The Walk: You can either follow the sea wall (a modest concrete structure fronting Littlestone Golf Course, then, beyond St Mary's, an impressive wide promenade atop massive sea defences), or, at low tide, walk along the wide beach.
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| Dymchurch Grand Redoubt |
Route
NB The map shows my route, with various diversions and excursions which you may not wish to follow precisely.
The walk along the sea wall is straightforward (in fact it is arguably more satisfying to cycle it, see my companion cycling blog).
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| Sea Wall Promenade and Beach |
If taking to the beach at low tide, Littlestone beach itself is rather soft mud in places, so it is best to stay on the sea front and sea wall as far as the Littlestone Water Tower. Beyond here, the wide sandy beach emerges, making for good walking on firm sand, especially between St Mary's and Dymchurch. The sandy beach runs out where the A259 road rejoins the coast, and the beach is replaced by an embankment of massive boulders, and you must take to the sea wall promenade to reach Dymchurch Redoubt, where the Hythe Military Firing Range prevents further progress.
Why do it?
In winter, the beach walk is an airy contrast to the sprawl of housing, and holiday parks and general seaside clutter along the coast road.. In summer, embrace the seaside ambience on these popular beaches. There are fine views over the bay to the cliffs at Folkestone.
The Littlestone Water Tower, now converted to a dwelling, is an unusual landmark.
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| Littlestone Water Tower |
There are 3 Martello towers along the Dymchurch sea front, which together with the Dymchurch (Grand) Redoubt, are relics of the defences built during the Napoleonic Wars.
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| Martello Tower at Dymchurch |
Logistics:
Park at Littlestone. There is some free street parking (for example in Queens Road), or a a pay and display car park.
Get the 103 bus back from Redoubt Way.
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| Redoubt Way Bus Stop (103 bus back to Littlestone) |
Distance: 7 miles
Challenges
If walking the beach, timing will be constrained by the right combination of tide and daylight.
The 'beach' at Littlestone is more mud than sand. Further up the coast, it is best to stick to the wide expanse of firm sand between the shingle next to the sea wall and the softer sand flats exposed at the lowest tides.
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| Soft sand/mud on Littlestone Beach |
It is not permitted to carry on into the Hythe Range if the red flags are flying. Even if they are not, non-firing days are limited, and it seems difficult to access the range by the mandated route along the beach, since the latter seems to be exposed only at the very lowest tides.
Refreshments
The usual seaside fare in Dymchurch.
Neptune Pub at the New Beach Holiday Park
Nearby walks
To the West: Dungeness to Littlestone
To the East: Hythe Firing Ranges
More photos
November, overcast morning, brightening in the afternoon
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| Littlestone sea front |
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| View Westwards towards Dungeness Nuclear Power Stations |
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| 'Promenade' along coast defences, Littlestone |
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| Littlestone 'beach' |
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| Littlestone Golf Course access track |
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| Sandy beach emerging |
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| The recent sea wall promenade starts at St Mary's |
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| Views over Folkestone Bay |
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| The sandy beach ends at this Martello Tower, to be replaced by a boulder embankment |
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| Steps up to the sea wall promenade |
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| View across New Beach Holiday park towards the North Downs |
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| You are supposed to access Hythe Range via the 'beach' at the bottom of these steps, but that beach seems only to appear at the very lowest tides |
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| Approaching Grand Redoubt |
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| Boulder field prevents direct access to Hythe Range |
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