Broomhill Sands

The shingle beach at Broomhill Sands stretches wide and flat - proper Romney Marsh geography, that is. You're looking at a classic Kent beach where the tide goes out for miles, leaving vast banks of pebbles and patches of sand that shift with the seasons. It's the sort of place where you can actually walk for ages without feeling cramped, which is refreshing compared to the crowded southern beaches.

Walkers and families with older kids will get the most from this one. The expanse is genuinely impressive if you catch a low tide, and there's something satisfying about having so much space to yourself. Younger children might find the shingle tiring after a bit - it's not a soft sand beach - and there's limited shelter, so bring a windbreak. The village of New Romney sits just inland, so you can grab supplies without faffing about too much.

Timing matters here. Summer weekends pull in the holiday park crowds from Parkdean Resorts Romney Sands and the other caravan sites nearby, but weekday mornings and shoulder season visits feel properly quiet. Autumn and winter reveal the beach's raw character, which some people find brilliant and others find bleak.

It's a solid half-day addition to a Romney Marsh holiday - worth the trip if you're already staying at one of the nearby parks, though I wouldn't drive three hours just for this. Free access, naturally, and you can stay as long as you fancy. The real appeal is space and solitude rather than facilities or facilities or drama.