​Romney Marsh is sometimes referred to as ‘The Fifth Continent’. It was dubbed this in the 19th century by Thomas Ingoldsby, an author, who wrote – ‘’The world, according to the best geographers, is divided into Europe, Asia, America, Africa and Romney Marsh.’’
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Romney Marsh, Rye and Camber were the birthplace of smuggling in southern England. This land, reclaimed from the sea following a great storm in the 13th century, made good grazing land for sheep. The export of their wool was highly taxed and poorly policed. Wool smuggling fluctuated according to the laws of the land and market forces at the time. During the 15th century, wool prices in this country fell, and there was temptation to smuggle overseas for more profit. By the 17th century, this had reached a huge scale, and Romney Marsh and the local area, including Rye and Camber Sands [the dunes made a good hiding place] were at the very heart of the wool smuggling trade. Soon, the goods being smuggled in and out of the country, to nearby mainland Europe, expanded to include tobacco, brandy, tea, lace, silk, and more.

​There are 14 ancient churches on Romney Marsh. There used to be around eight more, but these have now disappeared over the passing centuries. This is a high number of churches in a comparatively small area. Many of these churches were themselves involved with the smuggling trade. Under cover of darkness, the smugglers would take their contraband to at least four of these churches, where an obliging cleric would hide the goods in the church vaults and other places that were unlikely to be searched. The church in Ivychurch is said to have a secret passage leading to the inn next door.
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The churches are interesting to visit. We haven’t visited them all ourselves yet. If you only have time to visit one, we would recommend Thomas a Becket in Fairfield. This ancient little church is surrounded by sheep and the water courses that cover the marsh which serve to help protect against flooding. The village of Fairfield, which it served, has long since disappeared, making the church isolated. On the notice board is a note explaining where you can get the key from to have a look inside.

​Dungeness also has its own beach dwelling community who live in an assortment of housing, including converted railway carriages.
Dungeness is bleak, yet with its own unique beauty too. The beach is ‘other  worldy’ and scattered with long ago abandoned fishing boats, fishermens huts, nets and other fishing related objects.

​The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway runs through here too and is worth a trip on.
It is said that some of the very  finest fish and chips can be eaten at The Pilot Inn, while the Dungeness Snack Shack serves some of the best ‘beach food’ around. The fish in their food is as fresh as it gets and all caught from their own fishing boats daily. Their food includes crab and lobster rolls, fish cakes, firshermens rolls and smoked cod chowder. Opening times are seasonal.
We recommend a visit to Dungeness.  It is not only a fascinating place, but also an artists and photographers paradise with its unique landscape.

We are booked for Christmas and New Year and every December weekend is booked too. It seems taking a break by the sea, especially so close to one of the UK's prettiest ancient towns is as popular as ever whatever the time of year.

I am already preparing for Christmas at home too. With a large family and Christmas lunch to cook for 12 people it's never too early to start. Then there are the decorations to do - both at home and in Marsh View Cottage. Gifts to buy and wrap and making sure everything is perfect for our guests over the festive period.It's a busy time coming up.

But, as busy as we are in November and December, the busiest time of a year from a holiday home owners point of view starts on Boxing Day. From then on until around the end of February we are overwhelmed with enquiries and bookings for the year ahead. Popular dates are booked very quickly - Easter, all school holidays,Bank Holiday weekends, the following New Year and Christmas, and of course the entire summer.

Every summer and other popular dates we are inundated with more enquiries wanting to book.We have to disappoint them which is such a shame.Early booking really is essential and it seems that just as soon as Christmas is over, then we are thinking of getting away.For popular dates we could book our little cottage many times over.

So, if you are thinking of visiting the area next year, don't delay too long in booking, once Christmas is over your preferred dates may have already gone. We are happy to take bookings for over a year in advance too.
​To find out more, visit our website Marsh View Cottage

In November we have the spectacular Rye fireworks, which begins with a costumed torch held parade through the town, followed by an impressive fireworks display and huge bonfire. This ancient tradition is definitely worth witnessing and accommodation books up early on for this event.

Wrap up warm and go on some lovely walks around the area. Apart from the beach,Romney Marsh, Hastings Country Park, or walk into Rye itself. If you are still cold after all that walking, why not stop off in Rye for a delicious hot chocolate in Knoops, Hilders Cliff.A shop that sells real hot chocolate. All you have to do is choose your chocolate strength by percentage, choose plain, milk or white and if you feel adventurous, add an extra flavour to it from the wide choice available. You could also visit one of the cosy tea rooms or ancient inns and warm yourself by a real fire if its very cold and enjoy a local ale or local wine while you browse the menu. Autumn by the sea. What's not to like? Find out more by visiting our website Marsh View Cottage

Camber Sands is extremely popular for both weekend breaks and longer stays, and with just a taster of things to do mentioned here, you will be assured of a great time, good choice of high quality accommodation and fantastic choice of restaurants and independent shops as well as the best of both worlds – a wonderful mix of both seaside and countryside. It just doesn’t get better than that.


1] The stunning beach of Camber Sands has to be top of the list. This beautiful sandy beach stretches for miles and is a haven not just for families, but also for a variety of water sports, kite surfers, horse riders, dog owners, photographers, artists, birdwatchers, walkers, beachcombers and so much more. At low tide the sea retreats for more than half a mile leaving behind it shallow pools of water that are much loved by families with small children. With the mild climate in the south east Camber Sands is popular in every season. There are also some spectacular sunrises and sunsets to be seen across the bay

2] The sand dunes are the most iconic feature of Camber Sands. They are the only sand dune formation in East Sussex and although a favourite with children playing in the dunes, they are also an important wildlife habitat for a variety of locally and internationally important animals and plants. Part of the dunes lie within a Site of Special Scientific Interest [SSSI] and the remainder are a Site of Nature Conservation Importance [SNCI] The dunes are bound together in places by the deep rooted marram grass and the size of the dunes increases every year. Their majestic size looms over Camber village and forms a natural flood protection to the village.

3] Accommodation in Camber Sands has something for every budget, for the lower end of the budget there is Pontins, and further east there is a caravan park with static caravans and chalets for rent. For those with a higher budget there is a selection of really high quality accommodation, including The Gallivant hotel or a fantastic selection of self catering properties including the lovely 2 bedroomed  Marsh View Cottage which is nestled between the beach and Romney Marsh just a short stroll from the beach.

4] Location. The south east of England enjoys a milder, drier climate than much of the rest of the UK which makes it a popular destination for this alone. However, Camber Sands is close to the Port of Dover and also just 30 minutes drive from Ashford International Station, making it great place to visit for European visitors. Camber Sands is just 90 minutes drive from London making it a well known day trip destination but also a great weekend retreat too. Weekend breaks are highly sought after throughout the year by Londoners and are fondly known locally as ‘DFL’s’ – down from London!

5] It is not just Camber Sands that attracts visitors to the area. The chocolate box pretty, Medieval town of Rye is just 3 miles from Camber and is a wonderful place to visit. Rye used to be surrounded by water on three sides, but the sea began to retreat and Rye is now some 2 miles from the sea. The harbour still remains and is accessed via the river entrance at Camber Sands where Rye’s fishing fleet still bring their fresh fish into the harbour. A trip to Rye would not be complete without a walk around its cobbled streets and take in the ancient buildings. The most iconic street in Rye is perhaps Mermaid Street with Mermaid Inn standing proudly at the top of it, just as it has for centuries. The origins are many hundreds of years old, but in the 14th century much of Rye was lost when the town was set on fire by French invaders. Gradually the town was rebuilt and The Mermaid Inn as it stands now was rebuilt in 1420 with its older origins still evident in the cellar of the inn.

Rye has many good restaurants, quaint tea rooms and cosy inns and the visitor is spoilt for choice of where to eat. Unusually, Rye’s High Street is not a smaller replica of most other High Streets, full of identical shops, it prides itself on a large number of independent retailers with a large variety of different goods on sale. The side streets and cobbled streets are also home to independent traders which make shopping in Rye a unique experience. You can read more about Rye on our blog A brief guide to Rye

6] As mentioned briefly above, the choice of places to eat in and around Camber Sands makes it a real culinary delight. In Camber itself there is the local pub/restaurant The Green Owl which serves good food at affordable prices. Further up the road is The Gallivant, a little pricier but well worth a visit. These are just two of a  number of  places to eat in Camber. In Rye itself the choice is amazing, from Careys on The Strand which is a seafood and steak restaurant serving succulent fresh fish straight from the Rye fishing fleet, to the full range of cuisines including Indian, Italian, Chinese. The selection of high quality restaurants in a small town is exceptionally good, and not forgetting the various inns that serve great food too. So whether you want a full evening meal, a cream tea, morning  coffee  or a light lunch, the only problem you will encounter is deciding exactly where to eat.The local produce is, of course. on most menus and the fresh fish, local wild boer and succulent, sweet flavoured Romney Marsh lamb all come highly recommended, perhaps washed down with a local wine or ale.

7] A stay in Camber Sands has something for everyone. If you are interested in an action holiday you have the local water sports centre where wind surfing and other water sports can be carried out. Kite surfing on the beach is a very popular activity and lessons and courses are available to the east of Camber at Cambers kite surfing school. There are also local golf courses, boat charters, cycle paths and some great walks to fill your days during your stay. Close by is Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, a great place for walking or birdwatching, with the RSPB Dungeness reserve just 6 miles away too

8]If you are not looking for such an action packed break, but still like the outdoors, Camber Sands is a bird watchers paradise. Adjacent to the beach is Rye Harbour Nature Reserve which is also popular with walkers. The whole area is a photographers and artists delight too. Apart from the natural beauty of the area, there are some stunning sunrises and sunsets to admire and capture on camera or canvas. Dungeness and its Nature reserve is just a few miles east of Camber Sands too. Much of the area, including the marshes  are protected and are habitats to rare species including the Great Crested Newt and water voles to name just two of the species which inhabit the marshes.

9] If history is your thing, then there is no finer place to stay than this most historic part of our country. With the ancient town of Rye on the doorstep you will be filled with  tales of smuggling and other fascinating historical facts about Rye. Being in 1066 country itself there is no shortage of historical places to visit, including Hastings Castle and nearby Battle Abbey in Battle, just a few miles from Camber Sands. It was on the fields adjacent to the abbey where the famous Battle of Hastings took place, not in Hastings itself. There are numerous other castles in the surrounding area to visit as well as quaint old world villages. The stunning Bodiam Castle is less than half an hour away and is one of the finest examples of a medieval moated castle. Within an hours drive there is Canterbury, Hever Castle, Dover Castle and Leeds Castle, to name just a very few historic attractions.Being located in historic 1066 country, there is a rich heritage to discover.

10] With so very many places to visit from Camber Sands it would be hard to list them all here, but Hastings is a popular seaside town a few miles west of Camber. A walk around the old town is a must, as is a visit to Hastings Castle and the old smugglers caves and tales of smuggling at The Smugglers Adventures A visit to Dungeness offers a unique experience. The landscape, the beach scattered with abandoned boats and huts, and the community that has grown here as well as its two lighthouses is an amazing and unusual experience in itself. Combine the visit with a trip on the small gauge railway of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchuch Railway and a trip to the Dungeness Nature Reserve for a really interesting day out, and only around eight miles from Camber Sands. In nearby Tenterden can you take a trip on a steam train. Many people combine it with a trip to Bodiam Castle and back.Further afield but well worth a day trip, you can visit Canterbury, Eastbourne and Beachy Head, Whitstable, and numerous castles in this most historic part of the UK. Camber Sands is located just a few miles from the borders with Kent – The Garden of England, which makes it an ideal base for exploring both counties and even further afield. These are just a handful of examples of the numerous places to be visited, but there are so many more. 

​To find out more about our Camber Sands holiday cottage, please visit our website Marsh View Cottage