Oh I do like to be beside the seaside...

Spontaneously deciding to have a couple of days away this week I headed to an area I'd never been to before, Camber Sands in East Sussex, combined with Rye and Hastings.  Dubbed 1066 country the area is certainly very historical, but I was there to enjoy beach walks and explore hidden charms.  Lured by superlative travel magazine editorial and an appealing website I booked to stay at The Gallivant hotel, with it's 'New England' style.  High expectations are usually hard to live up to and this was the case, when I checked in to my 'coastal double' small but functional room which could have done with a fresh lick of paint and the light bulb replacing above the only chair. If you're after a relaxing break I'd suggest booking a 'coastal deluxe' or the beach hut room to give you more space.  I'm probably being overly critical, but forget any romantic notion of a sea view - the front of the hotel overlooks the car park and back a housing estate. 

Thankfully the sky cleared to provide enough glimpse of the sun to lift your spirits.  I crossed the road and walked up over the dunes to reach the famous five-mile beach.  The field of wind turbines behind the hotel should have been a warning sign of this being a blowy area and the sand whipping along the beach left my legs tingling.  Undeterred and discarding my sandals, the soft sand felt surprisingly warm.  Only a few hardy souls were braving the beach, but I walked along the sea's edge, my feet invigorated by the refreshing water.  There's nothing like the uplifting boost of being in the elements and I returned to The Galliavant suitably ready for dinner.  I wanted to try the sparkling Gusbourne Estate blanc de blancs, Appledore, Kent, described on the wine list as the English equivalent of Comtes de Champagne from Tattinger, but clearly everyone else chose that too as it was out of stock.  Instead I had a glass of the Chapel Down Brut from Tenterden, also in Kent which was lovely.  My choice from the blackboard of whole dover sole with brown shrimp butter, pink fir potatoes, and shredded cabbage was perfectly cooked, simple and delicious, accompanied by a glass of chilled unoaked French Chardonnay.  Just a shame that dessert was a non-event (a shallow glass of rubbery rhubarb jelly with a teaspoon of raspberry ripple ice cream).

In addition to Camber Sands the Gallivant is well placed to visit Rye, only three miles away, where the restaurant at The George is certainly worth going to in conjunction with browsing the quaint shops and ancient architecture.  You can stay at the George too...Next time I'll tell you about my experience of Hastings.