Camber
Nestled away about as Eastward as East Sussex gets, you’ll find the delight that is Camber. We recently paid a visit to this South Coast village and on departing we were already vowing to get another date in the diary for our return. Here’s why we loved it so much:
Where to Stay
There is no competition here, The Gallivant is by far the coolest place to kick back and relax in the area. If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to travel along the West Coast in California, you’ll most likely be reminded of a familiar scene when the Gallivant first comes into view. Whichever one of the fantastic rooms you’re in you’ll struggle to resist the urge to immediately tumble onto the super comfy beds! We highly recommend the Luxury Garden rooms which have their own private manicured garden; from where you can escape it all and listen to the sounds of seagulls.
We’re not sure that we’ve ever had a better picnic than the Gallivant’s sumptuous Picnic on the Beach (order before arrival) and after a trip to Kitesurf Centre (more below) we enjoyed the setting sun whilst partaking in the fabulous Yoga on the Beach Class with Katie (Yoga takes place indoors when weather dictates).
Truth be told, take advantage of everything the Gallivant has to offer and before you know it evening has arrived, and you will be in their restaurant ordering some of their award-winning fare which is almost all sourced within 15 miles of Camber. In the morning breakfast rivals dinner as you’ll be greeted by a wonderful array of options (we recommend the Eggs Benedict!) as well as the piece de résistance, the Bloody Mary Recovery Station! Before you depart for the day, why not arrange for a massage in the Beach Hut? We found there’s no better way to unwind after a day spent on the water. If you know of a better coastal retreat then we’d love to hear about it… One thing is for sure, we have never had a friendlier welcome anywhere that we have stayed.
The Beach
The village of Camber is located behind the dunes that occupy the estuary of the River Rother. Park up at the Western Car Park and head over the ridge of the dunes and take in the view. This has to be one of the sunniest spots in the UK (Britain’s only recognised desert of Dungeness lies just down the coast to the East) and it is certainly one of the best places to catch a sunset!
The Kitesurf Centre
We highly recommend a trip to the Kitesurf Centre in Camber. But it’s not all about kitesurfing. When we went it was a beautiful calm September day, so Steve took us out SUPing (Stand Up Paddle Boarding)! If you’ve never done it, this is a great activity, particularly if you are looking for something to do for the day as it’s easy to get the hang of and great exercise to boot! The wind had picked up a little later in the afternoon so with Steve’s expertise to guide us we tried our hand at kite buggying which was so much fun. You really couldn’t pick a better place to try it as well. A massive empty expanse of beach in an amazing setting, a very skilled instructor who did not even object when he was hit by the kite (!) and all well within 2 hours of London. A huge thanks to Rupert and Steve for the most enjoyable afternoon that truly flew by!
Any Further Spare Time
If you’ve got any time left after watersports and yoga, there’s plenty more to see and do in the area. For golfers, Rye Golf Club offers a fantastic links challenge over its two courses. And just up the River Rother from the Golf Club, is the vibrant market town of Rye. You’ll find a delightful mix of cafes, pubs and unique shops amidst the terracotta roofs and the timbered houses.
http://www.thekitesurfcentre.com/
How to Get There
By Train: Trains to Rye from London leave from St Pancras and take just over an hour. Rye is a short taxi, bus ride from Camber.
By Car: The best way to get to Camber is taking the M20 departing at Junction 10 for the A2070 following signs for Rye then Camber.
