This summer is proving to be a right scorcher, and this year we can’t wait to head out with bucket and spade and sing ‘Oh! I do like to be beside the seaside,’ especially as last summer was a bit of a damp- squib weather-wise.

There’s loads of lovely back-to-nature stuff happening around Rye in July and August which we wanted to share with you. More than enough things to do to sustain a proper week’s holiday by the sea. Forget Devon and Cornwall (much as we love you), let’s hear it for East Sussex!

First up, if you’ve not yet been to the pick-your-own Tibbs Farm down the road from The George in Rye, you’re in for a treat. They’ve got fields upon fields of strawberries and you can spend all day meandering around filling up your basket. So many of our guests are returning to the hotel with about 12 punnets, we’re now running a variation on our afternoon tea in July. You bring back your strawberries, and we’ll provide you with pots of tea, scones and clotted cream, to make your strawberry feast into something special. Just come up to the bar when you’re back from your fruit plundering, and we’ll sort it all out!

Moving on from land-lubber excursions and out to sea, we’re completely charmed by Wild Rye’s coastal excursions, which remind us of Swallows & Amazon style-adventures. Head to their Seashore Discovery to spot wildlife hidden in the saltmarsh and treasures on the beach. Or learn how to catch shrimps in a rock-pool exploration at Petts Pool. Perhaps our favourite is “Horse Stingers and Devil’s Darning Needles’ (just for the name alone!) where you get to go dragonfly and damselfly spotting. We never knew there was a special word for female dragonflies! There’s loads of this ilk going on and even better, you can just turn up at the designated arrival point on the day – all events are free though donations are welcome. Go take a look at the website www.wildrye.info to choose your adventure.

And if you have kids who love playing in the water, and you’d rather like some time to yourself on holiday, Rye Watersports are laying on summer Kids Camps through July and August. Over two days, adventure- seekers will get to experience sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, all under safe expert tuition. Best of all you get two days to yourself to relax! Take a look at the camps here; there are also introductory courses to individual watersports for kids.

That should keep you busy!

Best wishes

The George in Rye