When Howey bought the railway to Dungeness in 1928, it was even more desolate than it is today; there wasn't a road or Power Station and it only had one lighthouse.

But the RH&DR wasn't the only railway to have a station on the shingle headland. The Southern Railway were already here and you can still detect the tell-tale signs of the old station to your left as your train leaves for New Romney.

At one time, the Southern line siding ran in front of the RH&DR station over to the beach. Here, the Southern Railway extracted shingle to use as ballast for their lines all over the region.

Other signs of the old railway are the cottages that have been made from old carriages. Most of the houses here are owned and lived in by fishermen, their boats are near by as well. If you walk down to the beach, you are likely to see beach fishermen. But, please do not bathe here; the beach shelves sharply and the currents are very strong at the point.

The old lighthouse is open to visitors and a climb to the top is rewarded with fine views, but don't stay up there too long only to see your train pull out of the station below.

The new lighthouse, opened in 1963, is not open to the public, but a walk along to it will see you pass the "Britannia" public house, named after the points on the RH&DR and certainly open to the public. The points were installed after the war when, due to shortages, it was decided to rebuild the railway as a single line from New Romney.

The other dominant feature of the landscape are the two nuclear power stations. The Visitor Centre is open to the public and worth a visit. You will have to get another train back, though.

The area is unique and the shingle headland is a protected area with many endangered species of plant and wildlife.

The Light Railway Cafe at Dungeness Station is renowned for its locally caught fish and chips. It also serves a full range of snacks and meals, confectionery and hot and cold beverages.

The former ticket office seasonally houses photographic displays and always features a good range of local tourism information.

Facilities at Dungeness

• Light Railway Cafe
• Covered waiting area
• Old Ticket Office Gallery
• Platforms
• Picnic Tables
• Toilets
• Disabled toilet
• Baby changing facility
• Souvenir and gift shop
• Ticket office
• Car parking

Places to visit...

• Dungeness Beach No Swimming (walking distance)
• The Old Lighthouse (walking distance)
• Britannia Inn (walking distance)
• Dungeness Lifeboat (walking distance)
• Dungeness RSPB Nature Reserve (driving distance)
• Lydd Airport (driving distance)
• Brenzett Aeronautical Museum (driving distance)
• Camber Sands, Rye, Hastings (driving distance)

...see our links page for more local places of interest.

How to get to Dungeness Station

• Dungeness station stands under the old lighthouse, at the end of the Dungeness Estate road.
• From the M20, leave at junction 10 and follow A2070 towards Brenzett and then the A259 towards New Romney. Turn right onto B2075 towards Lydd. Follow signposts in Lydd to Dungeness.