Dungeness
Lydd, United Kingdom
A flat shingle headland of fishermen’s huts, two lighthouses and a nuclear power station. The old lighthouse can be climbed, and a miniature railway runs to Hythe.
Dungeness is a shingle headland on the Kent coast and is regarded as one of the largest expanses of shingle in Europe. Among the wooden houses, a number of which were made from old railway carriages in the 1920s, stands Prospect Cottage, the former home of the artist Derek Jarman. The Old Lighthouse of 1904 is 41 m high with 169 steps, and it is open to visitors. Beside it stands the black-and-white banded lighthouse of 1961. Dungeness A nuclear power station has been closed since 2006; Dungeness B was shut down in 2018 and is in its defuelling phase.
A waymarked circular walk of about 5 km starts at the car park next to the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway station; the 15-inch-gauge railway runs from Hythe to here. Allow about 1.5 hours for the walk, plus time for the tower. The terrain is flat, exposed and partly covered in loose shingle. The RSPB reserve has a 3.2 km circular trail to hides and a visitor centre with a café.
- Nearest town
- Lydd, United Kingdom
- Category
- Roadside oddities
- GPS
- 50.9135, 0.9765
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- United Kingdom: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Drive on the left. Some bridges and tunnels charge tolls.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Romney Sands Holiday ParkMotorhome stopover5 km from DungenessMotorhomes
- New Romney Caravan ParkMotorhome stopover7 km from DungenessTentsMotorhomesElectricityWi-Fi
- Camber Sands Holiday ParkMotorhome stopover12 km from DungenessCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Norwood Farm CampsiteCampsite14 km from DungenessTentsCaravansElectricity
- DaleacresCampsite16 km from DungenessTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Broadhembury Caravan & Camping ParkCampsite23 km from DungenessTentsCaravansElectricityDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in United Kingdom · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Dungeness?
Dungeness is in Lydd, United Kingdom, at GPS 50.9135, 0.9765. It is about 17 km from Rye.
Can you camp near Dungeness?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Romney Sands Holiday Park, about 5 km away; within 25 km there are 40 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Dungeness?
Dungeness is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Kent: castles, Canterbury and the white cliffs.
What is there to see near Dungeness?
Places worth a stop nearby: Bodiam Castle (32 km), White Cliffs of Dover (35 km), Canterbury Cathedral (41 km) and Cap Gris-Nez (43 km).
When is the best time to visit Dungeness?
The most pleasant months are usually May–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)