This quiet seaside village in Kent is home to a bounty of natural wonders including protected sand dunes and a two-mile wide sand beach that is beloved by avid kitesurfers
There is no need to hop on a plane to Spain or Greece when Brits can find a sweeping sand beach much closer to home. One charming village in southeastern Kent is home to a two-mile wide sand beach, in addition to a nature reserve, sand dunes and a wealth of other natural wonders.
Greatstone-on-Sea (Greatstone) is a village on the coast of Romney Marsh, between Folkestone and Rye and about one mile east of New Romney. The village’s name is derived from the once “Great Stone” shingle headland that has unfortunately eroded over the years due to coastal changes.
The most well-known and beloved feature of Greatstone is its expansive beach. Greatstone Beach is defined by its seemingly endless stretch of sandy shoreline, broken up only by a smattering of large rocks.
The unusually flat beach and serene waters create a distinct atmosphere of tranquillity, and has made it a beloved holiday destination for UK staycationers. That said, the beach’s growing popularity has seen the introduction of water-sport activities for those interested in a more active holiday.
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Kitesurfing is by far the most popular water-sport activity on the beach, and is reportedly the only beach on the South Coast which works on a North Easterly wind. The beach’s flat shore and waist-deep water make it an ideal place for beginners to test their abilities.
The water conditions are well-suited for a myriad of other activities, including windsurfing and land yachting. Many travellers will be happy to know that the beach is also dog-friendly, though dogs are still prohibited in some areas during peak summer months.
Greatstone Beach is also fitted with all the modern conveniences including public toilets, picnic area, restaurant, car park and most importantly, a volunteer lifeguard service. Beachgoers will also be in close proximity to another one of the village’s most prized natural features: the Greatstone Dunes.
The Greatstone Dunes are part of the Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), granting it protected status. The dunes which run parallel to the coastline are significant for housing a range of rare flora and fauna that have adapted to the harsh dune conditions.
The Greatstone Dunes are also well-known for being part of the famous England Coast Path. Visitors can explore the dunes anytime, but keep in mind there is no on-site parking and uneven surfaces and deep sands impacts accessibility.
Some of the wonderful and unique wildlife travellers can expect to encounter in the dunes include: wading birds such as oystercatchers and sanderlings, as well as bumblebees and yellow butterflies. Most excitingly, travellers may even be able to spot a few seals swimming offshore.
In addition to the village’s natural wealth, Greatstone is known for its impressive manmade landmarks as well, one in particular. The Greatstone Sound Mirrors (also known as Acoustic Mirrors or Listening Ears) are large concrete structures that were designed to be a warning system for Britain to detect enemy aircrafts during World War I.
The large disks were used in conjunction with microphones and stethoscopes to calculate the height, speed and flight path of incoming aircrafts. These monumental structures stand between 20 to 200 feet tall and can be found on an island at Greatstone Lakes in the Dungeness Nature Reserve.
While the Sound Mirrors are not always open to the public, there will be an Open Day for anyone interested in exploring these important historical monuments on July 27, 2025. Given the rarity of the event, this Open Day is certainly worth planning your trip around.