Jurys Gap Beach (East Sussex)

The Kitesurf Centre is a leading BKSA Kite School offering kitesurfing lessons, kiteboarding courses, power kiting, kite buggying, kite landboarding, hydrofoiling and stand up paddleboarding (SUP). Located on Camber Sands beach, East Sussex but also teaching at Greatstone Kent on the South East Coast of England and just 1 hour from South London.

Camber Sands beach is hidden behind dunes and is a popular family sandy beach, with picturesque dunes and interesting wildlife. Camber Sands is very popular as it offers golden sand and dunes rather than the more traditional Sussex pebble beach. The beach is divided into zoned areas (bathing, dog restricted, watersports), please check the beach signs. The dunes are formed from the sand that is blown inland which builds up around plants, debris and fences. A large section of the western end sit within the Camber Sands and Rye Saltings Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), while the rest is designated a Site of Nature Conservation Importance The marram grass that you see covering much of the dunes has a deep root system which helps to hold the sand in place. Traditional chestnut fences along the beach help sand to build up more quickly. The combination of plants and fences at Camber Sands prevent the dunes from moving and burying the village. Facilities at the beach include seasonal lifeguards, public telephone, toilets with disabled access, children’s play area, slipway, Coastal Control Office for lost children, first aid, cafe and deckchair hire. The village of Camber is very close to the beach and you have a selection of holiday parks to the east of the village. In Camber Village you have a selection of cafes, chip shops, general stores, a post office and a couple of pubs. There are three main car parks, Western car park on New Lydd Road, Central car park, and the car park on Old Lydd road. Both Western and Central also has large overflow car parks. Only Central has direct access to the beach. You have to tackle steep soft sandy paths over the dunes to reach the beach from the Western car park, making this unsuitable for those with prams, or wheelchairs.

Rye Watersports is a long established teaching centre offering lessons in Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, Dinghy Sailing and Stand Up Paddleboarding. Lessons in kitesurfing, windsurfing and sailing are taught on our coastal lake, mid-way between Rye and Camber. The nearby beaches of Camber Sands in East Sussex, and Greatstone in Kent are where we run our kitesurfing lessons from.

Rye Harbour has had a lifeboat station since the start of the 1800s. Now operates an inshore lifeboat. Limited station opening.

Camber Castle, Until the late 16th century, most of the low lying ground between Rye and Winchelsea was a shallow harbour, called the Camber, protected from the sea by a long series of shingle banks. Henry VIII built a chain of artillery forts along the south coast to protect vulnerable and strategic areas. The existing tower at Camber was incorporated into a new fort built mid 16th century. There are monthly guided walks round Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, including the castle.

Lamb House, a fine brick-fronted 18th century house home to writer Henry James from 1898-1916, authors E. F. Benson and Rumer Godden.

Winchelsea beach is shingle at high tide and sand at low. Just behind the beach is an area known as “The Ridges”– pebbles and rough land with a straggle of 1930’s bungalows on unmade roads. Good all-round family beach, swimming is safe and best at high tide and you also have a bird reserve nearby. Parking on the road, ice cream van if you are lucky. We have no dog information for Winchelsea beach.