Dover to Dungeness - Day 3

The final day was from Dymchurch to Dungeness, we started off by taking the bus from Dymchurch to Lytleton where we got off at the Jolly Fisherman.  Walking along the road parallel to the coast there wasn’t much to see on the sandy beach, with calm waveless sea on one side and picturesque sea front cottages on the other. Finally we see the “Welcome to Dungeness” sign and its famous power station in the distance.

We then came across a beach copper, a structure that resembled a miniature building with a chimney, its job is to dry and preserve fishing nets. I learnt something new then.  Next we passed Dungeness RNLI lifeboat house, however no lifeboats were visible.

Moving further along, I saw something I have not seen for a long time, a KX100 telephone box, sadly disused. 

It felt like walking along a drizzly, windswept wilderness where I was at one with nature.  Is this what heaven is like?  Next we found ourselves walking in the Dungeness estate, with its scattered warning signs against camping and flying drones. We passed the former home of the late arthouse filmmaker Derek Jarman.  Apart from the old telephone box another odd sight here was train goods carriage, rusting away due to the elements. How did it get here?  What was it for? We will never know.

The wilderness was dotted with shipwrecks and small abandoned buildings, their use now defunct.  The two Dungeness lighthouses came into clear view, sitting proudly next to the power station. The darker one obsolete while its striped successor proudly pulsating its photons to any sea captain who is interested.

Finally it was time to head back, on our way we stop at the Pilot Inn for a cup of Earl Grey before taking our bus back to Folkestone.  The Pilot Inn, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, proudly boasts about the money raised by its quiz nights last year.  Another only in Britain moment.  Outside lay part of a world war two warplane and an anchor to keep it company, Around the corner we found a red telephone box, also disused.  After waiting a few minutes for its opening we were let in.  Being on the cheeky side, we sat in the dog friendly area despite not having a canine companion. As I waited for my pot of tea, I noticed first day covers on display on a wall.  I went for a closer look, I must be getting nerdy in my old age.

All in all it was an enjoyable three days on the Kent coast, many thanks to my friend for inviting me, it was informative as well as being good exercise.