Lydd Ranges, Military training ground in Kent, England
Lydd Ranges is a military training ground on the Kent coast in southeast England, used for artillery, anti-tank, and infantry exercises. The site is divided into separate zones, each set up to handle different types of weapons and training methods.
The Ministry of Defence has used this ground for over 150 years, and it grew from a basic shooting range into a large training facility. A narrow gauge railway was built in 1936 to carry moving targets across the land, making exercises more realistic.
The site sits next to Dungeness, a flat coastal strip with shingle beaches and rare plants that has remained a wildlife reserve despite nearby military use. Walking along the perimeter, visitors can see warning signs on one side and birds nesting undisturbed on the other.
Red flags and warning lights are displayed when live firing is underway on the grounds, which happens on most days of the year. Fences and signs clearly mark the boundaries, so it is important to stay outside the restricted areas at all times.
Several armored vehicles are permanently fixed on the ground and used as targets by the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and Army in anti-tank training. Some of these vehicles have been on the site for decades and are covered in marks from repeated training rounds.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
