Day Trip: Beautiful Camber Sands

With just a 90 minute drive from London, Camber Sands in East Sussex is a lovely beach for young children thanks to the soft, golden sand and shallow waters at low tide. 

Recently, Lady Yeya’s nursery organised a family summer day out to Camber Sands in East Sussex. Admittedly I have never been to any Sussex beaches with the exception of Brighton. I have only heard good reviews of Camber Sands from friends who stayed at the beach chic Gallivant Hotel. Also, fellow mum friends who rate it as a perfect toddler-friendly beach. I was excited to explore Camber Sands with Lady Yeya and her nursery friends. 

After 90 minutes on the M20, we disembarked the coach bus at the western parking lot at Camber Sands. The gentle sea breeze was a welcome respite after a sweltering week in London. Plus, we had glorious sunshine to enjoy the day with our buckets and spades. 

Gorgeous Sand Dunes

Immediately, we are greeted by gorgeous sand dunes. If you didn’t know better, you’d think you’re somewhere in the Arabian desert or in the Hamptons, NY. The grass-fringed dunes are picturesque and make for a beautiful backdrop for a fun-filled day at the seaside. 

Over the main “hill,” a wide expansive Camber Sands Beach awaits us. All I could see was miles and miles of sandy beach to the right and left. Save for the few small cafes at the eastern end, Camber Sands is totally unspoilt and natural. Further afield at Broomhill Sands is the place to be for serious wind and kite surfers. For young families and dogs in tow, the western end is perfect, thanks to wide swathes of sandy beach and peaceful setting. 

Beautiful Sandy Beach

Unlike the pebble and rocky beaches that dot the Sussex Coast, Camber Sands is sandy, miles of golden sand. The beach is five miles long to be exact stretching down to Rye Harbour. Camber Sands is simply beautiful and is on par with beaches I have visited in Cornwall, Dorset and Pembrokeshire. 

With the low tide, we were able to walk over 100 metres out to the sea on flats of shallow warm waters. The kids frolicked around the sea, jumping over gentle waves. The joy on their faces as they squealed with delight was priceless. With sand between the toes, we made sand castles with buckets and spades, looked for the seashells, and flew kites around the beach. Camber Sands is the perfect beach for young families. 

Tips for Camber Sand

• Parking Lots: There are three main parking lots at Camber Sands which are all located near the beach: Camber Sands Central, Old Lydd Road, and Western Car Park. With the exception of busy summer weekends and summer holidays, parking should not be a problem. Parking is paid via an online app. There are restrooms in all the parking lots. 
• Pack a Picnic: On the western end, you won’t find any eateries with the exception of food stand in the parking lot. Most people come here to enjoy the natural, unspoilt, beauty of Camber Sands.  Be sure to bring easy picnic foods, snacks, and water in a cooler bag. Also, pack a picnic blanket, towels, suncream and sunglasses.
• Buckets & Spades:  Soft sandy beaches means lots of fun making sand castles with colourful buckets, spades, and nautical-themed sand moulds. The kiddos will spend hours playing on the golden sand. Just be sure to lather on the suncream regularly. 
• Windbreakers: Camber Sands is a popular place for kite and wind surfers due to the high winds. Bringing a windbreaker or some sort of pop-up beach tent is a sensible idea. Also bring a wide brimmed hat (with a tie) or legionnaire style sun hat.  Take advantage of the wind and bring a kite to offer more entertainment for the kids. 
• Dog-Friendly: Camber Sands is dog-friendly year round except during the busy summer season where dogs are not allowed in certain zones. From the Western Car Park, once over the hill, most families with dogs in tow turn right where furry family members are welcomed. 
• Check Tide Times: Low tides means miles of wet sand open space with small tidal pools between the flats. It is lovely for young kids, but do check the tide times to avoid being caught out when the tide comes in.

We are lucky to have this lovely gem of beach within a 90 minute drive from SE London. With summer break in full force, I am sure we’ll be back in no time. Perhaps next time we’ll make it a weekend trip to also explore nearby Rye.