West Hythe

West Hythe makes a peaceful, uncrowded base for exploring this quieter stretch of the Kent coast, with the Royal Military Canal, Romney Marsh and the historic town of Hythe all within easy reach. Because the village itself is tiny, most visitors base themselves in nearby Hythe, Lympne or further into Romney Marsh, choosing from a mix of coastal hotels, countryside guesthouses and self-catering cottages. Hythe offers the widest choice, with hotels and B&Bs close to the seafront and the prettiest section of the Royal Military Canal, many within walking distance of the town's independent shops, cafes and restaurants. For something with more grounds and views, cottages around Lympne and Aldington look out over the marsh towards the sea, ideal for those who want peace and quiet after a day exploring Stutfall Castle or Lympne Castle. Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve also offers its own accommodation within the reserve grounds, ranging from comfortable lodges to more unusual stays close to the animals, a memorable option for families. Whichever base is chosen, West Hythe's location just off the B2067 and close to Junction 11 of the M20 means everywhere on this list is only a short drive away, making it easy to combine a stay with days out across Romney Marsh, the Cinque Port towns, and the Kent coast towards Folkestone and Dover.

West Hythe is small, but it sits within easy reach of some genuinely excellent days out on the Kent coast and Romney Marsh borders.

• Stutfall Castle (Lympne Roman Fort) — the sprawling, collapsed walls of a 3rd-century Roman Saxon Shore fort lie on the hillside just above the village, one of the most atmospheric and least-visited Roman sites in the country.
• Royal Military Canal — this 28-mile waterway, dug as a defence against Napoleonic invasion, runs along the edge of West Hythe and makes for an easy, level walk or cycle ride towards Hythe or inland towards Appledore.
• Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve — a 600-acre wildlife park a short drive up the hill, home to endangered species including black rhino and gorillas, with sweeping views back down over the marsh.
• Lympne Castle — a fortified medieval manor house perched above Stutfall Castle, with terraced gardens looking out across Romney Marsh to the sea.
• Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway — the famous 15-inch gauge miniature railway runs along the coast nearby, a favourite with families and railway enthusiasts alike.
• Hythe town and seafront — a few minutes away, with a Blue Flag shingle beach, the Royal Military Canal's prettiest stretch, and the ossuary at St Leonard's Church.
• Romney Marsh — a vast expanse of reclaimed marshland dotted with isolated medieval churches, sheep, and drainage dykes, best explored slowly by bike or on foot.

For food and drink, most visitors head into nearby Hythe, which has a good spread of independent cafes, pubs and restaurants along its high street and seafront, including traditional pubs serving Kentish ales and fresh local seafood. In Lympne, the Half Moon and other village pubs make a good stop after visiting the castle or the reserve, while Port Lympne itself has its own restaurants and cafes for those spending the day with the animals. Further into Romney Marsh, village pubs in Aldington and Bilsington offer a quieter, more rural dining experience.

West Hythe and the surrounding Romney Marsh offer a distinctive, big-sky landscape for camping, though it's worth remembering that wild camping remains illegal in England without the landowner's explicit permission, so pitching up on the marsh or canal banks without prior arrangement is not an option. Instead, the area is well served by proper campsites and glamping sites, many taking advantage of the flat, open marshland and the nearby coast at Hythe and Dymchurch. Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve itself offers glamping within its 600-acre grounds, an unusual option that lets campers wake up close to the reserve's rhinos and other wildlife. Further afield, campsites around Romney Marsh and the Kent coast range from simple touring pitches to more established holiday parks, many within easy reach of the beaches at Hythe, Dymchurch and Camber.

The terrain here is almost entirely flat, reclaimed marshland criss-crossed by drainage dykes, which makes for easy cycling and walking between sites but also means the ground can become waterlogged after heavy rain, particularly in autumn and winter. The Royal Military Canal towpath, which runs along the edge of West Hythe, is a popular route for campers looking to walk or cycle towards Hythe or further inland, while the escarpment above the village towards Lympne offers a change of scenery and some of the best views back down over the marsh.

Late spring through to early autumn is the best window for camping in this part of Kent, when the ground is drier, the days are long, and the marsh is at its most alive with birdlife and wildflowers. Midsummer weekends can get busy at the more established sites near the coast, so booking ahead is worthwhile, particularly for anyone wanting a pitch close to Hythe's beach or within striking distance of Port Lympne. For those who prefer a bit more comfort, glamping options in the area range from safari-style tents to shepherd's huts, offering a way to experience this quiet, historic landscape without needing your own tent.