soothe & stroll & unwind
Country Breaks in Rye
About Rye
Home to Henry James and Edith Wharton, Rye is an enchanted maritime maze of cobbled alleyways and charming antiques shops.
Walking
Rye is situated on five long distance routes, which combined with a number of circular routes provide walkers with an exciting range of options.
1. 1066 Country Walk
31 Miles from Pevensey to Rye, through Battle, with spurs to the South Downs Way, Hastings and Bexhill, the routes pass many sites connected with the Norman invasion of England. The 1066 Country Walk Book (£4.95) provides a detailed route description and other relevant information, and is available from the Tourism Information Centres in Rye, Battle and Hastings, or directly from the publisher: www.challenge-publications.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk.
2. Royal Military Canal Path
The path runs for 28 miles along the entire length of the Royal Military Canal from Seabrook, Kent to Cliff End in East Sussex. Many public footpaths link to the Path, so it is easy to plan circular routes that take in sections of the canal. For suggested itineraries and ways to walk the path in a few days visit www.royalmilitarycanal.com.
3. High Weald Landscape Trail
90 miles through the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) from Rye to Horsham, West Sussex. For further information contact the High Weald Unit, Corner Farm, Hastings Road, Flimwell, TN5 7PR, or call 01580 879500. Download leaflets from the High Weald website or pick one up in a Tourism Information Centre.
4. Saxon Shore Way
163 miles from Hastings to Gravesend, the route follows the original Saxon shore line from the Thames Estuary, down the Wantsum Channel, along the White Cliffs and on into Sussex. The Way is clearly shown on OS maps and signed on the ground. For more information visit the Ramblers' Association website.
5. Sussex Border Path
The Sussex Border Path runs 150 miles from Rye to Emsworth, Hampshire following the county border.
The Sussex Border Path: Day Walks and Circular Routes by John Allen, £6.95 is available from bookshops.
Shorter Walks Around Rye
Beckley Walk
A 3-mile generally easy walk with stiles and some muddy paths (depending on weather) starting from Beckley Village, 5.5 miles from Rye. Buses are available between Hastings and Northiam. Visit Access East Sussex website for more information.
Broad Oak Walk, Brede
Starting from the Rainbow Trout pub in Brede, 1.5 miles from Doleham Station (Marshlink Line) or a bus ride from Rye. An easy three mile circular route via Broad Oak with views across the Brede valley. For more information visit East Sussex County Council's website.
Camber Castle Walk
A 3-mile easy walk from Brede Lock (just outside of Rye) to Camber Castle and through the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, protected for its plentiful and rare wildlife.
For further information visit Rye Bay Countryside Office or pick up the Short Walks in the Rye Countryside leaflet from the Tourist Information Centre.
For a longer walk to Camber Castle starting from Rye Station see East Sussex County Council's website.
Cock Marling Walk, Winchelsea
A 4-mile country walk starting from Winchelsea Station, climbing to a ridge overlooking the Brede valley.
For more information see Access East Sussex website.
Doleham Walk, Brede
A 6-mile average-grade country walk starting at Doleham Railway Station (on the Marshlink Line) around the Brede valley, to the village of Brede, passing the historic Brede Valley Waterworks. The Access East Sussex website has more information and a map.
Peasmarsh Walk
A 4-mile, easy-grade walk from the village of Peasmarsh through woodland and across fields to the earthwork remains of Iden Moat. For more information and a route map visit Access East Sussex.
Winchelsea Walk
A 6.5 mile country circular walk from Winchelsea Station, along the Royal Military Canal and passing through the Pannel Valley Nature Reserve. For more information and a route map visit Access East Sussex.
Eight Country Walks around Rye
The Rye Partnership and the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) have published a collection of eight walks which can be purchased from Rye Tourist Information Centre.
- Leasam Hill and Playden Church - 2.5 miles
- Camber Castle and Winchelsea - 6 miles
- Rye Harbour and Nature Reserve - 4 miles
- Peasmarsh Church and Cadborough Cliff - 8 miles
- Camber Sands and East Guldeford - Camber 3.5 miles, full walk 8.5 miles
- Iden Park and River Rother - 7 miles
- Winchelsea and Icklesham - 5 miles
- Tillingham Valley and Cadborough Cliff - 3.5 miles
Walks Within Rye
Rye Audio Walking Tours
Available seven days a week from the Rye Heritage Centre. Available in English, French and Japanese.
- Ghost Walks - fascinating walking audio tour of Rye's ghostly past.
- Historical Tours - the sights and sounds of Rye's rich history brought to life through audio guides around the cobbled streets.
E. F. Benson and Rye Walks
E. F. Benson published the first of the Rye based Tilling novels in 1922. Up to his death in 1940 he published a further four novels set in Rye. The E.F. Benson Society runs guided tours of Benson's Rye, lasting approximately 1.5 hours the tours start at The Look and end at Lamb House. Contact Rye Tourist Information Centre for more information or for private walks at other times contact 01797 223114.
For further information on walking in the area:
- Visit the Ramblers Association website
- Contact East Sussex County Council, Rights of Way team: Tel: 01273 482250 or email rightsofway@eastsussex.gov.uk
- You can also purchase a Rye Bay Countryside Pack which has a selection of local leaflets on walks, wildlife and landscapes of Rye and the surrounding countryside, including the 1066 Country Walk and the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Send a cheque for £1.50 made payable to East Sussex Country Council to:
Rye Bay Countryside Office
111b High Street
Rye
TN31 7JR
Cycling
Public Rights of Way
Cyclists can use bridleways (often marked in blue), byways (marked in red) but NOT footpaths (marked in yellow). Bridleways and byways are shared routes. Be considerate to others and give way to horse riders and walkers.
Sustrans National Cycle Network
The NCN Route 2 runs from Dover to Portsmouth through Romney Marsh, Rye and Winchelsea. For more information visit Sustrans.
Rye and Winchelsea Circular
A moderate to strenuous 20-mile route starting at Rye train station with some off-road sections. Passes through Icklesham, Friar's Hill, Brede and Beckley Woods. Route map available from the Rye Tourist Information Centre.
The Rye Rides leaflet, see East Sussex County Council's website, includes three shorter on and off-road routes around Rye.
Weald and Coast
A 12-mile on-road route from Winchelsea Station through the undulating High Weald countryside passing through Pett and Pett Level and along the coast to Winchelsea Beach.
Canal and Castle
Starting from Rye Station this is a 5-mile flat off-road route following the Royal Military Canal to Sea Road, passing through Winchelsea and following the National Cycle route No. 2 back to Rye.
Orchards and Oasts
Starting at Rye station there is a 12-mile on-road route and a 9-mile off-road route taking in the Royal Military Canal in to the undulating High Weald of oast houses and orchards through Iden and Peasmarsh (off-road route only).
For more information on cycling around East Sussex see East Sussex County Council online.
Romney Marsh Meanders cycle pack
A pack of five self-guided cycle rides round the flat, peaceful lanes of the Romney Marsh. The Romney Marsh Countryside Project has waymarked each of the five routes with brown and white arrowed discs Each cycle route is numbered:
- On the Trail of Doctor Syn
- A Sloe and Short Pedal on the Marsh
- Sea of Change
- Rural Rides
- Fifteen Marsh Churches
For more information on cycling around Romney Marsh please contact us at the Romney Marsh Countryside Project, by telephone, 01797 367934, e-mail mail@rmcp.co.uk.
Bike Hire
Rye Hire
Good quality all-terrain and touring cycles for hire. Closed on Sundays.
1 Cyprus Place
Rye
TN31 7DR
Telephone: 01797 223033
eMail: info@ryehire.co.uk
Riding
In East Sussex, horse riders can use bridleways and byways (Green Lanes). Around Peasmarsh and Iden there are a number of connected paths suitable for riding.
Grove Farm Riding School
Hacking, lessons and theme days
Grove Farm
Grove Lane
Iden, Nr Rye
TN31 7PY
Telephone: 01797 280362.
Camber Sands
Although riding is allowed on the beach there are a number of restrictions. Riding on the sands during the summer season is at the discretion of the Coastal Control Officer based at Camber who can be contacted on 01797 225207, or camberoffice@rother.gov.uk. It is advised that horses are not taken on the beach after 8.30am or before late evening during the busy summer season. There is also a current byelaw restricting racing or the breaking in of any horse on the beach. For more information, see Rother District Council online.
Where to stay
See our accommodation pages for more information.
What to see and do
See our Rye Attractions page for details of places to visit in the area.
See our Rye Events page page to search for things to see and do throughout the year.
Some of the highlights in the area include:
Rye Heritage Centre
Housing the Tourist Information Centre, the Heritage Centre also boasts a penny slot exhibition - once a popular feature at seaside resorts and piers across Britain - as well as the Rye Town Model which takes you on a brief historic tour of the town illustrated through lights and sound.
See our Rye Heritage Centre page for more information.
Rye Castle Museum and the Ypres Tower
This private museum is housed in two separate buildings. The Ypres Tower, is a medieval fortification built as a fort in 1250, and since used as a private residence, a prison and a mortuary.
See our Rye Castle Museum page for more information.
Rye Art Gallery
In the centre of Rye the Gallery displays works of regional and national importance housed in two historic buildings: Stormont Studio and the Easton Rooms.
See our Rye Art Gallery page for details.
Lamb House
An early 18th Century House, which was home to Henry James and E.F. Benson (Mapp and Lucia series). The museum now houses some of Henry James's personal belongings.
See our Lamb House page for more information.
What to buy
There's a fantastic choice of treasures and treats on offer in shops around Rye. The whet your appetite, here's a sample of local shops:
Rye is a shopper's paradise and a haven for antique and art lovers. It also hosts a number of speciality shops as well as opportunities to buy local produce. It should be noted that many shops close on Tuesdays in Rye.
Speciality shops
Adams of Rye
Gift Shop
8 High Street
Rye
Telephone: 01797 223136
Byzantium
Unusual jewellery and gifts
14 High Street
Rye
TN31 7JF
Telephone: 01797 222289
web: www.byezantium.co.uk
Choice China and Gifts
Strand Court
Strand Quay
Rye
TN31 7AY
Telephone: 01797 223200
Chapter and Verse Booksellers
Antiquarian and rare books
105 High Street
Rye
TN31 7JE
Telephone: 01797 222692
Grammar School Records
Second hand vinyl records, CDs and collectables
The Old Grammar School
14 High Street
Rye
TN31 7JF
Telephone: 01797 222752
Tambika Crafts and Coffee House
Africa crafts, art and fossils
2 Strand Court
Strand Quay
Rye
TN31 7AY
Telephone: 01797 222272
Wood n Things
Unusual gifts, handcrafted from wood
105 High Street
Rye
TN31 7JE
Telephone: 01797 226 090
e-Mail: woodnthingsrye@btinternet.com
Local Produce
In and around Rye there is a wide selection of local produce available, in particular Rye Bay Scallops which is a prized delicacy amongst lovers of seafood, and Rye Herring which has been dubbed one of the seven culinary wonders of Sussex.
Rye Farmers Market
The farmers market takes place every Wednesday on Strand Quay. For more information visit www.ryemarket.org.uk.
Brede Farmers Market, Brede Village Hall (A28) from 10am - 12noon, Fridays
Suggested days out
See our Attractions and Events pages for full details of what to see and do in the area, why not try:
Camber Sands
Camber is a great day out by the seaside just three miles from Rye by road (two miles by foot or cycle). With seven miles of Blue Flag award winning beach it is the only sand dune system in East Sussex providing a valuable habitat for a variety of animals and plants. The beach can get very busy in summer, however during the rest of the year you will be able to enjoy wide-open spaces all to yourself. The village of Camber is very close to the beach with many amenities including toilets, deckchair and windcheater hire, bars, restaurants, cafés, fish and chips, amusement arcades and beach shops.
Between Rye and Camber, Rye Watersports offer windsurfing, kite surfing or canoeing.
Over at Lydd, just a few miles from Camber, Action Watersports offer jetskiing or waterskiing.
There is a bus service from Rye to the beach and a Sustrans cycle route between Rye and Camber.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and Camber Castle
Enjoy the splendid nature reserve of Rye Harbour, with a little history thrown in for good measure! Rye Harbour Nature Reserve houses a mix of natural environments by the sea, including shingle, saltmarsh, sand dunes, rivers, pits, grazing marsh, reedbeds and farmland, all teeming with wildlife. The diversity encourages a wide range of species at all times of the year and is a protected home for fauna and flora and a good spot to do some birdwatching (Redshank, Ringed Plover, Lapwing and Oystercatcher).
Entry to the reserve is free and there are is good network of footpaths, which begin at Rye Town, Winchelsea Beach and Rye Harbour - for example the Camber Castle Walk (see Walking section). The paths have a good surface and are level making the reserve ideal for those with limited mobility. There is a private road that runs through the Nature Reserve that is good for wheelchairs and all four birdwatching hides are accessible to wheelchairs.
For more information on wildlife and routes, pick up a leaflet from the Rye Tourist Information Centre or visit the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve website.
Camber Castle was developed by Henry VIII as part of his extensive fortifications against the French. The castle now lies within Rye Harbour, providing a peaceful home for some specialised flowers. The castle is opened on Saturday and Sunday afternoon in July, August and September, or by guided walks on various dates - see the Wild Rye website; or visit the English Heritage website.
Winchelsea
Just three miles from Rye, Winchelsea was re-built on Iham Hill in 1287 after a storm ravaged the old town. The town became one of the South East Channel Cinque Ports after a harbour was built at the foot of the hill on the River Brede. The fortunes of the town declined as the sea retreated and the merchants moved away. Today the charming medieval town resonates its turbulent history with its stone town gates and ancient buildings.
Highlights include the Court Hall Museum and St Thomas Church and facilities include the Tea Tree Tea Rooms, the New Inn and the Bridge Inn.
The 1066 Country Walk links Rye and Winchelsea, providing a convenient walking route. Alternatively Stagecoach Coastliner Service 711 runs between Rye and Winchelsea on an hourly basis on weekdays and Saturdays, and every two hours on Sundays and public holidays.
For more information see the publication Exploring Winchelsea, Countryside and Coast - a guide to walking and cycling in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty available from the Tourist Information Centre in Rye or visit www.winchelsea.net or www.winchelseatown.co.uk.
Down the hill from the town is Winchelsea Beach, a shingle beach with lots of watersports options. For more details visit ENCAMS Seaside Awards website.
How to get to Rye
By Train
Rye is on the Ashford International to Hastings Line with trains departing hourly to Rye from both towns, taking approximately 20 minutes.
From London, trains depart regularly to Ashford International or Hastings from London Charing Cross, calling at Waterloo East and London Bridge.
For rail information call 08457 484950 or visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.
By Bus
Rye is on the 711 and 712 Stagecoach bus routes from Hastings to Dover via Camber Sands and Winchelsea - hourly service Monday to Saturday, and two-hourly on Sundays. Alternatively, the 344, Hastings to Rye is a two-hourly service, Monday to Saturday. For further information call 0870 6082 608.
By Car
Rye is situated on the A259 between Hastings to the west and Folkestone to the east and on the A268 from the north. If driving to Rye it is recommended that you park in Gibbets Marsh Car Park, just 5 minutes walk from the town centre.
Where can I get more information?
Find details for Rye Tourist Information Centre on our Contact Us page.
Other Breaks