Hythe

Hythe, © Flickr

Hythe is an amiable town with the welcoming ambiance of a village and is blessed with three exceptional tourist attractions: the Royal Military Canal; the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway; and Port Lympne Wild Animal Park. One of the creator members of the Confederation of Cinque Ports – towns in south east England that on royal command gave men and ships for the defence of in former days in Great Britain.

Latent on a broad sweep of bay four miles away from the international traffic of Folkestone, it is a beautiful mix of ancient and modern. Hythe, the oldest, no longer has a working port from which to commence a navy in defence of the Crown, but it does have more than history to suggest it.

Then the long High Street is a gorgeous array of historic buildings and appealing shops, inns, guesthouses and B&Bs. The Hythe Venetian Fete and the Hythe Festival draw tourists from far away. Hythe has been a frontline place in Britain’s military narration since Roman era. Some sites are now striking features of the town. Some also stage amusement and other events. Hythe Venetian Fete, colourful march of decorated floats on the Royal Military Canal (August 19th) is just one of the many family-fun recreations on offer. To play or watch, Hythe offers simply all sorts of sporting experience – from golf to swimming (sea and indoor pools), from angling to kite-flying. Hythe is well-known for small, self-governing shops providing household goods, food specialty, fashion wear, antiques and other stuff; as well as three famous supermarkets.

Many a tourists stop by at the Dymchurch to walk the flat expanse of golden sand and retire to the little fun fair, where the children disappear in the indoor adventure playground and visitors wrap their fingers around several cups of very hot tea along the British seaside.

The Imperial Hotel, Hythe - © Flickr

Visitors can enjoy their stay at the Hythe’s Imperial Hotel, which has some of the best leisure facilities in the area – many of them indoors. The swimming pool, sauna and Jacuzzi complex is a magnet for the children where they can swim for as long as that they fall asleep, after which their parents can benefit from of the baby listening service to have a tranquil dinner. There is also an administered playroom where the children can play games or create artwork for an hour or so at the same time as you play golf or tennis or indulge yourself in the massage and beauty parlour.

A broad walkway is adjacent to a long extension of the beach, and over the English route to France and it is perfect for a summer picnic and secure bathing. From the sea-front the town is on level surface ground, most of the immediate region is inhabited, but a five-minute leisurely walk along Stade Street gets you to the Royal Military canal. This was burrowed through the Napoleonic era (1804-15) as a defensive step against probable French invasion. Hythe Kent, the Town spreads up the hillside in a pleasant jumble of little avenues, enclosing numerous attractive historic buildings. At the foot of the hill is the old and narrow High Street!

It is the main shopping district and its history dates back many centuries. This can easily be seen by viewing the diversity of architectural styles of nearby buildings. Half way up the hill stands the leading figure of the 11th century Parish Church, with its eminent crypt and ossuary (vaults comprise the bones of early settlers). Hythe Kent, the Town and immediate neighbourhood contain many first-class facilities for recreation. Golf, tennis, riding, bowls, squash, boating, wind-surfing, fresh-water and sea angling, and bathing in the local indoor heated pools or the sea are all available. The Royal Military Canal’s banks provide many delightful walks, as does the varied local countryside. Romney Marsh lies immediately west of the town, and may be explored either by car, bicycle, or using the World’s Smallest Public Railway. Hythe-Kent is the Eastern terminus of the famous Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Light Steam Railway, which runs parallel to the coastline through Dymchurch and New Romney to Dungeness.

There are narrow, winding streets with historic churches and buildings, and, intimidating above them, the daunting Martello Towers, defensive defenses from the time of the Napoleonic wars. But the town also proposes a fine variety of leisure amenities. It’s ideal for lingering around and for the sake of entertainment.

The highlight of Hythe’s visit might as well be the trip along the World’s Smallest Public Railway that runs for 14 miles between Hythe and Dungeness. It is a delightful journey in one-third-scale chuffing, puffing steam trains full of enthralled children and notebook-laden train fanatics.