The Blue House, Camber, East Sussex

Built to a plan by WAM design, this sublime four-bedroom beach house sits in the heart of Camber Sands, just along the coast from Rye Harbour. Its arrestingly modern profile emerges between dune and shore, standing in compelling contrast to its sandy surroundings. Full-height glazing frames beautiful sea views and floods its calm interior spaces with an ethereal natural light.

The Tour

Inside, a tactile palette of materials, textures and colours complement a series of outstanding spaces. The home's simple and well-proportioned layout has an effortless, graceful feel about it, belying the complexity of building among sand dunes.

The front of the ground floor is given over to an open-plan living and kitchen area, with uninterrupted views down to the sea. Beautifully considered, the room is divided between zones for cooking, dining and relaxation, all brought to life by the southerly light that streams in throughout the day.

The ply panels that surround the room create a continuity with the honey hues outside and contrast elegantly with muted grey flooring underfoot. The kitchen is to the rear and houses plenty of storage in Silestone topped cabinetry. Configured in a sociable U-shape, it remains in easy dialogue with the rest of the room.

The staircase to the second floor is detailed with thickening ply sheets, coming together for an attractive, jigsaw-style patterning of detailing and joints. Upstairs, the primary has a breathtaking view of the sea and is set beneath the sloping timber eaves of the vaulted ceiling. The room opens out onto balcony access to a decked terrace. A free-standing bathtub is separated from the sleeping area by a timber partition. There is also an en suite shower and WC.

A second expansive bedroom mirrors the principal suite, this time on the dune side of the house. This room also has a free-standing bathtub and private en suite.

The third and fourth bedrooms sit on the ground floor and have plenty of space for storage and for multiple sleeping arrangements for beds or bunk accommodation. There is also a utility room and a bathroom on this floor, providing the perfect place to store sandy shoes and wash sandy feet.

Outside Space

In front of the house is a spacious, south-facing wooden deck that looks out onto the beach. Sand stretches for miles in either direction, with exquisite views of the Channel. In the summer, doors and windows can be thrown open, allowing the house to spill over into the garden and sundeck.

The house is within East Sussex’s only sand dunes, a Site of Nature Conservation Importance, with spectacular views of the sea.

The Area

Just a few minutes from some of the UK’s best-loved seaside at Camber Sands, the house is surrounded by a five-mile stretch of unspoilt sandy beach located in East Sussex, close to the border with Kent.

This house is brilliantly situated just minutes away from Camber Sands, a pristine five-mile stretch of sandy beach in East Sussex, near the Kent border. Notably, Camber Sands features the only significant dune system in East Sussex. The area is adjacent to Romney Marsh, a region celebrated by 19th-century author Thomas Ingoldsby as 'The Fifth Continent' for its stunning natural beauty, diverse ecosystems, extensive shoreline, and rich history. Nearby points of interest include the renowned Rye Golf Club links course and the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, which spans from Rye along the River Rother to the sea, then westward to Winchelsea Beach, and northward along the River Brede.

Rye's historic town centre is located around four miles away and has a variety of shops, pubs, and restaurants. It is accessible via an off-road cycle route from Camber, taking around 20 minutes, or 10 minutes by car. We've written more about our recommendations in Rye in our Journal.

Camber Sands and Greatstone are top destinations for kite and windsurfing enthusiasts. A 10-minute walk from the house will take you to The Gallivant, a highly regarded dune-side restaurant featuring a bar, beach huts, and rooms.  Hastings, Tenterden and Dungeness are also within easy reach.

Rye's train station runs services to London St Pancras in around an hour. Ashford International, around 20 miles to the north, provides high-speed rail links to London.

Council Tax Band: F