"More than 500.000", even according to the Tory press, on the 'Final Say' march, but just 9 off the train at Rye, plus 1 other on an earlier train, who we caught up with after lunch. This included 2 first timers, pulled in via our automated feed through post on Meetup.
It was sunny and hot for the season, there was a little breeze at times, the tide was receding as we followed The Rother to the Sea and then turned left along Camber Sands, revealing a good 300m of sandy beach width at that stage of the tide. There were horse riders, dog walkers, bucket and spade tourists, floatsome and jetsome, and even a few people in the water! The pub lunchers got to The Owl just after opening, a couple of others had drinks outside, the picnickers stayed on the dunes backed beach (some of them went for a bit of a paddle, I hear). We continued after lunch all together, with the two first timers falling behind soon though (as they had planned to: we met them again on the train back, they had walked out along the beach for as long as they wanted, then returned to Rye the same way). The tide timing was just perfect, the sandy beach revealed for as long as there was a sandy beach, which is to the far boundary of the military range. Then it was a mixture of shingle and sand, forcing us into a bit of a dance to try to walk on the sandy bits as much as possible. At long last, the Nuclear Plant at Dungeness, its Tsunami Defence shingle wall and a concrete path around its perimeter. Never has a concrete path been so welcomed!
The first group reached the End of the Line Cafe at Dungeness at 16.00 hours, and just after all had sat down a steam train pulled in. As we left, the others passed the spot and we continued together. The steam train then departed for its return journey, back to Hythe, passing close to us on our final stretch. Our bus was to be the 16.52, and it was delayed, so much so that we needed a mini sprint in Rye to catch the 17.47 (apologies to Miriam: you were right, we should have taken the 17.10 in the other direction to Ashford). And then, on the train, the sun started to set and the fluffy clouds turned all red.
All in: perfect. Rather perfect. 10

Those who slogged over the seemingly endless shingle yesterday may be interested to catch up with the BBC The Living World radio programme which was all about the Dungeness habitat not as it might appear just lifeless heaps of stones but full of fascinating life.

Rye to Camber Sands: #89 in ITV's list of Top 100 Walks in Britain (as shown on the tellie a few days ago)

Anyone going on this. Long way to go on ones tod, Gavin

Intend going.... Rich

At least 2 more going.

16 walkers in all kinds of weather, from a snow flurry while waiting for the connecting train at Ashford, via short squalls in the afternoon, and a proper shower while we were at lunch to sunny blue sky moments as we sautered up Camber Sands; so I'd call that during walking time overcast and cold then brightening up then squally.
The posting wasn't perfectly timed, as it was mid tide and incoming in the a.m., so the river was full and the sandy beach less than half exposed, but nevertheless I think everyone enjoyed it.
One walker insisted on booking a table at The Owl for the 11 lunchers, and that was a good idea indeed, as we had one their many nooks all to ourselves. Fine meals were had and the walk continued through the dunes and along the beach to turn inland back to Rye through the marshes, and soon into the wind.
A good contrast, I'd say, and 6 walkers then walked the previously untested extension to the nearny windfarm. One or two problems occured with being on the wrong side of a ditch (and therefore not getting out of a field where the ditch turned), adding a bit of distance, but we still got back in time for 3 to head for the 17.38 train, while the other 3 followed the route through the quiet cobbled streets of Rye. One last bevvie at The Goerge and off to catch the (delayed) 18.38.

Some nice extras on the walk last Sunday a seal watching us from the water as we walked on the beach, 3 or 4 rainbows in the afternoon, a large flock of swans pecking the ground on the marshes, a small murmuration of starlings (I guess) as we walked away from the windfarm...

Just an alert about the Rye Fireworks due to take place this Saturday.
https://www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/east sussex/whats on/rye bonfire night fireworks display 2017

It shouldn't affect the walk too much unless you are coming back through Rye after the walk. The event can be quite rowdy and local transport can be affected due to congestion. Hopefully the walk be over by the time the festivities take place.

Thanks for the comment, Johnny. I wasn't aware of the fireworks. Timings are ok for the walk though: "Procession from Tilling Green Estate at 7:50pm, Bonfire & Fireworks from 8:45pm".

A walk of great variety despite basically just following a river to the coast and then turning left along the coast.
Route finding was not a problem, despite there being no writen direction, and Rye's Old Town was quickly negotiated, the impressive bonfire site passed and the Rother River crossed to turn right and follow the river atop the grassy seawall. A couple of walkers were left trailing on this stretch due to them birdwatching (it was low tide after all, and muddy riverbanks very exposed). We then met the sea at the stunning Camber Sands beach, complete with dunes, horse riders, dog walkers, seals (reportedly) and lots of sandy expanse. We passed along Camber village, assuming what pubs/cafes there were would be along the seafront, but they weren't. So we went back along the road through Camber to find them. We did end up in the Rye Bar Cafe (and The Owl pub was just 100 further along), which supplied us with tasty fare at decent prices pretty quickly. The walk back cost us about 30 minutes, which proved to be a bad thing at the end...
The next stretch to the Military Range boundary was very pleasant, along a new flood defence top broad concrete path, with the waves crashing on our right hand side(the tide was now coming in, as the surfers went out). At the gate to the MOD range we found that although the range was closed for firing this weekend, as the posting said the gate was still shut anyway due to 'urgent seawall repair works'. The majority favoured climbing over the concrete seawall and negotiating huge boulders for a stretch to walk along the closed part anyway, one bailed out though and instead walked to Lydd, then took the bus back to Rye.
Now we embarked on the longest stretch of shingle walking of any SWC walk, too long for comfort and enjoyment really. [This could be avoided though by choosing a day when low tide is mid afternoon, as one can then walk along the sandy beach; note to future walk posters.] To avoid some of the shingle, we stayed on the seawall for a while, where it bent away from the coast, passing many adornments of the military practice ground, from abandoned tanks to bunkers and even a tramway. The Dungeness Nuclear Power Station was still some way away, and spirits started to sag, but eventually we passed it and the following lighthouse to bear inland. We passed Derek Jarman's garden in darkness and met the other 2 at The Pilot Inn to take the 17.23 bus to Ashford, and then the 18.38 train to Victoria or the 18.43 to St. Pancras.
So, we survived one of the largest expanses of shingle in Europe, and despite some people's spirits sagging, I'd say it's been a great day out. Next time, posted on a day with a later low tide and with a more detailed gpx and maybe even a write up, we'll find the pub/cafe no problem and finish in broad daylight.
overcast, with the only rain falling while we were in the lunch cafe, and 15.