Have you ever stayed in a holiday cottage (literally) a stone’s throw from the beach? There’s something really magical about staying a hop, skip and a jump away from beautiful sandy shores. Well, we had the absolute pleasure of staying in perhaps one of the most charming beachy holiday cottages I’ve ever seen. Ebbtide is bursting with character and effortlessly gives off soothing beach vibes from the moment you pull up outside. 

We were driving down the sandy track that leads to the cottage and wondered what we’d find at the other end. Thankfully, we were pleased to drive up in front of a very cute, white holiday cottage nestled right at the back of the sand dunes. The kids loved stepping out of the car right onto the sand in front of the house. It makes you feel like you’re on holiday from the get-go.

Ebbtide resides mere moments from Camber Sands, a lovely, safe, sandy beach. And it’s ten minutes in the car to Rye, one of our favourite towns in Sussex. If you’re after British beach holiday ideas, then add Camber Sands to your list. There’s a huge stretch of sandy beach and loads of fun sand dunes to enjoy (the kids spent hours running up and rolling down the sand dunes). And Rye is also worth a visit. 

Want to know more? Read on to find out all the details about our stay at Ebbtide.

Camber Sands Holiday Cottage (Sleeps 4)

The Content Wolf Travel Rating Score 56/60

• Service – 10
• Uniqueness – 9
• Location – 10
• Comfort – 9
• Cleanliness – 10
• Facilities – 8

Inside Ebbtide

The owners have decorated Ebbtide to perfection, in my opinion. It’s decorated exactly how you’d want a beach retreat to be. Once inside, I kind of felt like I was on a boathouse drifting out to see. Perhaps this was because of the shutters in the lounge and the driftwood they’ve used throughout the house. 

They’ve thought of all the little details, from handcrafted mirrors and shabby chic blue shutters to a magnificent four-poster bed (made from driftwood). This place needs to be seen in real life to be properly appreciated. It’s one of those places that makes you feel like you’ve properly escaped from the world, and you can easily slide fully into holiday mode. 

There’s a large dining table, a generously sized sofa and a well-equipped, open-plan kitchen. We found the wet room downstairs really handy for when we got back from the beach. We sent the kids straight in there to wash off all the sand, and the bidet is also useful. Downstairs benefits from heated floors, which is a nice luxury to have while you’re on holiday. Ebbtide has a small garden where you can sit outside and enjoy a spot of al fresco dining. There’s also a balcony off the main bedroom upstairs with some deck chairs. 

Upstairs, you’ll find two bedrooms, a twin and a master bedroom. The master bedroom has one of the biggest beds I’ve stayed in, and it was extremely comfortable. It’s a rather impressive super-king 6-foot driftwood bed. I’d recommend staying here just to experience sleeping in this bed! The twin room is really cute, and it was perfect for the kids. Plus, there’s a bathroom/upstairs toilet. And there’s even a desk in the corridor where you can enjoy a spot of reading or do some work if you wish. 

LOCATION – Camber Sands Holiday Cottages

Ebbtide is located just 200 metres from the shores (at high tide) of Camber Sands. In under a two-minute stroll, you’re right on the main Camber Sands beach. Anyone with kids knows that lugging all your beach gear for miles with two small children is hellish. So we really appreciated the convenience of being able to bypass an epic trek to the beach and just rock up in moments with all our gear. It’s also really nice to be able to just walk back to the holiday cottage to grab some lunch. 

If you know Camber Sands, then what you will know is that parking is very difficult. It’s a UK beach hotspot, so in the summer, it seems like the whole country heads down there. Parking is very expensive. In some spots it costs £30 a day, which can really add up if you’re there for a week. Ebbtide has space to park one car, so you don’t need to worry about parking costs or jostling for a space.

Holiday cottage facilities

This characterful cottage has a lovely balcony with deck chairs so you can sit and enjoy the sunset (or sunrise!). It also has a small enclosed garden with a picnic table for al fresco dining. There’s space to park one car, which is very handy because parking at Camber Sands is extortionate. There’s also a desk upstairs where you can sit down and do some reading or catch up on a bit of work. Downstairs, you’ve got a large sofa, a TV, a fully equipped kitchen and big dining table. 

Things to do in Rye & Camber Sands

Well, if you’re located right next to the beach, the chances are you’ll spend most of your time splashing in the waves and relaxing on the sandy shores. However, there’s quite a bit to do locally. If you’re up for a day trip, then Hastings is worth a visit; there’s an aquarium and a museum, plus plenty of restaurants and cafes. Hastings old town is really lovely. There’s a cute train the kids really enjoyed too. We’re also huge fans of Rye. It’s such an adorable little town with some excellent dining options. 

We’ve had plenty of excellent brunches at The White House Rye. If you want epic muffins and mouth-watering cakes, this is the place to go. I’m sitting here craving their white chocolate, raspberry and pistachio muffin as I type. Hoof is a pretty good place to go if you just want a decent burger. When we go to Rye, we usually stop by Knoops for a cheeky dark hot chocolate (or a milkshake, which is heavenly). 

We also ended up having SUCH an incredible meal at a pub (The Plough, Rye) which is about ten minutes from the cottage. It has the most stunning countryside views and I can honestly say it was the best meal we’ve had in a very long time. We had a chicken and mushroom pie, and the kids really enjoyed their burgers. Plus, the puddings were amazing too. 

#discounted stay

Interested in staying at Ebbtide? Check out the Camber Beach website https://www.camberbeach.co.uk/ They’ve also got some properties located right on the beach and they look incredible.