Tram to Camber from Rye!
George Clooney to the right of the big guy, the talented Mr Goodman!
Camber is a unique destination – it is the home of the sandiest beach on the South of England – miles of sand and dunes which lie next to the famous links golf course of Rye, close to London and the Channel Tunnel, it makes it easy for an escape. Check out the Tide Table for high/low tide times.
Our Farmhouse is one of the oldest houses on Romney Marsh and having been in the family since 1952 we have seen Camber grow and develop over the years. It is an all year destination, in winter it is perfect for bracing walks, log fires and an amble round the historic town of Rye.
Camber has a number of basic shops for papers and provisions. The award winning hotel The Gallivant is a must for a delicious bite to eat, they are now offering a pampering parlour – The Beach Hut for some fab treatments or a yoga session occasionally on the beach (weather permitting!). The Owl is our local pub with good fare. Camber Kitesurfing is the perfect place to get going on the water! But do look at our other links with all the best attractions in the area. The beautiful historic town of Rye is only five minutes away with a plethora of independent shops and gorgeous places to eat and drink.
The village takes its name from ‘the Camber’ (la Chambre) the huge bay in the English Channel located between Rye, old Winchelsea and Old Romney that has gradually silted-up since the middle ages following changes to the coastline and the river. There was a tram from Rye to Camber to carry the golf bags – sadly lost after the Second World War and we would love to bring it back! Camber Castle was built by Henry VIII but due to the coastal changes now sits nearer Winchelsea!
With its sheer size, beauty and proximity to London, Camber is forever being used as a back drop for directors for film, tv and music. Our most recent sprinkling of Hollywood glamour was the arrival of George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman and Hugh Bonneville, here for four days, the sun shone, Camber and Rye couldn’t have looked more gorgeous – so check out the Monuments Men, released in 2014, Wolseley (our golden retriever) and I did a lot of walking on the beach that week!
Ralph Fiennes shot and directed The Invisible Woman with Kirsten Scott Thomas. Daniel Day Lewis in Nine was seen running through the dunes. In 1962, the beach was used for the D-Day landing scenes in the epic war movie The Longest Day, films Dunkirk. and Carry On Follow That Camel was shot here during 1967 when Camber Sands doubled for the Sahara Desert although filming had to be stopped several times because the dunes were covered in snow!
On TV, Camber Sands’ holiday resort was seen in an episode of The Inbetweeners but most recently the BBC adaptation of Mapp and Lucia based on local author E F Benson. In music, Camber Sands is mentioned in Europe Is Our Playground by Suede; Pulling Mussels (From The Shell) by Squeeze; Diamonds and Pearls by The Holloways, It was also used as a title to Fatboy Slim’s EP single Camber Sands (EP).
Famously the first photographic shoot that catapulted Kate Moss to stardom Camber Sands backdrop!