Welcome
At almost 1000 hectares, RSPB Dungeness boasts a range of habitats. Predominantly shingle habitat with its unique lichens, plants and insects it has the largest expanse of shingle anywhere in the world. Dungeness also has open freshwater habitat which provides a home to thousands of wintering wildfowl and nesting seabirds. It also has important fen habitat, wet grassland and wildflower meadows.
Dungeness is the third most biodiverse site in the country for its invertebrates and gives a home to a large number of rare bee species. Reedbeds provide home to our resident marsh harriers, bitterns and bearded tits and our summer visiting warblers.
Level access
There is level access from the main entrance to:
Welcome HutShopToiletsRSPB Dungeness ShopSeating AreaDiscovery AreaHearing
Visual
General
Getting here
Travel by public transport
These are the distances from the following train stations. Please note – Services and accessibility information is not known for each of these and it is advised to check the relevant websites accordingly for further information.
Dungeness 4.2 miles (6.8km)
Romney Sands 4.5 miles (7.2km)
New Romney 6.4 miles (10.3km)
Romney Warren Halt 6.9 miles (11.1km)
Dymchurch 9.5 miles (15.3km)
Appledore 10.6 miles (17.1km)
Ham Street 12.6 miles (20.3km)
Rye Station 13.1 miles (21.1km)
Winchelsea 15.8 miles (25.4km)
Ashford Station is 18.9 miles (30.4km)
Folkestone 19.3 miles (31.1km)
Doleham 20.6 miles (33.2km)
Some of the closer stations have very limited or seasonal services. Rye is the closest fully operational station.
Travel by taxi
For further assistance with this please call the reserve for a member of staff to help you.
Parking
Arrival
Path to main entrance
Main entrance
If arriving by public transport or parking at ARC there is a curb or cattle grid to get onto the main part of the reserve. The 'main entrance' predominantly mentioned is in reference to the entrance to the visitor centre. The main entrance to the Visitor Centre is accessible through a small vestibule. The vestibule has two side hung glass doors at staggered intervals, the main entrance door and an internal door. The main door opens outwards to the left, the internal door outwards to the right. At the first door there is a door bell for those who need assistance with the opening of these doors.
Getting around inside
Ticket/ information desk
Welcome Hut
This designated 'Welcome Hut' is outdoors and therefore allows for easier access to the reserve. Especially if you are required to drive to some hides/lookouts, you no longer need to request access from inside the Visitor Centre. If need be this Welcome Hut is accessible via your car to prevent the need from having to get out.
Ticket/ information desk
Shop
There is a lowered section of the till desk at both ends with the till at the furthest end for payment.
Things to See and Do
Public toilet
Toilets
Our toilets are on the otherside of the car park away from the main visitor centre. There is a disabled parking bay available next to the block if required. Otherwise it is short distance across compacted shingle from the main disabled parking bays. A cement path, 1750mm wide, runs around the outside of the toilet building. The toilets include a unisex accessible toilet, open to all and described below:
An outer door, which is always open, with entrance 840mm width and an inner, outward opening door also with 840mm width. The light cord is within reach 900mm above floor level. The flush handle is at a height of 1200mm. There is a vertical support rail (35mm diameter and 600mm long) on the back wall (300mm from the side of the WC and height 800mm from bottom of rail). There is a vertical support rail (35mm diameter and 600mm long) on the side wall (1065mm from the back wall and height 800mm from bottom of rail). The wash basin is on the side wall but not within reach of the toilet. There is a hinged support rail next to the toilet (transfer side), the top rail being 70mm high. There are lever taps on the sink. There is a baby changing table in front of the toilet that folds down for use.
There are separate ladies, mens toilets in this building too. The ladies has two cubicles. The men's has a cubicle and two urinals.
Shop
RSPB Dungeness Shop
The shop stocks bird food, feeders, nestboxes and wildlife products, as well as books, outdoor clothing, home, gift ideas and cards. We also offer a full range of binoculars and telescopes which are available to try in-store, just ask a member of staff for assistance.
Seating Area
This seating area provides fantastic viewing opportunities across Burrowes Pit where you can enjoy birdwatching in a warm room with refreshments if you wish. All indoor seating can be moved and adapted if more space is required. More seating is availble upon request.
Getting around outside
Discovery Trail
Dennis’s hide is 120m from the Visitor Centre along a hard packed gravel path, 1500mm wide. The last 25m of the path has a cement surface and has a gradient of 1:33. The door handle is at a height of 1m. There is a 38mm step into the hide and a 12mm lip in the doorway. The windows are easy to reach and secure.
Firth Lookout is 210m from the Visitor Centre along a broad hard-packed shingle path, but with some loose stones. There is a parking bay adjacent to the lookout.
Scott lookout is 710m from the Visitor Centre along a broad hard-packed shingle path, but with some loose stones. There is a parking bay adjacent to the lookout.
Christmas Dell hide is 1180m from the Visitor Centre along a narrower path with a short grass surface and occasional patches of loose shingle. There is a 100mm step up into the hide and the door handle is at a height of 1m. The windows are easy to reach and secure. There is a lowered window and a moveable bench to enable wheelchair access.
Denge Marsh hide is 1560m from the Visitor Centre along a path of variable width (but no less than 900mm) with a short grass surface and occasional patches of loose shingle. Access to the hide is via a ramp with a handrail on each side. The door handle at a height of 1m. The windows are easy to reach and secure. There is a lowered window and a moveable bench to enable wheelchair access.
There is a fairly steep grass verge up to the viewing ramp and at the top there are 2 benches to provide comfortable viewing of the reedbed.
Most of the trails surface is made up of compacted shingle. However, some areas are grass which can be soft during the wetter months. Please enquire with staff prior to setting off to hear about the most recent state of the trail is.
Along the trail there are perching points every 150-200 metres to allow for resting along the way.
Designated Walking Trail
Boulderwall Trail
The same hides are accessible on this trail that are listed under the Discovery trail. Boulderwall trail is an extension of the Discovery trail and avoids some wetter, more boggy areas of the reserve (during the wetter months) and largely remains on the compacted shingle pathways.
A short distance follows the access track where cars drive to access the car park.
Designated Walking Trail
Walkers Outland Trail
The same hides are accessible on this trail that are listed under the Discovery trail.
Designated Walking Trail
Water Tower Trail
The same hides are accessible on this trail that are listed under the Discovery trail.
Alternatively parking is available in ARC car park to allow easier access to this part of the reserve.
The Hanson-ARC hide is 380m from the Hanson-ARC car park along a hard-packed gravel track 2000mm wide. The hide is reached via a 6m long ramp, width 1300mm, with 1:15 gradient. There is a handrail on either side. The door width is 910mm and the handle is at a height of 1m. The windows are easy to reach and secure. There is a lowered window and a moveable bench to enable wheelchair access. The track to the Hanson-ARC hide can be accessed by RADAR key holders. There is a parking bay 20.5m from the hide.
Dennis's Hide
Viewing Screen
Christmas Dell Hide
Hanson Hide
Dengemarsh Hide
Firth Lookout
Scott Lookout
Viewing Ramp
Picnic Area
Dennis Picnic area
There are 6 picnic benches by Dennis's hide. All offer access for wheelchair users.
We please ask that you respect the reserve and take any litter home with you. Or use the recycling bins provided in our visitor centre. Thank you.
Picnic Area
Car Park Picnic Area
There are two picnic benches by the bird feeders across from the Visitor Centre. Both offer access for one wheelchair user at each.
We please ask that you respect the reserve and take any litter home with you. Or use the recycling bins provided in our visitor centre. Thank you.
Discovery Area
This areas surface is short grass which can be boggy during the wetter months. It is best to check with the Welcome Team on your visit as to the current condition of this route. There is an alternative route in the case of flooding/inaccessbility.
Customer care support
Emergency evacuation procedures
There is an alarm but no flashing lights. The emergency exit lights turn on when a fire alarm is sounded.
Customer care support
All visitors with mobility difficulties may drive to Scott Lookout or Dengemarsh Hide - please ask at the Visitor Centre for access and information. The track to the Hanson-ARC hide can be accessed by a vehicle by RADAR key holders.The visitor centre is open 10am - 4pm. Staff in the visitor centre are available to assist visitors with any reasonable individual accessibilty requirement requests during these hours.