I am a huge fan of the British seaside.

The UK coastline varies from one place to another and thus offers fantastic opportunities for impromptu day-trips or summer holidays. Less than a fortnight ago, my best friend and I decided that only a large dose of salty sea air could lift us out of our summer misery - our yearning for sunshine and summer breeze reached a crisis point. So, we consulted both Google Maps and the Marine Conservation Society's Good Beach Guide for places to visit on the south-east coast of England and before long we were on our way to Camber Sands, near Rye, Sussex. Despite a fairly grim weather forecast, I looked beach-ready: shorts, t-hirt, straw hat and I even sneakily packed my colourful bikini (obviously hoping for meteorological miracles).

The sand at Camber © Veronika Moore

Besides the promise of a wide expanse of golden sand, Camber intrigued me thanks to its unique dune system - in fact, it's the only one in East Sussex. A large section of the western end of the dunes lies within the Camber Sands and Rye Saltings Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), while the rest is designated a Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI). The dunes are formed from the sand that is blown inland, gradually building up around plants, debris and fences. Covering much of the dunes, the Marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) has a deep root system, which helps to hold the sand in place. For more information about the dune system and the current management plan (including flood defence and sand stabilisation), please visit the East Sussex County Council website.
Despite the thick mist, the cold wind and the overcast sky, Camber Sands fulfilled my longing for salty sea air. I came home with sand in my shoes and a firm resolution to return on a hot sunny day.