On a good day at this East Sussex hideaway, you might as well be in California.

The two-bedroom Camber cottage feels like a surfer’s shack, with driftwood walls, whimsical tiling and a south-facing garden landscaped in desert shrubbery. An outdoor hot tub, ping-pong table, and shower remind you, even when the clouds roll in, or the waves get high that this is a place for barefoot leisure.

Even the short road leading to the beach is surfaced in sand.

Redesigned from a dated bungalow by architect John Carver, the East Sussex property promotes easy living—Low-maintenance weatherboarding and corrugated tin form the main house, with its vaulted ceiling and sliding doors. The bedrooms accommodate couples with lots of gear, and a spiral staircase rises to a rainy-day snug. At the foot of the garden is a self-contained summerhouse with a third bathroom.

Sea Road is currently listed with The Modern House for £885,000. Buyers can use the entire property as a permanent home or carry on letting it to the loyal crowd of kite surfers and beach-goers. Camber Sands runs five miles along the East Sussex coast, near the historic town of Rye, with high dunes and great local cafés.

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