Beaches to visit while camping & glamping: Hythe, Kent

Hythe Beach

Here at Horton View Farm we have gorgeous scenery, pub walks and easy access to some great beaches. So if a visit to the seaside is called for Hythe is a great place to start.

Hythe is a small town but it packs plenty in. It doesn't have the traditional seaside amusements and crowds of Folkestone, the but if it's a quieter vibe you're after, we think you'll love Hythe. There's a vast, pebbly beach, the Military Canal, and a quaint high street with plenty of excellent pubs, shops and cafés. There's also a Sainsbury's and a Waitrose for picking up supplies for bringing back to camp.

The Military Canal has a footpath and is great for walking and wildlife-spotting, but you can also hire boats, canoe, paddle-board or fish (although a permit is required for these activities). More info here about the Hythe section of the canal, and here for info about walks along the length of the canal.

Hythe beach has a lovely, wide promenade for walking or cycling and is popular with sea-swimmers. There are regular weekend sea-swims throughout the year. Check the latest water quality tests here.

Café on the Beach serves excellent coffee, pastries and snacks. It has some outside seating but does get busy when the sun is out. Check their Facebook page for up-to-date info and opening times.

It's around a 15 minute walk from the seafront, across the canal and into the High Street. Here you'll find some lovely independent shops, pubs and cafes and the best way to discover them is just by wandering, but we do have a few favourites. We particularly like Obidosh for beautiful cards and gifts, family-run cafe Twenty Four, tucked away off the high street for tasty brunches, and Florence's Artisan Bakery for the most fabulous pastries and excellent coffee.

There's so much more to Hythe than we can possibly capture here, and there's a reason that it's one of our favourite beaches in the South East, so we'd recommend heading down there to discover it for yourself.

Ice cream on the beach at Hythe