Greatstone Beach Kitesurfing Guide

In this Greatstone Beach Kitesurfing Guide, we’ll look at some of the things which make Greatstone Beach an amazing place to go kitesurfing, learn to kitesurf with Infinity Sport Kitesurfing School, as well as how to plan your visit to the UK’s safest kitesurfing beach.

Greatstone Beach’s open clean shingle beach provides a safe environment for learning to kitesurf for the first time as well as providing a great place to practice new tricks. It is a fantastic location to carry out kitesurfing lessons for kids.

Conditions usually provide small to medium waves at medium to low tide as well as areas of shallow water which again is absolutely perfect for kitesurfing lessons or free riding. There are no hidden sand bars, or other hazards (ie ship wrecks) at Greatstone Beach High tide is perfect for kite/hydrofoiling, due to the water depth, as well as for winging or stand up paddle boarding.  At low tide, Greatstone Beach is a great kite buggy location, with a huge sandy strip along the shoreline to ride up and down for miles.

Kite launching and landing Areas

The main kite launching locations to go kitesurfing at Greatstone Beach are Greatstone Lade Car Park TN29 9PE (with toilets) and Littlestone Coast Drive car park at TN28 8NR. Launching and landing areas: at low tide it is advised that you launch at the waters edge, or at the bottom of the shingle bank. This is to avoid damaging the protected plants in the area, by dragging your kite lines over them.

A super safety feature of this kite spot is that it is located between two RNLI stations (in a stretch of 3 miles).

Wind + Tide Guide

Greatstone Beach receives onshore winds from North to South and is off shore in South-Westerly to North-Westerly winds. Lower tides are safer for newer kitesurfers as well as for completing kitesurfing lessons. It is recommended that for beginners, you do not try and kitesurf for 90 minutes either side of high tide at Greatstone Beach.Competent kiters can kite at any tide state at Greatstone, as even at high tide there is room to launch on the shingle banks.

The famous kitesurfing spot is located on Dungeness Nature Reserve land, which is classified as SSSI Special Scientistic Site of Interest SSI, which requires from water users, such as kitesurfers, to be very careful and thoughtful when using the location.

Kitespot Guidelines

What you can do to help us to protect the spot:

1. Please consider the wildlife. Shingle vegetation takes many years to establish, so please stick to the boardwalks and footpaths so you don’t damage the really tiny rare plants under your feet.
2. Be kind to your neighbours. Please use designated car parking spaces and the facilities provided to save any upset to other kite surfers and local residents.
3. Enjoy the National Nature Reserve. It may only look like a bit of shingle, but it is fantastic for wildlife, so please treat it kindly, and take your litter home.
4. Watch out for your kite! Setting up your kite is tricky, so make sure you do it somewhere well away from other people and on bare shingle/sand, so you don’t disturb others visitors and wildlife.

How to get Here (Car, Train, Bus)

Greatstone Beach is easily accessed by car, train or bus and is just 1 hour South of London. If driving, Greatstone-on-Sea is situated close to the M20 which provides a quick and easy route to London and the North, whilst the A27 along the coast gives access from the South West. Nearby Rye train station is serviced by regular trains from Ashford (for London) and Brighton, with trains from London every hour until around 9pm. From Rye to Greatstone bus Wave 102 runs every hour or bus 553. If by train the easiest connection is to Ashford Int station and then bus 11, which will take you straight to the kite spot Greatstone Lade car Park, Taylor Road.

Where to eat

The most popular and most loved place for Greatstone visitors is The Pilot Inn with large indoor sitting area plus outside spacious dining space and playground.

Where To Stay: Accommodation

Our kitesurfing school is based in Greatstone-on-Sea, Kent. It takes only 1 hour 30 min from London to get here! Greatstone on Sea provides with 10 miles beach stretch, kitesurfable at a massive range of wind directions. We are also located near to the famous Camber Sands.

Looking for somewhere to stay when taking your Kitesurfing Lessons?

Coastal Cabins

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Delightful, cosy holiday cabin on the shingle at Dungeness, moments from the sea, with wonderful views. A spacious modern en-suite shower room and separate living room, with small kitchen give you the option to rustle up basic meals, and a generous comfy kingsize bed (twin beds option) awaits you. There is a sofa bed for another guest/child. Spectacular views of the two lighthouses across the shingle towards the sea and only moments from one of the best pub restaurants around, The Pilot Inn!

Castaways B&B

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Uniquely situated, the beach to front and shingle to rear are within the Dungeness National Nature Reserve and for the train enthusiast, the delightful Hythe and Dymchurch steam train passes directly behind us.

Central to a wide range of local attractions, fishing, birdwatching and beachcombing are on our doorstep (as is cockle collecting for the shellfish enthusiast)! Dover, Hasting and Leeds Castle are all within a 45 minute drive, Hythe and Rye 20 minutes away and the sandy beaches of Dymchurch and Camber Sands both a leisurely 15 minute drive away.

Littlestone Hotel

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If you are staying in New Romney or you are just passing, you should not miss the famous Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, the Dungeness lighthouse or one of the many wildlife parks located in the area. Especially in summer the environment offers you all possibilities you can imagine. Sports such as golf, tennis or one of the many water sports might interest you. Also, you can just have a walk in the streets of New Romney to explore and discover its beautiful pubs, shops and restaurants. Around New Romney there are many beautiful cities to visit. Dover, Folkestone, Ashford and Hastings are just a few examples. If you wish to travel to England’s capital city London, you can go there – it is only one hour away by car.

Camber Sands Cottages

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We own two award winning holiday cottages at Camber Sands, both just a short walk from the beautiful beach and also three miles from historic Rye – easily one of the most charming small towns in Sussex with its cobbled streets and ancient buildings. Our self-catering holiday homes are furnished, equipped and maintained to a very high standard and that’s why we have been awarded a VisitEngland 4 Star Gold Award every year since we started in 2007. We also hold a 2019 VisitEngland Rose Award, one of 100 awarded each year to accommodation businesses that go the extra mile in order to provide excellent customer service.

See The Spot

You’ll find Infinity Sport Kitesurfing’s video guide to Greatstone Beach kitesurfing below. Click play!