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Getting There

The Isle of Sheppey is reached via the A249 road from the A2 or junction 5 of the M2 near Sittingbourne. Follow signposts for Sheerness. Once over the Swale channel turn right on to the B2231 for to Leysdown-on-Sea.

Arriving at Leysdown, follow the road through the town and along the beach, for about one mile. The road veers away from the beach a bit then comes to a T-junction [of sorts] opposite the entrance to a caravan park. You follow the road (Shellness Road) round to the left here and the road ( in reality an unmade track) steadily deteriorates.

When you reach a gateway you can either park or carry on along the track to a parking area which is directly behind the naturist beach (just past some cottages). Park at Mile End Wall where the road meets the seawall. Walk south eastwards past some old wooden holiday chalets. The Shellness free beach starts one hundred metres from the chalets.

Description
This beach is a mixture of sand, shingle, shells and, in places mud. A recent visitor described it as 'small (fairly) clean sandy(ish) beach, over some dunes'. The scenery is typical of the Thames estuary - there are good views of Whitstable and of shipping in the Thames. At low tide the sea can be a long way out. Beach walkers on their way to Shell Ness may pass the beach but there are no reported problems. 'Free Sun' reported that the beach was sometimes used by '750 bods' - more recent reports suggest regular use by 20-30 naturists, with up to 100 at busy weekends.

Visitor reports suggest that there may be problems with inappropriate activity at this beach. (See comments below)

Facilities
No facilities are available on the beach, the nearest are to be found in Leysdown.

Water Quality
Water quality is affected by detritus from London and ship litter. Leysdown meets the minimal EEC standard.

Selected Visitor Comments

2004

I live locally to the nudist beach at Leysdown and enjoy many happy days there socialising and getting the sun. I love the beach and have been using it for over 20 years. The 'regulars' are friendly and it has a nice atmosphere generally. I must however warn everybody who uses the beach of a regular who has been recently caught covertly photographing couples and single men on the beach... Please be aware that this guy is a one-off, most of the regulars are friendly and the beach is a safe place to go.

My partner became extremely uncomfortable with all the unwarranted attention from the single males, one of whom strode directly "over" us in an attempt to get himself "noticed". Others just sat uncomfortably close ogling. While neither my partner or myself are prudes obviously, she and I eventually felt that we had endured enough and left, which was a shame..

2005

"my first visit to this place, and found it very friendly. There are some areas in the dunes that give shelter from the wind for sun worshipers.. more shells than I have ever seen on a beach in my life..a very relaxed place, out of the way, not hard to get to but take plenty of water."

2008

July 31, 2007 - I followed the instructions on how to get here but when I reached the small car park (layby really) just past Muswell Manor, it was full. Looking at the rough track ahead I wasn't going to chance my suspension so drove back to the main car park a short way back. There is a small snack bar here which is handy although the toilets were out of action.

It was a pleasant 15 minute walk to the beach, actually the rough track for cars got better after a hundred yards. The beach has an official council sign saying it is a 'no clothes' area. The beach isn't large and I almost overshot it when I spotted another sign saying 'clothes must be worn past this point'!

When I got there there were about 15 or so people about, this was mid-week. It felt quite OK here, no one was hassling anyone, but there were several men popping up and down in the dunes as usual which was a bit off putting. I don't know why everyone can't just sit on the beach

June 18, 2008 - The road is certainly not good but is much better than it has been although I guess dodgy when very wet. Parking more restricted now due to huge piles of earth but enough room. Several couples and people who had sensibly taken windbreaks. Most people friendly and like a chat although some men go away if they realise you are not there for sexual activity. In all a nice place to spend a few hours if the sun is out and lovely views from the beach.

June 25, 2008 - found beach easy to find .went with my sister, husband and daughter .my sister and husband and myself went for a swim leaving my daughter reading , looked up and from nowhere there was about eight men some with erections parading past my daughter..

June 29, 2008 - having read the reports of the rough road, I decided to leave my car in Leysdown and cycle the couple of miles out to the beach.. the nudist area is easy to find, mostly due to the nude men standing on top of the dunes.. The beach at shellness is quite amazing: deserted, sand and fine-ground shell (obviously). Nice view across to the packed beaches of whitstable and herne bay, and rather beautiful decaying groins.. the nudist section, however, is somewhat less appealing. A stretch of a hundred yards or so, in the middle of an otherwise deserted beach, with about 30 or 40 people huddled together, surrounded by all variety of gawpers..

July 30, 2008 - i've been going to the Leysdown beach and the Folkestone / Dover one many years now... lets work together to stop the perverts and let them know they're unwelcome. each time i go to a naturist beach now i look out for these perverts and if pos i will get rid of them.. these beaches are very nice but will be even better with out all this so lets work together to stop this.

September 12, 2008 - This is a great place and while I don`t particularly get upset about men parading erections, it is surely better if they can stick to one end of the beach and leave the rest to folk who just enjoy being naked. Whenever I have been there someone always comes over for a look and often make comments. When they realise I am there just to enjoy the sun (!!!) they usually go away. Sadly this sort of behaviour can put familys off though as I found with my own children./

November 29, 2008 - I dont get [to Leysdown] very often unfortunately but on my last visit I was really put off. I was enjoying just laying there relaxing when a chap came and layed down just beside me. He made comments about my genitals and said it turned him on just looking. Eventually I just got up and left leaving him playign with himself.. I would feel far safer and happier with families being there I think.

December 06, 2008 - I go down there to enjoy myself, I love laying around naked - which I admit I can and do do at home in my back garden. But at Leysdown it is more exciting.

December 16, 2008 - When I visited the beach three or four times back in late July / early August, I found plenty of friendly people and chatted to a few of them but they were mainly couples or men on their own. I can't see nothing wrong with a bit of fun and frollicking in the dunes or people showing their affection for each other, but ...this should be done discreetly and out of the view of families with young children.

2009

March 17, 2009 - Took my new partner to Leysdown on 16th March this year 2009. It was her first time ever to bare all. It was a great thrill for her and may I say that the men there were respectful, except one, who was a nuisance but a polite word and he went. Definately will return.

March 28, 2009 - lets not let this beach be taken over by the pervs, and I for one [will] not going to stop going there because of others. We have got to work together to sort this beach out. Maybe then we may see some more females/families return, or new comers to the nudist lifestyle using this beach.

April 06, 2009 - I have been a naturist for many years, and on every beach I have been on you will always find discreet activity, most people stay away from families etc, and to be honest if there are no objections and its done in a discreet manner , who's complaining?

April 12, 2009 - I use leysdown beach as often as i can when it is hot and have done for 3 years, i just lay in the sun or walk the tide line along the beach. I have had one person who laid close to me on the beach but i just ignored him and continued to read my book. If it is windy i find a dune to shelter from the wind. I have never seen anyone with errections or masturbating.

May 07, 2009 - My wife and I have visited the beach several times in the last couple of years. All the above comments we have found are true, so I guess you have to decide if you can deal with the situations. We are quite friendly so we find guys come over & chat to us - that can be annoying at times when you just want a bit of peace & quiet, but we also don't want to be anti social. We always use a wind break - almost essential - & that also gives us a degree of seclusion.
The one thing that does bother us is a couple of guy's in shorts that parade up & down all day with camera phones. Funny, if a guy's got his kit off, you feel at least they are joining in with the spirit of the place ...

May 11, 2009 - I've been down to leysdown a few times but have been unfortunate enough to find mainly the 'meerkats' there. I've mainly been at the weekends.

August 17, 2009 - another great day at leysdown making new friends etc. the only thing to put a damper on the day was the perv with white baseball cap who kept going out of his way to walk rite up to our windbreak looking at us and some of the other couples... gave my wife the creeps.

September 12, 2009 - Visited for the first time on Thursday. Very few people about who looked at me initially with suspicion. All in all, it was not below expectation, apart from being bothered and propositioned by a gay naturist who got the wrong idea. No offence taken. There was also this fully dressed bunch of losers hanging around gawping...

September 24, 2009 - My 4th visit today. I actually tried yesterday, but it was so cloudy and cold, and I left immediately. Today, the weather was just great and so many nice people enjoying themselves.