Sandwich Bay
Sandwich Bay is a long sweeping bay, which stretches from the north of Deal up to the mouth of the River Stour. The River Stour separates Sandwich Bay from Pegwell Bay. The Bay is characterised by a variety of important habitats such as shingle and sand beach, sand dunes, mudflats, and saltmarsh. The Bay backs onto grassland, wetland and scrub, including farmland and golf courses.
Sandwich Bay is internationally important for wildlife and is designated a National Nature Reserve, Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation. Find out more about the work we’re doing to raise awareness about the special wildlife and to reduce disturbance.
Things to look out for
Spring & Summer: Sandwich tern, little tern, marsh helleborine, sand lizard, Restharrow moth, Bright Wave moth, Deptford pink, lizard orchid, sea holly and sea kale. Autumn & Winter: turnstones on the beach and golden plovers on the fields, both of which Sandwich Bay is designated for. Also, short eared owls, ringed plover, oystercatcher and many more.
Visitor Information
Open: 24 hours
Please note that the Sandwich Bay Estate have some access restrictions to their land, including residential areas and an area of the beach. Find out more here.
Parking:
If you are planning to drive to the beachfront, there is an unpaved parking area along Princes Drive, owned by the Sandwich Bay Estate. Please note that the Sandwich Bay Estate have 2 toll booths along Guilford Road. Find out more here.
If you are planning to walk in from Sandwich or Deal towns, there are several paid car parks available, and plenty of footpaths across the area.
Accessibility: No access to the north of the Bay at Shellness Point. Unsurfaced paths and sand or shingle beach with dunes, with various access restrictions.
Facilities: There are toilets and an unpaved parking area along Princes Drive. Otherwise, the nearest public toilets are in the towns of Sandwich and Deal.
For other facilities such as accessible toilets, disabled parking, bird hides, play and picnic areas, and a dog play area, please see Pegwell Bay Country Park.
Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory have accommodation and toilet facilities, as well as a small shop. The Observatory is open to the public and holds vast amounts of information on the wildlife in the area.
Dogs: We ask that dogs are kept to footpaths where possible, please. Dogs should be on a lead or within sight and recallable. There are additional restrictions on where dogs can go in some areas to protect sensitive wildlife or cattle, and are only in place where necessary.
Please note that Dover District Council has a PSPO in place, which includes dog on lead restrictions, in the north of Sandwich Bay.
Public transport: There are train and bus links nearby in Deal and Sandwich towns.
Other information: The England Coast Path follows the coastline from Deal into Sandwich town along Sandwich Bay and the River Stour, avoiding the sensitive wildlife area of Shellness Point.
Please be aware of grazing animals, and signage which explains access and restrictions.
If you want to know more about why the project exists and how it is managed, look at our Sandwich Bay project page.
