A long weekend in East Sussex: in photos
I don’t really take holidays. Ha right, you’re thinking, we know just where you’ve been travelling to. But wherever I go, I always have my blogging (or work) head on. What photos do I need to take? Video? What do we need to see/try/explore? What notes do I need to make? Social media handles and hashtags?
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I’m honestly not complaining: making travel my job really is a dream. For once though, I decided it would be nice to slow down, spend some time with my daughter before school and have some relaxed fun with no thought of what blog posts to write.
Evidently I find it impossible to switch off completely – I’ve already written about our visit to Hastings Aquarium. A lot of the rest of our time was spent wandering, relaxing or eating so I thought the best thing was to show you some of the the things to do in East Sussex that we found.
Rye
This is easily one of the prettiest towns I’ve visited in England. Little twisty cobbled streets, historic buildings including 14th century wooden doors and old coaching inns plus its status of one of the Cinque Ports mean you could easily spend much longer exploring than we did.
But this was a holiday so we compromised by picking up ice cream at one of the cafes, playing games with our shadows, spotting the mermaid on the sign, window shopping and ambling.
Whenever I’m looking for things to do in Camber Sands with kids, I always make time for a day in Rye.
Camber Sands
This is big sky territory, Sussex style. The beach seems to stretch off endlessly, kites fluttering overhead in the bluest blue sky (I promise I haven’t photoshopped these to create that blue).
We didn’t get close to the sea but parked ourselves near one of the little channels of water left behind by the tide to make sandcastles. A sand fortress if you will.
Then we went back the next day and did it all again. Parking nearby isn’t cheap so you might as well make the most of your minutes by sitting in the sun as long as you can. Then to finish, clambering on the dunes – or in my daughter’s case, clambering up and scrambling down over and over again.
Just beautiful.
For more of my favourite sandy beaches in Sussex, check out this post…
Rye Harbour
On our second beach day, we made a little diversion to Rye Harbour beforehand. First stop Rye Deli for the makings of a mini picnic (go, buy, yum) then found a shady tree to eat it under.
There are lots of walks and it’s a good place for bird spotting if you don’t have a four-year-old with you.
We stuck to a short wander, spotting a few boats and seagulls then stopping for a drink at the pub (I was sorry I was driving when I saw the wine list).
For more things to do in Rye with kids, check out my top picks
Hastings
After visiting the aquarium, we took a wander along the front. There are boats dotted here and there, antique anchors and wonderful black and white photos of fishermen.
We had to skip the mini train ride or funicular up to Hastings Country Park after hours gazing at fish but it also gave me a good excuse why we couldn’t stop to play every single thing in the arcade!
Bodiam Castle
This is another place which deserves a full post – you can read more here – for now, a quick taste of this medieval gem which is unmissable if you’re spending a weekend in East Sussex.
Funded by success in the Hundred Years war, the castle is exactly what you imagine – turrets, a moat to reflect in, murder holes and arrow slits plus activities for kids.
If my daughter loved the games, I was in history geek heaven with a side of fabulous views.
Four days was just long enough to wonder why I hadn’t properly explored East Sussex with kids before (bar my visits to Brighton) – and to remind me that there should always be time to slow down, gaze out to the horizon and ponder just how the next sand fortress should look.
For more things to do in Sussex with kids, check out my top picks
PIN FOR LATER: THINGS TO DO IN EAST SUSSEX WITH KIDS
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Images copyright MummyTravels
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This is soooo beautiful! So, so beautiful, and relaxing. Such a great place to spend a weekend. And reading so much about Sussex, I think I would make it into my list, shall I go to UK again;).
Thanks! It really is a lovely part of the country – and we had incredibly blue sky and sunshine which was wonderful.
Fantastic photos. They really capture these areas. Also, I recognise those yellow sandals. I hope they feature in every photo post on your blog! xo
Thanks – such a lovely place. And those yellow sandals are getting to quite a few destinations with me, my little piece of portable sunshine (and nicely photogenic)
great photos! what a cool trip!
Thanks! Was a lovely break
How glorious. I am afraid that I have to confess to stealing the idea of visiting Whitstable from you and now I think a visit to East Sussex is on the cards too! Sadly though, I think it will have to wait until next summer. Thank you for all the lovely inspiration!
That is so lovely to hear – I do love to tempt, so it’s fantastic to know it’s working 🙂 East Sussex is definitely worth putting on the list.
Gorgeous photos and I love the area – as you know! Camber Sands and Rye have always been a firm favourite in our household and my friend’s parents lived in Hastings for years. Lovely.
I do indeed – loved all your photos from the beach and I can definitely understand why you’d return.
Gosh it’s years since I’ve been to East Sussex. I remember Rye being very pretty.
Isn’t it good to write or just show pictures and document your holiday without any pressure. The desire to write is still there but you can do so at your own pace. Most of my holidays lately have been ‘normal’ holidays and it’s been great.
Absolutely – I don’t know how much difference there is in terms of the eventual content, but the experience was lovely
Ah I do love East Sussex, my favourite place outside of Cornwall. We love our trips up there to see family, though there are still places you cover here that I would like to visit. Rye looks lovely and reminds me of Lewes from your photos with the little cobbled streets. We’ve not done Camber sands, it’s just a little too far though it does look pretty and Bodiam Castle is very special, definitely one for a post on it’s own. A lovely ganter round the south coast.
Thank you ofr sharing withme on #CountryKids
It is such a beautiful area – I hadn’t realised quite how much. Lewes is somewhere I’ve never been (yet) but I’d love to go back to Rye. And Bodiam is very special indeed.
We’ve heard a lot of good things about Camber Sands. It’s great that you keep your ‘blogger head’ on as it means you are always capture beautiful shots! Xx #CountryKids
Ah, thank you! Yes, even when I’m trying to switch off, I still seem to be snapping away.
So beautiful, and fabulous weather too. Shows off Rye at its best. Nice to switch off occassionally…or not. I like that ice cream and spotting mermaids is your way of making it a holiday and not work. I haven’t been for years, but it is one of those places that stays in your memory. Beautiful. #CountryKids
To be honest, ice cream tends to feature regardless, especially with my daughter! Thanks 🙂
Another place we have to go! Who says you have to go abroad to have a great family holiday? It looks amazing, and those big blue skies are stunning – just like the ones we get in Yorkshire:) I’m very impressed by your sandcastle making abilities btw! #CountryKids
This is very true – I was looking at all kinds of destinations for our break, but I can’t imagine having a better time. And thank you, I got quite into the intricacies of my fortress 🙂
Such beautiful pictures, your photos make me want to go now 🙂 Looks like a great day out .. #Countrykids
Thank you! We did have such a wonderful sunny weekend.
I do like the look of Bodiam Castle.We’ve not explored that far east by train yet, I think we need to put it on our list for next year.
It’s one of my new favourites – I do love all the activities at the National Trust but this one was particularly good.
I went to Camber Sands as a kid but haven’t been to that part of the world since. Looks stunning, definitely somewhere we need to explore!
It’s worth a return, I think, so much to discover.
I’ve never visited East Sussex but the beaches look beautiful and Bodiam Castle is somewhere I’ve always visited. It just looks so pretty…
We did have a perfect weekend for the beach – the castle is amazing too.
There are so many wonderful places o go and so much to see here, we adore living in East Sussex. Mich x #Countrykids
What a lovely place to live – I feel I’ve only scratched the surface so far.
Great that you’re give my local area lots of bloggy love! Obviously I’m biased but East Sussex has so much to offer for a weekend away 🙂
Such a lovely place – you are very lucky to live there!
This really looks wonderful, Cathy. Your photos are excellent and you’ve convinced me I must visit again as soon as possible. I’ve been to Rye, Camber and Hastings before but not for a while. By the way, that sandcastle is seriously impressive! Thanks so much for linking up with our very first #FarawayFiles – it’s so lovely to have you.
Thank you! We did have a wonderful time – and I got to enjoy my ambitious sand creations. Looking forward to more #farawayfiles
What a lovely trip to round off the summer. We went to Rye and Camber Sands earlier in the year and particularly enjoyed the little streets and pub gardens in Rye. The beach at Camber Sands is closer to an Aussie beach than many of the others along the coastline so I felt right at home. Prompted to head that way again as your pictures of Hastings and Bodiam Castle are wonderful. Thanks for joining #FarawayFiles – brilliant to have them
Thanks! The space at Camber Sands seems so immense – another good reason to go to Australia if they’re similar. I think I could have spent a lot longer wandering through Rye too. Love the new #farawayfiles
I’ve been meaning to visit Rye for ages – and your beautiful photos remind me I must get a trip booked. Thanks so much! #countrykids
Thanks! It was on my wishlist for ages too – so glad we finally made it
I’d love to visit Rye someday. It looks so pretty.
It really is – such a lovely old town.
I’m a sucker for a wide swath of beautiful sandy beach. Through in castles, pubs AND ice cream – perfection! A great post with swoonworthy saltwaters no less! Love the bright yellow sandles! Thank you for linking up and engaging with new #FarawayFiles linkup! Glad to have you part of the community! Cheers from Copenhagen!
It really does tick all the holiday boxes! And thank you – those Saltwaters are my little portable piece of sunshine and have been dipped in quite a few seas and oceans so far 🙂 Thanks for hosting #farawayfiles
Just looking at your photos has me all relaxed..can imagine what a peaceful trip it must have been. And you’re right, that sky is so blue! #farwayfiles
Thank you! It was such a lovely chilled out few days – and such amazing weather for the beach.
Thank you for shining a spotlight on such a beautiful part of the U.K. The pictures are lovely and did the area justice. I simply love the town of Rye, with its cobbled streets and boutique shops. It has an olde-worlde, genteel feel, like time has stood still, or at least slowed down.
Camber Sands beach is simply stunning whatever time of the year you visit. Seven miles of golden sand to roam, all just 1.5 hours from central London.
With so much to see and do in the area, it makes for a relaxing and carefree break from the capital and is very popular with the London weekend crowd for that reason.
My personal recommendation is the Gallivant Restaurant at Camber. Good value food created using local produce wherever possible, and a lovely relaxing seaside ambience to enjoy. During the summer, they host beach BBQs too.
Thank you again for your enjoyable blog and inspiring others to visit the area and explore. There is much more to see and do so hope you can return again and discover more. 🙂
Thank you so much for the lovely comment – I definitely hope to return before too long. I’ve heard very good things about the Gallivant as well, and a beach BBQ sounds an excellent excuse for another visit.
Wow what lovely dinky places – I’d heard Rye and Hastings were gorgeous but it all looks so lovely. You were lucky with the weather and the skies are perfect. Bodiam Castle is stunning. Reminds me there are places in England I must still see #FarawayFiles
We really were lucky – such perfect weather for the coast, but lovely places to explore at any time, especially Rye.
I love this part of the world. So stunning. Thanks for link back!
It really is gorgeous – and my pleasure!