Full steam ahead! and other Hythe, United Kingdom Things to Do Tips

The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway aka The Light Railway locally.

First opened to traffic in July 1927 as the 'World's Smallest Public Railway' and now covering a distance of 13.5 miles from the picturesque Cinque Port of Hythe, near the channel tunnel, to the fishermans cottages and lighthouses at Dungeness.

Excuse the picture quality, it was taken at distance and into the sun... on my Nokia 6220 phone

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Phone: 01797 362353
Directions: All along its length the stations are signposted off the A259 at Hythe, Dymchurch and New Romney.

GPS:

Hythe station - N51:04:16 E1:04:17
Dymchurch Station - N51:01:30 E0:59:24
New Romney - N50:59:08 E0:57:13)
Dungeness - N50:54:52 E0:58:14
Website: http://www.rhdr.org.uk/rhdr/rhdr.html

Port Lympne Anmal Park at Lympne near Hythe.

Port Lympne Wild Animal Park is a sister Park of Howletts near Canterbury.

Has the "Palace of the Apes", the largest family gorilla house in the world.

Discounted entry can be had by picking up the zoo leaflet from a tourist office or wherever you see tourist info in shops and restaurants.

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Phone: 01303-264647
Address: Off Otterpool Lane, Lympne
Directions: From J11 on the M20 follow A20 towards Hythe and then Sellinge, Signposted left after about 3 miles.
Website: http://www.howletts.net/main.php?page=about&type=portlympne
Other Contact: GPS - N51:04:44 E1:00:03

Now redundent since the building of the new automatic lighthouse.

A visit give you a chance to see the workings and living conditions that the keepers had.

Combine a visit with a meal in the nearby Britannia pub and a ride on the RHDR!

Excuse the poor quality picture. It was taken on my Nokia 6220 phone!

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Address: Dungeness Point
Directions: The lighthouse stands out pretty well on the protected shingle of Dungeness.
Other Contact: GPS - N50:54:49 E0:58:11

The Hythe Venetian Fete is a tableau of decorated floats in various themes, historical and topical.

Held on the Royal Military Canal in the Town of Hythe every second year on the third Wednesday in August, the Fete attracts an audience of thousands from far and wide.

There are two processions of up to 40 floats, first in daylight, and then again after dark illuminated.

At dusk between the two parades there is a grand firework display.

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Address: Town Centre
Directions: The next fete 15th August 2007
Website: http://www.hythe-kent.com/venetianfete/history.htm

An institution in Hythe. Year after year Rio's van has been on the seafront at the end of Twiss Road opposite the entrance to the Imperial.

Soft ice-cream or perhaps an ice lolly? Rio will have it. The perfect reward after a long brisk walk along the seafront from the fishing boats to Seabrook and back.

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Directions: Can't miss the van from Easter to late October on the seafront by the Imperial.
Other Contact: GPS: N 51.068035 E1.094695

Just a few miles form the coast, there's Brockhill Country Park. A 54 acre site for walking and enjoying the countryside.

If you feel peckish, there's a cafe too.

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Address: Brockhill Country Park, Sandling Road, Saltwood
Directions: On left by Brockhill School entrance on Sandling Road as you head from Saltwood towards Sandling Railway Station and the A20.
Other Contact: GPS: N51.08242 E1.07008

National Cycle Route 2 runs from the start of the Military Canal at Seabrook all the way to the other end in the depths of Sussex.

If you have a short time you can cycle along the Military Road from Hythe to West Hythe. It's not far, but since the money was spent from the millennium fund, it is an easier task.

Along the way there are information boards put up to explain local interests. Pictured is one at West Hythe.

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Directions: The paved (not really!) section of the Military runs from Scanlon's Bridge alongside the Light Railway to West Hythe Dam. From West Hythe the route is along the edge of fields.

In the summer, from Easter until October, you can hire a rowing boat on the Military Canal from almost in the town centre.

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Directions: Right in the town centre.

No matter what the weather, you can nearly always find the beach fishermen strung out along the beach from Seabrook in the east along to St Leonard's Road in the west.

Fishing off the beach can be rewarding with plaice, sole and more commonly mackerel being caught.

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Directions: The entire seafront!

Dotted around the town, especially by the Royal Military Canal are small tableaux depicting some part of the life on Hythe and also some information boards erected at the Millenium to explain in English and French some aspects of local history.

From the Musketeers (see http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Hythe) to the Navvies that dug the canal itself.

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