Southern Maid makes a smokey, steamy get away…

… with the last train of the day from New Romney to Hythe on the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway.

A day out on the east Kent coast. Starting at Hythe with a coffee and scone at the Truly Scrumptious cafe, a bit of shopping in some lovely local shops.

On then to Dymchurch to walk along the beach, passing countless weed encrusted groynes on the way and finally on the sea wall to New Romney and the RHDR station for a cup of tea and a shared sandwich. The northerly wind was keen and a thin layer of cloud hid the sun until mid afternoon although the skies over the sea were clear.

Back then along the sea wall to Dymchurch to drive to the Pilot Inn for fish and chips. They should be the best fish and chips in Kent, except for today when they were below par.

Instead of getting back in the car to drive home on a full stomach we scrunched across the shingle to towards the sea very near the coccyx of the UK near Dungeness (and the nuclear power station) and were rewarded by a fine wave pattern, great clarity and kite surfers. The sea kale was in flower showing off its magnificent dense pincushion of flowers.

We paused a while to look at the garden of Prospect Cottage, home of Derek Jarman. Plenty of sea thrift to be seen there as there was all along the walk from Dymchurch to New Romney.