Dungeness
Britain's only shingle headland described as a "desert." It is dotted with fishermen's wooden huts, old and new lighthouses, and a nuclear power station, making it a bleak and unique landscape.
Dungeness is a huge shingle headland at the southeast tip of England. Its landscape is known as "Britain's only desert." Black-painted fishermen's huts, abandoned fishing boats, two lighthouses, and a nuclear power station in the background make for a bleak, surreal scene that photographers love. Derek Jarman's Prospect Cottage and its shingle garden are a place of pilgrimage. It is a private residence, so you can only view it from outside or book a guided visit. You can climb the old lighthouse from 1904, and next to it is an RSPB bird reserve. It is about 20 km from Rye, roughly a 30-minute drive, or you can take the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch miniature railway.
Opening hours
Open all day; old lighthouse open seasonally
Nearby sights
- Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
- Camber Sands
- Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
- Rye Castle (Ypres Tower)
- Camber Castle
- Landgate
- St Mary's Church, Rye
- Lamb House