DAYSOUT
Sussex’ s Best Beaches cont.
© Andy Aldridge © South Eastern Star
East Beach, Bognor Sat Nav Postcode: PO21 1JN
East Beach in Bognor Regis is a hugely popular place, and rightly so. Since it’ s so close to the town centre – it’ s actually the closest beach to Bognor proper – people often just pop down on a whim, grabbing a picnic on the way. Although, if a picnic’ s not your thing, there are a number of different cafes and restaurants that can be tried and are all within walking distance to the beach as well.
During the summer months, East Beach is particularly well catered for. You can hire deckchairs and windbreaks to ensure you have the most comfortable time you can, plus there are showers and drinking-water fountains on hand to keep everyone clean and hydrated.
East Beach has plenty of facilities including nearby car parks, refreshments, toilets, and even lifeguards on duty every day until September.
Pevensey Bay, Bexhill Sat Nav Postcode: BN24 6HX
Pevensey Bay is a small shingle beach near Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex. The beach itself offers a wide range of excellent activities such as kayaking and canoeing, jet skiing, sailing, and windsurfing, and the area is particularly good for both deep sea and beach fishing. Although its amenities( a café and toilets) may not be as plentiful as other beaches in Sussex, that doesn’ t mean you shouldn’ t try it – it really is a stunning place to visit and spend the day. And really, what more do you need?
Pevensey Bay has a long and interesting history of being a popular spot for families to spend some time together; it rose up out of the water – literally, since it was created thanks to the constant erosion of Beachy Head in Eastbourne- which allowed the pebbles to build up. Because of this, the area around is marshy and often floods, which isn’ t a totally bad thing actually, as it makes it a haven for birds and wildlife, many of which can be seen by those with a keen eye.
© Andrew Whitman © Sam Kelly
Climping Beach, Littlehampton Sat Nav Postcode: BN17 5NL
Climping Beach – also known as Atherington Beach – is a lovely place to spend the day. As it is more off the beaten track than some of the other beaches in the area, it tends to be much quieter, but don’ t let that fool you; a quiet beach is certainly not a boring one. With pebbles and wooden groynes making up the majority of the beach at high tide, and hard-packed, dark sand appearing at low tide, it’ s possible to enjoy a variety of different activities here within the space of just a few hours. It is a particularly good spot for those who love kitesurfing and windsurfing.
The area around Climping Beach is a site of Special Scientific Interest, and some of it makes up a wonderful nature reserve. Because of this, some of the impressive dunes are fenced off to protect them. Being as exposed as it is, coastal erosion is a big problem here, and the beach is slowly but surely disappearing.
At high tide, Climping Beach is a beautiful spot to go for a coastal walk – head east to go to Littlehampton, or west to Felpham. Facilities at Climping include car parking, a café with outdoor seating, a pub close by, toilets, and a shower. Dogs are allowed on the beach as long as they are on a lead.
Camber Sands, Camber Sat Nav Postcode: TN31 7RT
It is the fantastic dunes of the beach at Camber that give it its name – Camber Sands – and they have been attracting visitors who are keen for a day out for generations. With a café, various nearby restaurants, shops, toilets, and even a campsite and specific‘ lost child centre’, the people of Camber really do seem to have thought of everything and everyone.
Looking for something to do other than sit on the sand and build castles? Why not go for a swim, try windsurfing, or ride a donkey? There is a watersports area that is specially cordoned off, so those looking for more adrenalin-fuelled activities can keep clear of those who would rather spend the day relaxing and vice versa.
There is no lifeguard on duty at Camber Sands, but the beach is cleaned daily by the District Council, and there are dog waste bins and litter bins around to help keep it clean, which all seems to work together to create a pleasant place to spend some time. Speaking of dogs, they are allowed on the beach between May and September as long as they are on a lead and stay within the zones set out for them.
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