A hip holiday cottage in Rye, England
Dungeness is a wild, remote stretch of shingle, where hardy homeowners, rare birdlife and a massive power station live in harmony. Visit the lighthouse, covet the innovative architecture, see Derek Jarman’s renowned coastal garden (pictured) and ride the miniature railway. Time your visit to enjoy a lobster roll at the Dungeness Snack Shack.
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.
Hastings is a proper bucket-and-spade resort, with arcades, rides etc. Pelham Beach, close to Hastings town centre, is family friendly, with a lifeguard in summer.
Hastings is under 20 minutes away on the train from Rye.
Winchelsea Beach is a large shingle beach, on the opposite bank of the River Rother to Camber Sands, accessed via Rye Harbour. It’s generally much quieter than Camber. Keep walking west and you’ll get to the beach at Pett Level, with Hastings and its sheer cliffs at the end.