A roughly three-mile beach, a restored Martello Tower and a self-guided Heritage Trail give Dymchurch a range of different draws: coast, architectural history and village life. There is also the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway between Hythe and Dungeness, as well as a family-friendly day out at the Amusement Park. If you are planning a stay, you can first weigh up whether the beach, local history, railway or family outing is the main draw for you.

Beach and facilities

Dymchurch beach stretches for roughly three miles. The beach has parking, a slipway and toilets. So when planning, consider not only its approximate length but also the facilities available. The coast is a distinct attraction alongside the historical features at the Martello Tower and on the Heritage Trail; it answers a different question from a walk to see buildings and memorial plaques.

Martello Tower and local history

Dymchurch Martello Tower has been restored to resemble its original appearance. It opened as a museum in 1969. The restoration and the opening year tell different parts of its story: the appearance of the building and the historical start of its use as a museum. Visitors particularly interested in architectural history will find a clear historical focus here.

The Heritage Trail as a village walk

The Dymchurch Heritage Trail is a self-guided circular walk around the village. It highlights notable buildings and historic blue plaques; listed churches and chapels are also among the features along the trail. Its scope therefore ranges from individual buildings and plaques to religious structures. As a self-guided loop, the trail gives the walk a clear historical focus.

A building or a village walk?

When choosing between the Martello Tower and the Heritage Trail, what matters most is the form the historical theme takes: the tower draws attention to a single restored building and its history as a museum. By contrast, the self-guided trail loops around the village and focuses on various buildings, blue plaques, churches and chapels. This lets you choose between a single building and a route with several historical points of interest.

Railway between Hythe and Dungeness

The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway runs between Hythe and Dungeness. There are four stations in between, each within walking distance of a beach. Unlike the village loop, the railway focuses on its two named endpoints and the four intermediate stations; every station is within walking distance of a beach. This gives the railway a different focus from a walk around Dymchurch.

Family-friendly day out

The Dymchurch Amusement Park offers a family-friendly day out. This adds a different kind of outing to the coast and local history. If you are planning a trip with your family, the park is a family-friendly option in Dymchurch; the beach, tower and Heritage Trail may appeal to other interests. You can treat the park as a day out in its own right and decide whether this focus suits your stay.

Discover more destinations: Westerham, Boughton Monchelsea, Worth, Hartley, Teynham, Edenbridge, Newenden, Linton

For the regional travel overview: Kent.