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St Mary's Bay

Kent, England


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St Mary's Bay, located in Hythe Bay, Kent, is a long sandy beach that transforms into shingle at high tide, offering a unique and varied experience for visitors. .

St Mary's Bay is a resort beach situated along a 20 kilometre stretch of beach in Hythe Bay, Kent. The beach is predominantly shingle with wide shallow sand flats exposed at low water. At low tide, the sand stretches out about half a mile, and the Romney to Dymchurch steam railway runs past the beach. The beach has a wide concrete footway and a low sea wall, making it an ideal spot for walkers and those looking to enjoy the sea views.

In the summer season, a kiosk opens on the promenade selling drinks and snacks. The beach is particularly popular with bathers during the summer months. Visitors can also take a ride on the nearby Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch narrow-gauge railway, which runs close to the beach. The land close to the beach was developed as a resort in the 1920s and reached its peak in the 1960s.

Located at the southern end of St Mary's Bay, near Dymchurch, is Pirate Springs, a quiet and almost secret stretch of beach. This peaceful spot is perfect for walkers and popular for fishing. The beach here is mostly shingle, with some sand exposed at low tide. Although there are no shops, cafés, or toilets at Pirate Springs, visitors can easily access amenities in Dymchurch and St Mary's Bay, which are just a short walk away.

Access to Pirate Springs is easy via the sea wall path, part of the long coastal trail that links the villages along Romney Marsh. Visitors can park in St Mary's Bay or Dymchurch and walk along the path, which is flat and scenic, ideal for both walking and cycling. A coffee truck is also available on most days between 8am-12pm.

Romney Marsh, located south-west of the beach, is home to a variety of wildlife, making it an excellent spot for nature lovers and those looking to explore the local ecosystem. Dog walkers also love Pirate Springs, as it is generally quiet, and dogs are welcome all year round, with no seasonal bans in place.

St Mary's Bay is adjacent to the Kent Coastline Walk.

Sand Shingle

Weather and tides for Thursday 4 June

Today
Chance of rain 77%
Max temperature 17°C
feels like 17°C
Wind 30mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 28%
Min temperature 11°C
feels like 12°C
Wind 22mph

The tide at St Mary's Bay is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 8:54 AM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 2:07 PM.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Detailed weather and tides »

Recommended holiday cottages near St Mary's Bay

Things to do and see in the area

Dymchurch Amusement Park (1.1 miles)
Dymchurch Martello Tower No.24 (1.1 miles)
Romney Marsh Visitor Centre (1.4 miles)
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (2.2 miles)
Alpaca Annie (2.3 miles)
Romney Marsh (2.5 miles)
Smugglers' Alehouse (2.6 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: St Mary's Bay

Location type: Town

OS Grid: TR094276

Coordinates: 51°0'36"N 0°59'1"E

Mapcode: GBR SZX.PHF

What 3 Words: parkland.pirates.fade

Coordinates and location codes are for an approximate mid-point of the beach, and may not reflect the best access point or the most popular part of the beach.

County: Kent

Country: England

Local Authority: Shepway

Parish: St. Mary in the Marsh

Nearest postcode: TN29 0RN

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for St Mary's Bay, Kent, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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216.73.216.53 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 08:34:25 +0100