2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Danielle Canagasuriam, Chloe Holmwood)
There's no need to jet off to sunny Spanish or Greek coastlines, as Brits have a gem of a sandy beach tucked away in southeastern . The quiet village of Greatstone-on-Sea (Greatstone), nestled between and Rye, is just a stone's throw away from New Romney and boasts a broad two-mile long sand beach, complete with a nature reserve, sand dunes, and an abundance of natural beauty. The name of the charming village, on the coast of Romney Marsh, is derived from the once “Great Stone” shingle headland that has unfortunately eroded over the years due to coastal changes.
Its claim to fame is undeniably its vast beach, where the expanse of soft sand is punctuated by occasional large rocks. The beach's unusual flatness coupled with the calm waters invites a sense of peace, making it a favoured retreat for UK staycations. Its increasing popularity hasn't gone unnoticed, as thrill-seekers are now catered to with exciting water-sport activities, injecting some action into the otherwise tranquil setting.
When it comes to water sports, kitesurfing steals the show at Greatstone Beach, renowned as the only South Coast beach that's kite-friendly on a North Easterly wind, reports . Novices find the even terrain and shallow waters particularly inviting for their first venture into the sport. The water conditions at Greatstone Beach are perfect for a variety of activities, including windsurfing and land yachting.
Dog lovers will be pleased to hear that the beach is dog-friendly, although there are some restrictions during the busy summer months. Greatstone Beach boasts all the modern amenities you'd expect, including public toilets, a picnic area, a restaurant, car parking, and most importantly, a volunteer lifeguard service. Visitors to the beach will also be close to another of the village's natural treasures: the Greatstone Dunes.
The Greatstone Dunes form part of the Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), giving them protected status. The dunes, which run parallel to the coastline, are home to a variety of rare plants and animals that have adapted to the harsh dune environment. The Greatstone Dunes are also famous for being part of the renowned England Coast Path.
While visitors can explore the dunes at any time, it's worth noting that there is no on-site parking and the uneven surfaces and deep sands can affect accessibility. Visitors to the dunes can expect to see a range of unique wildlife, including wading birds like oystercatchers and sanderlings, as well as bumblebees and yellow butterflies. If you're lucky, you might even spot a few seals swimming offshore.
Greatstone is not just known for its natural beauty, but also for its remarkable manmade landmarks. One such landmark is the Greatstone Sound Mirrors, also referred to as Acoustic Mirrors or Listening Ears. These large concrete structures were designed as an early warning system to detect enemy aircraft during World War I.
The large disks worked in tandem with microphones and stethoscopes to calculate the height, speed and flight path of incoming aircraft. These impressive structures, standing between 20 to 200 feet tall, are located on an island at Greatstone Lakes within the Dungeness Nature Reserve. While these Sound Mirrors are not always accessible to the public, there will be a rare Open Day on July 27, 2025, for anyone interested in exploring these significant historical monuments.
Given the infrequency of this event, it's certainly worth planning your visit around this date..
