to Dave.

The sound of the shingle at Dymchurch beach.

St Mary’s Bay

View map of beach Parking available Toilets available Dog friendly Beach cleaned regularly Good water quality for swimming

Season: autumn

Running between Littlestone-on-Sea and Dymchurch, the beach at St Mary’s Bay is sandy, clean and popular for bathing.  You can see a remaining section of the Mulberry Harbour, constructed for the D-Day landings in 1944, out at sea.  With the wildlife at Romney Marsh nearby, as well as a promenade and ice creams, there’s a variety of attractions for visitors.  You can even take a ride on the nearby Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch narrow-gauge railway.

Tony’s succinct appraisal.

A sunny day at St Mary’s Bay.

Greatstone Beach

View map of beach Parking available Toilets available SSSI Dog friendly

Season: autumn

At two miles long, Greatstone beach is part of the Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest.  This is a fine natural location, with rare plant species, insects and mammals resident in the extensive dune system behind the beach.  However, unlike Dungeness itself, this is a popular bathing location, sitting in the safe haven of Romney Bay.  The lack of groynes make water sports, including kite surfing, popular too.  I recommend a swimming visit between high tide and the middle of the tide, thereby avoiding the exposed mud near the shore at low tide.  Low tide is a great time to enjoy the wading birds, particularly the oystercatchers.

What the beach means to Mike.

A view from the ramp by Littlestone beach.

On the main sandy beach.