Dog friendly things to do
Our dog friendly coastal cottages are the perfect place to explore all the dog friendly things to do in Camber, Rye and Winchelsea.
Photo credit: Georgina Holt
Dog friendly beaches to discover
If you and your dog dream of sand dunes and salty air… then hot foot it to dog friendly Camber Sands. Miles of golden sand gets bandied about too often, but in Camber it really is true, it’s got literally swathes of it, perfect for your four-legged friend to run, play and dig to their heart’s content. Dogs are welcome year-round on Camber Sands, and while some restrictions apply in certain zones between May 1st and 30th September, there’s still plenty of beach and dunes free for energetic, tongue-hanging-out freedom. Do check out the tide table before you visit, as the tide comes in very quickly. Jury’s Gap at the eastern end of the beach will bring you to the lesser-known stretches of Broomhill Sands. For dogs that love the water, Broomhill’s shallow areas are ideal at low tide for frolicking in the surf. From the Blue House to The Barn, Camber Holiday Cottages has some of the most dog friendly coastal cottages in East Sussex, to check-in to then stroll from your Camber accommodation to the beach.
Photo credit: Georgina Holt
Heading west along the coast from Camber, the gentle sloping shores of nearby Winchelsea Beach are regularly quiet (sometimes you’ll have the whole beach to yourself). Shingle rather than sand, with plenty of rockpools to jump in and space to play fetch, Winchelsea offers up views of the headland at Dungeness and the cliffs at Fairlight. Keep travelling west and you’ll hit Pett Level Beach for more rockpools and tail-wagging. For paws that don’t like shingle, there’s a concrete path that runs along the top of the beach. Stay in dog-friendly beach accommodation Cliff-End Fort or Cloudbreak to have the seaside right on your doorstep. There are more great beaches to the west at St. Leonard’s Beach and to the east at Greatstone and Littlestone.
Photo credit: Georgina Holt
Dog friendly shops
Let’s start with the obvious Paws and Claws Pet Shop on Rye’s Market Street is the absolute doggy dream. Like a sweetie shop of natural treats for the pampered pooch, think jars of liver sausage, boxes of goat sticks and more types of marrow than you could shake a stick at. Paws and Claws also stock plenty of chic coats for the well-heeled canine.
To shop for yourself put Rae at the top of your list. At 77a The Mint in the centre of Rye, Rae is a treasure trove of the most delicious homewares. Think everything from rugs to stationary to fine jewellery. For a glorious collection of art, craft and curios, the perfectly curated McCully & Crane for art, lighting and mid-century furniture and Soap & Salvation who mainly source and sell antique, vintage and repurposed goods. All three are super dog friendly. More Rye gems to mooch with your pooch are Ethel Loves Me and family-run independent gift shop Simply Rye stocking locally hand-poured Olsten Soy candles is also a must-visit.
Photo credit: Sara D’Souza
Dog friendly pubs and cafes
Ye Olde watering hole The Standard Inn with its carved beams and sloping floors has been standing on its site in Rye since 1420. Hole up at the wood-clad bar with your four-legged friend at your feet, sip a cold pint of something local and tuck into Romney Marsh lamb or the daily catch from Rye Harbour. Over at 16th-century coaching inn The George in Rye, you’ll find the convivial (design team duo Maria and Adam at Retrouvius are behind the recent revamp) dog friendly Dragon Bar for Maldon Rock oysters washed down with a Kentish cider.
Image credit: Georgina Holt
With walls lined with Anthony Burrill prints, The Fig is vibrant, quirky, super dog friendly and does a fine line in daily brunch and lunch options, all beautifully served. Day times are for walk-ins only, but you can book a dinner reservation Tuesday to Saturday. The welcome message on entering The Globe Inn states, “With logs on our fires, wood smoke fills the air, muddy boots by the door, tired dogs by our hearth…”, needless to say, it’s cosy and welcoming and mutts are celebrated.
With a delicious bakery open from 8:30am the heritage-listed White House is a great place to start the day. It’s spacious, trendy, friendly and frequently full of glorious pups to make friends with. Book up at pet friendly stay in Rye and have some of the best places to eat in Rye just minutes’ walk away. Mermaid Street Café makes excellent homemade Scotch eggs, sausage rolls and quiches and will welcome your dog with open arms. Alternatively, use their hatch to grab a coffee or an ice cream to take on your dog walk.
Photo credit: Georgina Holt
Thinking of walks…
Covering 1150 acres along the River Rother, the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is an Outstanding Area of Natural Beauty in the High Weald. Well-behaved dogs are very welcome in the reserve and the Lime Kiln Café, but they will need to be kept on a short lead at all times (as it’s a nesting site for birds…).
Photo credit: Georgina Holt
Vets
There are local vets on hand in case you need them during your stay. Family-owned Badgers Oak in Northiam near Rye (a 20-minute drive from Camber) has an out of hours service. There’s also Cinque Port Vets in Rye who also run a 24-hour emergency service.
