Minster Leas // Minster-on-Sea Unlike its bigger cousins in Leysdown and Sheerness, the Minster Leas on the Isle of Sheppey is a much quieter, more relaxing kind of place. There is a small café selling ice creams and hot and cold drinks, as well as some pubs where the food is as good as the view. When the tide is out you might even be able to spot the SS Montgomery – a ship that sunk during World War II – poking out of the sea, and on a clear day you can spot the amusements in Southend.
Dymchurch Beach // Dymchurch Dymchurch Beach is a mixture of sand and shingle that sweeps across the coastline and offers a great deal of seaside charm. The beach – a Blue Flag award winner – runs from Dungeness to Hythe, and its wide expanse is popular with everyone from kite surfers to sand castle builders. Dymchurch itself has an amusement park as well as cafés and a comfortable pub, so you can spend the whole day here( perhaps with a trip on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway too).
Deal Beach // Deal Dean is a long, pebbly beach with a pier that dates back to the 1950s( the pier itself is where you can find a great little café as well as fishing decks if that’ s your thing). Although perhaps not the best spot for sunbathing due to the stones, it is a gorgeous place to go for a stroll. At one end lies the fabulous Deal Castle( cared for by English Heritage) and at the other you’ ll find Walmer Castle( another English Heritage property). In between you can spot drawn up fishing boats resting quietly, and of course, skimming stones always has a certain appeal.
Sandwich Bay // Sandwich Sandwich Bay is a long beach and a sandy one too, and if it’ s just beach you want, this is the spot to go to as the amenities are a little further away. That does mean that you can often find a nice, private spot even on the sunniest of summer days, and for some that is exactly what they are looking for. For added bonus adventures there is the Pegwell Bay Nature Reserve that backs onto the beach, but watch out for the north end of the beach since this is often used by naturists.
Minnis Bay // Birchington Minnis Bay is a secluded little place that offers separate areas for those who want to swim and those who prefer to try their hand at water sports. Children are well catered for with a play area and lots of sand for running about on. There is a lifeguard on duty during busy periods and if you want to step away from the beach for a moment, the coastal cycle and walking routes make for a nice change.
Sunny Sands // Folkestone You can already get a pretty good idea of how enjoyable this Folkestone beach can be thanks to its name, but add to this delightful description Folkestone’ s plethora of shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants – and of course the happenin’ Harbour Arm – and you’ ve got the ideal day out. This beach is well known for being one of the best around to make sandcastles on( there is even an annual sandcastle competition), and since it is one of the closest sandy beaches to London, it does get busy so if you want to bag a good spot, you’ ll want to get there early.
Minster Leas
85