Isle of sheppey?

JodyBPM

DH and I are vaguely considering buying a leasehold holiday chalet on the Isle of Sheppey, but I'm struggling to find any information about the area online. We have found a few negative reviews, but no one actually says *why* its bad, what is wrong with it etc, just jokes, that not knowing the area I don't get!

So what is the Isle of Sheppey like? Why has it got a bad reputation?

We're mainly considering this area because its cheap, and close enough to travel to fairly regularly (from Surrey).

Obviously if we do decide to go ahead, we'll visit first and see for ourselves, but before we waste our time - what is wrong with the Isle of Sheppey????

DH and I and kids (4 & 5) like rural spaces, wildlife etc, and love beaches - chavs and crime would probably be our main concerns (although we accept there is *always* a chav element on holiday parks, its par for the course).

So what can you tell me about the Isle of Sheppey?

Browntoa

leysdown=isle of Sheppey= chavs

its only 20 minutes drive from me and I'd rather drive anywhere else

Dymchurch/st marys bay/hythe is nice

Poly,put_the_kettle_on

It's a hole. Apart from any social issues it may have, it's a dull, bleak, featureless landscape smothered in caravan parks. I can't honestly think of one redeeming feature. And yes, I have spent some time there- DD lived there for 6 months or so.

JodyBPM

Browntoa wrote: »

leysdown=isle of Sheppey= chavs

But is it more chavvy than other places eg Hastings / Eastbourne / Margate / Bognor etc? Or the average Butlins or Haven resort? Most of those places have seemed fairly chavvy to me, but friendly and OK, not menacing or anything:/

And what about the beaches? From an arial photo, they looked long and sandy, are they nice and family friendly?

Poly,put_the_kettle_on

Think long stretches of shingle with views of factories.

vikingaero

Sheppey is nice for walks on the southern side of the Island. It has a lot of history too from WW2 era. One OK bit is the beach at Leysdown where you can drive you car onto the beach for £1 and park it right next to where you are sunbathing.

But... with any isolated seaside are it can be a bit grotty in places with a higher chav, drugs and crime rate. Is it worse than Thanet resorts? On the whole yes, but not much worse. The Sussex towns are infinitely better than Sheppey.

Browntoa

it's no better than margate, I think Hastings is on the way up as the council are spending money on it and forcing owners of the seafront properties to maintain and renovate the buildings

I really would not spend money on a place there , the other areas I mentioned are on the other side of Kent but about the same travelling time from you and infinitely better

Zazen999

JodyBPM wrote: »

chavs and crime would probably be our main concerns

So what can you tell me about the Isle of Sheppey?

It's full of chavs and crime.

Belair

Poly,put_the_kettle_on wrote: »

It's a hole. Apart from any social issues it may have, it's a dull, bleak, featureless landscape smothered in caravan parks. I can't honestly think of one redeeming feature.

The above is true. I visited once and thought I was entering an industrial estate.

JodyBPM

vikingaero wrote: »

One OK bit is the beach at Leysdown where you can drive you car onto the beach for £1 and park it right next to where you are sunbathing.

Must admit, that bit seems horrifying to me - why would you want to sunbathe next to your car? Surely the point of a beach is to get away from noise, pollution, traffic etc, not to bring it with you!

Thank you all for your feedback, think it might be back to the drawing board for us - although perhaps worth a visit, will only be an hour and half drive or so, just to see it with our own eyes!

Zazen999

JodyBPM wrote: »

Must admit, that bit seems horrifying to me - why would you want to sunbathe next to your car? Surely the point of a beach is to get away from noise, pollution, traffic etc, not to bring it with you!

Thank you all for your feedback, think it might be back to the drawing board for us - although perhaps worth a visit, will only be an hour and half drive or so, just to see it with our own eyes!

Oh - I had assumed that you HAD seen it.....you are SO in for a treat.