A day out on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

A little railway with a very big day out

There are days when the beach is all you need. Then there are days when everyone is ready to go somewhere, preferably without spending half the morning debating where.

The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is one of our favourite answers.

Running for 13½ miles across Romney Marsh between Hythe and Dungeness, its one-third full-size locomotives turn the journey itself into the attraction. Children get the excitement of a steam train. Grown-ups get big marsh skies, old stations and a genuinely unusual way to reach one of the strangest stretches of coastline in Britain.

From Camber, New Romney station is an easy outing by car, which makes the railway particularly useful for a full day away from the dunes without committing to a long drive.

Why we think it is worth leaving the beach for

The railway has been part of Romney Marsh since the 1920s, but this does not feel like a museum ride around a field. It is a proper journey.

The line links Hythe, Dymchurch, St Mary’s Bay, New Romney, Romney Sands and Dungeness. The locomotives may be small, but the route gives you enough distance to settle into the rhythm of the train and watch the landscape change around you.

Our preference from Camber is simple: start at New Romney and make Dungeness the focus of the day. It avoids trying to cram the entire line into one visit and gives you time to actually explore when you get off.

New Romney is also the operational heart of the railway, with the heritage centre and model railway exhibition adding something useful if the weather turns or you have children who would happily spend all day around trains.

The best route from Camber: New Romney to Dungeness

Camber and Dungeness look close on a map because they sit on the same great sweep of coast, but they feel completely different.

Camber is dunes, soft sand and a traditional beach day. Dungeness is shingle, lighthouses, fishing boats, weathered cabins and an enormous horizon. Arriving by miniature railway makes the contrast even better.

Drive from Camber to New Romney, park, and take the train south to Dungeness. Rather than treating Dungeness as a quick turnaround, give it a few hours.

Walk out into the landscape, look towards the lighthouses, find something good for lunch and leave enough time to wander without an itinerary. Dungeness rewards curiosity more than rushing.

If you want to understand the area before you go, read our Dungeness day trip guide too. It goes deeper into what makes this landscape special and what is worth combining in one visit.

Travelling with children

This is one of those rare family days where the transport solves part of the entertainment problem for you.

For younger children, the train is the event. For older children, Dungeness gives the day a sense of exploration rather than feeling like another attraction designed specifically for them.

A few things make the day easier:

Check the timetable before leaving Camber. Services vary through the year and the railway operates different coloured timetables on different dates.

Do not over-plan the stops. One good destination is usually more enjoyable than hopping off at every station simply because you can.

Take an extra layer. Dungeness can feel much cooler and windier than sheltered spots inland, even when Camber starts warm.

Bring water and something small to eat for the journey, especially with younger children.

If somebody in the family is railway-obsessed, leave time at New Romney for the heritage centre and model railway exhibition.

Dogs can come too

One of the useful details for our guests is that dogs are welcome on RH&DR services for a small charge, according to the railway’s current visitor information.

That makes this an unusually easy day trip if you have booked one of our dog-friendly cottages and do not want to leave anyone behind.

Dungeness itself is a sensitive landscape, so keep dogs under close control and follow signs around wildlife areas. If your holiday is being planned around four paws as much as two feet, our dog-friendly things to do guide has more ideas around Camber, Rye and Winchelsea.

Could you ride the whole line?

Absolutely. If the railway itself is the main event, a Rover ticket is designed for hopping on and off and the full route stretches north to Hythe.

Hythe makes a good destination in its own right, particularly if you want to combine the railway with the Royal Military Canal or a wander through town. Dymchurch has more of a traditional seaside feel.

But from Camber, we would still choose depth over distance for a first trip. New Romney to Dungeness gives you the character of the railway and one excellent destination without spending most of your day checking the time of the next train.

When to go

The railway runs an extensive seasonal timetable rather than an identical service every day of the year. At the time of writing, the official site publishes date-specific 2026 timetables and advises visitors to check their travel date before setting out.

That matters particularly outside the main summer season.

On a bright summer day, this is a good escape when Camber beach is at its busiest. In autumn, the marsh landscape becomes moodier and the journey can be even more atmospheric. During school holidays, check ahead rather than assuming you can simply arrive for a particular departure.

For current operating days, fares and ticket options, use the official Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway website before travelling.

Make a full coastal day of it

If you have energy after the railway, resist the temptation to add another major attraction. Come back towards Camber slowly.

A short stop in Rye works well for an early dinner, or return to the cottage, shake off the day and walk over the dunes before sunset.

That is one of the pleasures of staying here rather than making a day trip from further away. You do not have to squeeze every local experience into the same eight hours.