Sandy Toes Beach House
Shell Beach, Kent
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Why we love it
At high tide the surf is a few feet from the enclosed deck, so you can let your dog bark at the waves while you sit with sunset cocktails and amazing views
What you'll love
Dogs will love
- Being able to run right out onto the beach
- Next door’s ridiculously friendly dog
- Long walks through the Swale marshlands
Humans will love
- Sitting in front of the ever-changing sea views
- Living the barefoot beach bum life
- A welcome gift of some Kent ale and honey made at the local prison!
The place
Pack your paddleboard and your dog’s life jacket, or just a ball you can throw from the deck while you doze in the sun, because this is a beach house more than worthy of the name. At high tide the surf rolls up to within a few feet of the deck and it’s incredibly soothing to have that soft sound always with you. Sandy Toes is a fairly remote place, with the nearest pub a couple of hours away on foot. The owners recommend stocking up with everything you’ll need for your stay, including drinking water, and ditching the car so you can really relax into the beach bum lifestyle. The enclosed deck means your dog is safe outside on their own, but with the enormous stretch of beach and nearby nature reserve to explore, they’ll be too tired to run off anyway. Well, you can hope.
In the neighbourhood
- Walk from the door: head left for a lovely walk into Leysdown or turn right and walk to the disused lookout and beyond, into the swale marshlands that take you across to Harty.
- The Ferry House Inn, 18-minute drive. A lovely gastropub with a dog-friendly bar area which is very popular locally, so book in advance.
- Brambledown Farm Shop, 14-minute drive. Stock up here for everything you need for a great meal in. It has a butchers, bakers and tonnes of farm-fresh vegetables.
- Minster Beach, 21-minute drive. If you manage to tire of the beach right on your doorstep, Minster Beach, near Bartons Point Coastal Park, is worth a visit for a change of scenery, although it’s only dog friendly in winter.