English beach with ‘UK’s only desert’ named one of the best in the world

A BEACH in England has been named one of the best in the world thanks to its unique landscape.

With the summer finally in full swing, people up and down the country will be heading to the seaside to make the most of the warm weather.

Located on the Kent coast, Dungeness Beach has been named as one of the best beaches in the world by the Telegraph.

Travel writer Xenia wrote: “The unique landscapes of Dungeness have kept me in their thrall since the first time I visited.

“The UK’s only desert, Dungeness, seems desolate and eerie, like something from a vanished world, yet I have never found it anything but perfectly beautiful.

“Located on the tip of the Romney Marsh peninsula, this huge expanse of shale is interrupted only by an abundance of wildlife, lighthouses and abandoned boats.

“Autumn and winter deliver their own delights, and the melancholy that makes Dungeness magical.”

Dungeness has been previously called a desert, and is the only one in the UK.

Sadly, the Met Office debunked calling it a desert back in 2015, as they need to have little rainfall and large differences in day and night temperatures, neither of which Dungeness has.

However, this hasn’t stopped people calling the area “Britain’s only desert” – and still attracts tourists who want to see it for themselves.

More than one million tourists visit it every year, despite having little to do across the vast landscape.

It is a protected conservation area, as it is called a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

It is one of the best places to find rare bugs including bees, moths and spiders, as well as being home to 600 kinds of plants.

If you fancy visiting yourself, the first place you should visit is the Grade-II listed Old Lighthouse, which has views for miles over Dungeness.

If you need something to eat there is the Snack Shack which serves fresh catches from the fishing boats, while the best fish and chips is found at The Pilot Inn.

Try a local beer from Ales by the Rails, found in the train station.

The beach is also home to the nuclear Dungeness Power Station, which makes the sea waters some of the warmest in the country.

Also near Dungeness is Lydd Airport, also known as London Ashford Airport, which could soon resume passenger flights.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, The Times’ Best 50 beaches were revealed, with Towans in Hayle, Cornwall was named the overall winner.

And a beach in Wales was named as one of the best beaches to visit this year by Lonely Planet.

The Sun’s Deputy Travel Editor Kara Godfrey has been to two of the best beaches in the world – but here’s one in the UK she says is just as good.

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