Romney Marsh: Nature, Coast and Heritage

The Romney Marshes are an open landscape of reclaimed, low-lying marshland. When planning your trip to Romney Marsh, nature and history offer two clear areas of focus. When choosing a hotel, you can first consider whether landscape, walking trails or heritage matters most to you during your stay. Beaches, a nature reserve and medieval churches offer different themes to explore.

Landscape and Nature

Extensive sandy and shingle beaches, as well as flat marshland, stretch between Hythe in Kent and Pett in Sussex. A closer look at nature leads to Romney Warren Country Park. This 11-hectare Local Nature Reserve comprises dune grassland, willow scrub and pond-rich habitats supporting a diverse range of wildlife. As a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the park is nationally important for great crested newts. Three walking trails let you explore the park. You can choose between the expansive coastal and marsh landscape and the specific habitats of a nature reserve as different nature experiences.

Trails and Practical Planning

The “From Fishing to Farming” walking route follows field-edge paths, sea walls and drainage ditches through a landscape reclaimed from the sea. In poor or hot weather, the route is exposed and can become muddy; sturdy walking shoes or wellington boots are recommended. Choose your footwear to suit the conditions. The Romney Marsh section of the England Coast Path opened in July 2016. Check for current restrictions on this section before setting out on a walk. The planning considerations differ: for “From Fishing to Farming,” they concern weather and footwear, while for the England Coast Path, they concern current restrictions.

Churches and History

There are 14 medieval churches on Romney Marsh. The Marsh Mosaics Trail passes through all 14; its completion was documented in 2022. The Marsh Mosaics are still on display in the churches. The trail focuses on the collection of churches as a walking route, while the mosaics on display offer a distinct cultural connection.

The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is also part of the landscape’s history: it has been an integral part of Romney Marsh since 1927. The RH&DR Heritage Centre is housed in the former “Paint Shop” building at New Romney station. The railway and the former workshop building add further aspects of heritage to the church theme.

Near Romney Marsh, New Romney was admitted to the Cinque Ports and Confederate Towns by a charter granted by Edward I in 1278. Severe storms devastated New Romney in the 13th century, and the harbour was lost. The charter and the loss of the harbour offer two different perspectives on the town’s history: its admission to a political confederation and the storms’ impact on the harbour. For a history-focused visit, nearby New Romney offers a different point of interest from the medieval churches on Romney Marsh.

Discover more destinations: Hempstead, Hadlow, Chilham, Yalding, Edenbridge, Mersham, Littlebourne, Saint Michaels

For the wider travel overview: Kent.