Camber Sands

Camber Sands is a huge, glorious stretch of sand, backed by massive dunes, just 4 miles away, or less if you walk/cycle. Take a bucket and spade, learn to kitesurf, play hide-and-seek in the dunes or just sit outside the beach cafes with a cup of tea and watch the world go by.

There’s a regular bus service from Rye to Camber Sands so you don’t need a car to get there from the town.

Bodiam Castle, Robertsbridge

Climb the turrets of this 14th-century moated castle (owned by the National Trust) with ruined interior. It’s a great place for children to let off steam – buy them a wooden sword in the shop, then let them run riot.

Bodiam station is a stop on the Kent and East Sussex Railway; you can walk the quarter of a mile from the station to the castle itself. The Bodiam Boating Station is also close by, for hiring a row-boat, kayak or SUP.

Bateman’s, Burwash

The atmospheric Jacobean home of Rudyard Kipling, who lived here from 1902 until his death in 1936.

Kipling regarded Bateman’s as a place of sanctuary; with its mellow sandstone architecture and tranquil garden, it’s easy to fathom why. The house is a memorial to the writer, left as he and his wife lived in it, and includes letters, memorabilia and Kipling’s library, where he would write.

Battle

Site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, this quiet town is anything but turbulent now. The ruined Battle Abbey, built by William the Conqueror to celebrate his victory, and the battlefield itself are open to the public courtesy of English Heritage.

The town has a pretty high street with lots of boutiques and independent shops – especially food shops, from a traditional butcher and fishmonger to ice cream.