January 2008

BRITAIN'S 10 BEST BOLT-HOLES

Thumb screws can be very handy things.  Why, with just a few twists we had travel guru Alistair Sawday, publisher of the Special Places To Stay series, singing like a canary to reveal his 10 most secret, magical mini-breaks.  And they start from just £80...

7.  BEACH RETREAT

THE PLACE CAMBER SANDS, NEW LYDD ROAD, CAMBER, RYE,

This boutique motel, a 'diner with rooms' - is friendly, stylish and very well priced.  Across the road, enormous dunes tumble down to Camber Sands for two miles of uninterrupted beach; you can watch the kite-surfing, or walk west to the river Rother and follow it up to Rye (three miles).  Back at The Place, comfy bedrooms come in light colours, with crisp white linen, digital radios, big mirrors and a sofa if there's room; while spotless bathrooms allow for a good soak after a hard day on the beach.  Doors in the airy brasserie open onto a dining terrace in summer, where seasonal menus offer local and organic food when possible, with Dover sole and mackerel sourced from a sustainable fishing fleet in Hastings.  There's a good DVD library at reception; photography on the walls, big family rooms; and body boards and beach towels for those who want to ride the waves.  Lympe Castle is close, as is Dungeness - Derek Jarman's Prospect Cottage is worth a look.  Doubles start from £80.  Call 01797 225057 or visit www.theplacecambersands.co.uk