Rye Figure of 8 Walk

Click the heading below to show/hide the walk route for the selected option(s).

Walk Map

©

Walk Options ( Long | Short )

Click on any option to show only the sections making up that route, or the heading above to show all sections.

13. Main Walk (16½ km)

1. Long Walk, extended via Playden (21 km)
35. Long Walk, with shorter afternoon (18½ km)
2. Short Walk, omitting Rye Harbour (14½ km)
61. Short Walk, with shorter afternoon (12 km)

Walk Directions

Click on any section heading to switch between detailed directions and an outline, or the heading above to switch all sections.

1. Rye Station to Tillingham Bridge (1 km)
• Go up Station Approach and straight across Cinque Ports Street into Market Road. Turn left into the High Street, then turn right up Lion Street to the church. Turn right to leave the churchyard in its south-western corner and go down Watchbell Street to Mermaid Street. Go out to the A259 and turn right to come to the bridge over the River Tillingham.

The suggested route starts with a short loop around this attractive town.

1. From the station go straight ahead up Station Approach, passing Jempson's supermarket on the right and a number of bus stops. Cross Cinque Ports Street carefully and continue up Market Road, just off to the left. At the top turn left into the town's High Street, passing Whitehouse Rye (a café, bakery and B&B) on the left.
2. In 100m turn right into Lion Street, with the George Inn on the corner. Near the top of Lion Street you pass the Town Hall on the left (in Market Street) and two coffee shops, Simon the Pieman and Fletcher's. The street ends at the entrance to St Mary's church?, which is well worth a visit.
3. Turn right in front of the church (or left if leaving it) to go along its northern side. At the corner turn left and go across the churchyard to leave in its south-western corner. Bear right into Watchbell Street, passing the Catholic church and curving round to the right past a lookout with views over Rye Harbour. The Outlook Tea Rooms are directly opposite, part of the imposing Hope Anchor Hotel.
4. Continue down a pedestrian walkway (Traders Passage) and turn left at the bottom into Mermaid Street. Go straight ahead across a jumble of roads, passing the Mermaid Street Café and the Old Grain Store (another café); there are also two pubs just off to the left, the Old Borough Arms and the Ship Inn.
5. Go past the Rye Heritage Centre? and turn right onto the A259 (Strand Quay). Cross the main road at the pedestrian crossing and follow it sharply round to the left at a roundabout, crossing the River Tillingham.
2. Tillingham Bridge to Castle Water (2¼ km)
• Take a permissive path going downstream alongside the River Tillingham, with the river on your left. In 200m the riverside path ends at a hotel and you have to continue along the A259 for a further 200m. Turn left into Harbour Road and go across Brede Sluice. Turn right onto the road leading to Castle Mill Cottages and keep ahead on a bridleway alongside the River Brede. Fork left onto a footpath across the grassland to Camber Castle and go past its left-hand side. Turn half-left to head east to the tree boundary around Castle Water.
1. The turning for Rye Harbour is 400m out of the town along the A259 (now Winchelsea Road), but you might be able to avoid some of this road walking via an unofficial path on the right-hand bank of the River Tillingham.
   • This path gives a fine view of the town across the river but it only goes as far as the River Haven Hotel (halfway along). The hotel management does not appear to object to walkers going past the side of the building to the road but this might change.
2. If you have taken the riverside route, turn left onto Winchelsea Road to complete this stretch along its pavement. In 200m turn left into Harbour Road and follow it over the Brede Sluice, with the confluence of the two rivers just off to the left. On the other side turn right into the driveway to Castle Mill Cottages, signposted as a Private Road and (in much smaller type) a public footpath.
3. At a footpath signpost fork right through a wooden fieldgate to go past the front of these cottages. Continue on a narrow grassy path between hedges, with a blue waymarker at the end confirming this is a right of way. Go through a metal gate and past a few trees onto open grassland alongside the River Brede, with a string of riverside properties opposite.
4. In 300m you rejoin the other right of way from the cottages, which has curved round in an arc. Go through a metal side gate and continue along this broad grassy track, with a ditch on your left.
5. In 200m turn left onto a grassy spur across this ditch and go through a metal fieldgate onto open grassland, with the squat form of Camber Castle? straight ahead, 750m away.
   • If this fieldgate is locked you could continue on the main track which swings round to the left in 200m, then in a further 200m bear left through a side gate and head towards the castle. Most walkers seem to take this slightly longer route, but both are shown on the OS map as public footpaths.
6. On the suggested route you have to aim slightly left of the castle, towards another metal fieldgate at the end of a wire fence 200m away. After going through this gate there are no more fences so you can head directly towards the castle across the grassland.

   The building itself is only open at limited times, but you can peek into its interior through the metal railings across its main entrance.

7. The walk continues alongside a wire fence stretching away to the left from the far side of the castle, but you could make a longer circuit around its right-hand side if you want to see more of the building. Continue along either side of this fence (there are gates at both ends) to the trees 200m away, screening Castle Water?.
   • A short path leads through the trees to the Halpin Hide if you want a birdwatching break. Much of this large lake is screened by trees but there are other viewpoints further along.

If you are doing the Short Walk (omitting Rye Harbour), go to §H.

3. Castle Water to The Ridge (2 km)
• At the tree boundary turn right and follow the grassy path around Castle Water. In 600m turn left onto a shingle path past the southern end of the lake, then turn right onto a farm track. In 350m turn left onto a footpath heading south and then south-west past Camber Cottages to come to a path junction at the end of Morlais Ridge. Turn left onto a track (or the footpath just beyond it) to reach another major path junction at the end of The Ridge.

The entire loop around Rye Harbour essentially follows the route (in reverse) of a guided trail around the Nature Reserve, waymarked with painted white numbers on posts and gates; this is point ⑪.

1. Turn right in front of the trees (or left if returning from the hide) to go along the edge of the grassland, heading S. You will be going in this direction for 600m, with occasional views of the lake and a few side paths which lead to the water's edge.

   On the right-hand side of the path there is a stone memorial to a WW Ⅱ RAF pilot.

2. The turning left off this path is not signposted in this direction: you need to look for a slightly raised shingle track, at a point where you are roughly equidistant from Camber Castle (500m behind you) and farm buildings ahead on your right. Turn left onto this track between gorse bushes, past the southern end of Castle Water to a T-junction ⑩ with a broad grassy strip.
3. Turn right and follow this farm track for 350m, later curving gently to the right to head towards the farm buildings mentioned above. 300m before reaching them, at the corner of a large fenced field on your left, turn left through a small metal gate ⑨ into this field. Stay near its left-hand edge as it curves gently round to the right.
4. In the field corner keep ahead on a driveway towards Camber Cottages, using a small wooden side gate if necessary (this is a right of way). At the back of a parking area go through a metal side gate to continue on a short grassy path through woodland. At the end go over a stile ⑧ with a yellow waymarker onto the end of an unsurfaced track (Morlais Ridge), with another track off to the left as well as footpaths on both sides.

   There is a choice of routes here, which rejoin after 450m.

5. Main route

1. For a straightforward route turn left onto the broad track at this junction. This eventually goes past the south-western end of Long Pit (another flooded gravel pit) to reach a major path junction ⑦ with another unsurfaced track (The Ridge).

6. Alternative route

1. For a more varied (but slightly awkward) route keep ahead very briefly on Morlais Ridge, then turn left onto a signposted footpath into the trees. This narrow path goes over a wide ditch on a wooden footbridge after 200m and then crosses an expanse of shingle to reach the same junction ⑦.
4. The Ridge to Rye Harbour village (4½ km)
• Keep ahead at The Ridge, towards the sea. Turn left onto the cycle route running along the beachfront and follow it all the way to the mouth of the River Rother, then round to the left. Carry on past the new Discovery Centre into Rye Harbour village.
1. Go straight ahead at this junction onto a path along the top of an embankment, ignoring the shingle tracks on both sides. Follow this path all the way to a T-junction ⑥ with a cycleway along the beachfront, with a “Shingle” information panel.
2. Turn left onto this broad tarmac path (Cycle Route 2), which you will be following all the way to Rye Harbour village. In 700m you pass the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House? on your right. In 250m there is a track off to the left ⑤, then in 500m a short track leads to the Crittal Hide for birdwatching on the Ternery Pool.
3. In 400m there is a short boardwalk across the shingle to the right, opposite another track off to the left ②.
   • A short out-and-back detour along this boardwalk provides a good view of the sea and – on a clear day – the Nuclear Power Stations at Dungeness, 13 km away.
   • The track at ② was signposted as a diversion during construction work on the new Discovery Centre. On this route you would pass two bird hides and keep right at path junctions ③ and ④ to return to the cycleway. If you choose to take this alternative route, turn left and resume the directions at [?].
4. The cycleway eventually swings left ① and passes a pair of WW Ⅱ blockhouses, with the popular beach resort of Camber Sands visible across the River Rother. You pass an old red-roofed fisherman's hut on the right, an elevated walkway on the left leading to the Gooders Hide, then the new Discovery Centre with its Lime Kiln Cafe, a possible refreshment stop.
5. In a further 250m the diversionary route joins from the left and you carry on towards the village, using the low embankment to the right of the cycleway. In front of the Nature Reserve's large car park (overlooked by a Martello Tower) the path turns half-right, passing the end of Harbour Road off to the left.
6. After crossing the access road for the RNLI Lifeboat Station (with its Bosun's Bite café) the beer garden for the William the Conqueror pub is on your left; this is the suggested lunch stop. Before starting the stretch back to Rye (along Harbour Road) it is worth taking in the view from the lookout by the river, at the end of a grassy embankment?.

   It is tempting to set off along the embankment but you would need to turn left off it almost immediately; there is no way back to Harbour Road further on as it is blocked by the Rye Wharf industrial estate.

7. To continue the walk from the pub, go down the short street away from the river, passing the Watch House and other attractive old buildings. Turn right into the long straight Harbour Road, passing the Rye Harbour Stores on the right.
   • If you want to finish the walk here the bus stop is opposite the Stores, by the junction with Tram Road.
5. Rye Harbour village to Tillingham Bridge (3 km)
• Follow Harbour Road out of the village. In 800m turn left onto a permissive path parallel to the road which goes all the way to Brede Sluice. Go back across the river and retrace your outward route along the A259 to Strand Quay.
1. Follow Harbour Road out of the village, passing the (closed) Inkerman Arms. After the last of the houses the entrance to Rye Wharf is on the right, flanked by two massive buoys. On the left-hand side of the road there is a small recreation ground with the unusual Church of the Holy Spirit? on the far side.
   • For a small detour you could go diagonally across the ground and through its lychgate for a closer look at the church (and the lifeboat memorial at the back of the churchyard), then rejoin the road from its main entrance path.
2. Beyond the church you have to endure another 450m of bleak industrial sites on Harbour Road, although the walking is easy enough on a wide combined cycleway and footway. Where the road straightens out at the end of a gentle curve to the right, turn left onto an unsignposted path ⑮ between high metal railings.
3. The route is now a rather more pleasant grassy path along the edge of the marshland. The path bends right across a wide drainage ditch and passes a “Castle Water” information panel, then comes to a Y-junction.
   • At the end of the left-hand path a boardwalk leads to a large wooden viewing platform over the water's edge, but this is 150m away and there are similar views of the lake further along the main path.
4. For the main route, fork right. In 250m you pass some ponds on the right, beyond which you might be able to glimpse an oil refinery? through the trees. More appealingly, a gap in the trees on the left gives a view of Castle Water.
5. In 250m keep ahead where a grassy path ⑭ joins from the left, finally leaving the guided trail. Follow the path over a ditch on a footbridge and out through a wooden gate onto a broad grassy path along a shallow embankment?. At the far end the path continues through undergrowth and comes out onto Harbour Road by Brede Sluice.
6. Go across the River Brede and turn right onto the A259 to retrace your outward route back to Tillingham Bridge. As before, you might be able to switch to an unofficial riverside path after passing the River Haven Hotel.

If you are doing the Long Walk (via Playden), go to §I.

6. Tillingham Bridge to Saltcote Place (1¾ km)
• Cross the main road and take the riverside path on the right-hand bank of the River Tillingham, crossing the railway tracks and later the B2089. After the path cuts across a meadow it joins a tarmac path heading north, back alongside the river. Follow it round to the right and go across Love Lane onto a footpath climbing steeply uphill to Rye Cemetery. Go through the cemetery to the A268. Cross the road and go along Saltcote Lane to the entrance to Saltcote Place.
1. Cross the A259 at the pedestrian crossing on the bridge and take the path on the right-hand bank of the River Tillingham. Follow the riverside path across the railway tracks, past Rye Windmill? and over the B2089. The path then cuts across across a meadow and comes out near the end of Tillingham Avenue. Bear left to continue on a tree-lined tarmac path (or the grassy strip to its left), parallel to the river.
2. Follow the tarmac path as it turns half-right and comes to a driveway. Go across this (slightly to the left) and through a wooden gate onto a footpath climbing steeply up Rye Hill, partly on steps. Keep to the right-hand side of the grassland and go through a metal gate at the top. Keep ahead on the main path through Rye Cemetery, soon passing between two chapel buildings.
3. You could continue on the tarmac driveway up the right-hand side of the cemetery, but the right of way is a more pleasant route along a grassy path ahead, then through a memorial garden on the right. Turn left onto the driveway, passing a “Rye Union Workhouse” information panel by a gap in the hedge. Follow the drive out past a water tower to the A268, with the Kings Head Inn off to the right.
4. Cross the main road carefully onto the side road (Saltcote Lane / Mill Road) opposite the pub, and fork left where it splits. In 75m Saltcote Lane passes between brick pillars, with a footpath signpost confirming that this private road is also a right of way. Follow the tree-lined avenue as it curves round to the right and comes to the imposing entrance gates to Saltcote Place?.
7. Saltcote Place to Rye Station (2 km)
• Turn left onto a footpath going down to New England Lane. Turn right onto the lane and continue on a footpath descending to Military Road. Turn right and go along it for 400m, then take a footpath on the left going alongside the River Rother. Cross the railway tracks and go along the side of a playing field (Cricket Salts) to the A259. Cross the main road and take the path along the left-hand side of a recreation ground (Town Salts). In 150m turn right onto a path heading towards the town, cross the A259 and go up steps to a look out on East Cliff. Turn left and follow this road round to the right (where it becomes the High Street, with a choice of refreshment places). To complete the walk go down Market Road and across Cinque Ports Street to the station.
  
1. Turn left in front of the gates onto a narrow path descending between fences, briefly heading away from Rye. At the bottom turn right onto a lane and continue on a tarmac path on its left-hand side in front of the end house. This veers left and right and goes down a slope to Military Road.
2. Turn right and go along its pavement for about 400m. You will be turning left off this road onto an easily-missed public footpath: at the end of a tall hedge on the left, and opposite a double garage, go through a small metal gate onto this narrow path. It soon turns right to go alongside a low brick wall on the embankment of the River Rother.
3. In 150m the path comes to the end of a driveway. Go across it onto the continuation of the footpath, a tarmac path going past the garden fences of houses on Military Road. In a further 150m the path comes to the Marshlink railway line, flanked by white wooden gates. After crossing the tracks there is a gap on the right of the path leading down into the corner of a playing field, Cricket Salts.
4. You could continue along the tarmac path, but it is more pleasant to go down the slope and walk along the tree-lined edge of this playing field. At the far end cross the A259 carefully to continue on a tarmac path along the left-hand side of another recreation ground, Town Salts.
5. In 150m turn right onto a tarmac path towards the town. Go back across the A259 and up a flight of steps to a lookout? on East Cliff. Unless you want to take a closer look at the medieval Landgate? (100m down the street to the right), turn left for the best choice of tea places.
6. East Cliff curves round to the right and becomes the town's High Street. There are several cafés and coffee shops (some of which you passed earlier) in the 200m before you reach Market Road on the right, the route to the station.
   • For a longer walk around the town, take one of the streets going uphill from the High Street to the area around the parish church. You could visit the Ypres Castle Inn below Gun Garden, or go down Mermaid Street for the Mermaid Inn. Any street or alleyway going downhill will lead back to the High Street.
7. From the High Street go down Market Road, between West Street and Lion Street. At the bottom go straight across Cinque Ports Street and along Station Approach to the station building. A few rush-hour trains to Ashford leave from Platform 2 on the near side, but you will normally need to cross the footbridge on the right to Platform 1.
   
8. Castle Water to Tillingham Bridge (3 km)
• At the tree boundary turn left and follow the perimeter path around Castle Water and onwards to the permissive path running parallel to Harbour Road. Turn left onto this path and follow it to Brede Sluice. Go back across the river and retrace your outward route along the A259 to Tillingham Bridge.

The next 1½ km is along the route …

1. Turn left in front of the trees (or right if returning from the hide) to go along the edge of the grassland, initially heading N and curving round to the left. In 500m, at the end of the tree boundary, turn right through a wooden side gate ⑫ to head NE with a wire fence on your right, soon with views of Castle Water beyond it.
2. After going through the next wooden side gate the path splits. For the most direct route keep ahead on the main path, now with a wire fence on your left.
   • For a closer view of the lake take the right-hand path, which zig-zags near the water's edge and rejoins the main path shortly before another gate.
3. Go through this gate ⑬ onto an enclosed grassy path, which soon turns abruptly left to head N. At the far end turn left at a path T-junction ⑭, leaving the guided trail. …
4. …
9. Tillingham Bridge to New Road (1 km)
• Retrace your outward route along the A259 and turn left by the Rye Heritage Centre. Go all the way up Mermaid Street and turn right into West Street.Go diagonally across the churchyard and down past Ypres Castle to Gun Garden. Take the passageway down steps past the Ypres Castle Inn. Cross Fishmarket Road and take the path along the eastern side of Town Salts to reach New Road by a road bridge across the River Rother.
1. Unless you are stopping at the Strand Fish & Chips or Café on the Quay across the road, follow the A259 round to the right at the roundabout. Retrace your outward route by crossing the road at the pedestrian crossing and turning left by the Rye Heritage Centre to come to the bottom of Mermaid Street.
2. Go all the way up this cobbled street, passing the historic Mermaid Inn? near the top. At the T-junction turn right into West Street, passing Lamb House? at a sharp left-hand bend. At the next bend keep ahead into the churchyard, with a choice of paths ahead.
3. Unless you want to (re)visit St Mary's church?, take the right-hand path past its south side to leave the churchyard in the opposite corner. Go down a short street past Ypres Tower? and through a gap in the wall into Gun Garden, a fine picnic spot with a view across the marshland towards the sea.
4. To continue the walk go out through another gap at the right-hand end of the wall and go down a flight of steps past another of the town's historic pubs, the Ypres Castle Inn. At the bottom you come out onto the A259 again (now Fishmarket Road). Cross the main road carefully into the corner of a recreation ground, Town Salts.
5. Take any route across the grassland and turn left onto the raised path along its eastern side (Simmons Quay). Follow it past a play area and round to the right to come out onto the A259 yet again (now New Road), with a road bridge across the River Rother on the right and a playing field ahead on the left, Cricket Salts. Cross the main road carefully.

If you are doing the shorter afternoon, go to §L.

10. New Road to Scots Float Sluice (2¼ km)
• Cross the River Rother on the A259 and turn left onto the Sussex Border Path (SBP). Follow this riverside path under the railway line and for nearly 2 km to come to a large sluice gate across the river.
1. Turn right onto the A259, crossing the river. On the other side turn left onto the footpath along its embankment, passing an information panel “Awaiting Attack” about the history of the Royal Military Canal.
   • If the embankment path is still closed the simplest option is to go back across the river and switch to this walk's shorter afternoon route in §L. Map readers could try the published diversion via East Guldeford, which is about 1½ km longer than the riverside route.
2. You will be following three waymarked trails out of Rye: the Sussex Border Path?, the Saxon Shore Way? and the Royal Military Canal Path?. On reaching the truss bridge carrying the Marshlink railway line you have to nip down from the embankment in order to duck under it, with a metal kissing gate to negotiate in a potentially muddy spot.
3. The rest of this section is straightforward, along the meandering embankment path between the wide river and Walland Marsh. In 1½ km the path crosses Union Channel, then curves round to the right to come to Scots Float Sluice? across the river. Leave the three waymarked trails by crossing the river at this massive sluice gate. The roadway leads out onto Military Road, with a steeply-wooded hillside? beyond it.
11. Scots Float Sluice to Playden (Rectory Lane) (1¾ km)
• Turn left and go along Military Road for 200m, then turn right into Houghton Green Lane. In 250m, where the lane turns slightly right, bear left onto a footpath along field edges. In 350m turn left at a path crossing to go up a field and past Saltbarn Farm. Go downhill on a track for 150m, then turn right onto a footpath across a field. Fork right to go across to its southern corner, through a belt of trees and up another field. At the top veer right onto an enclosed track which leads into Rectory Lane.
1. Turn left onto Military Road, heading back towards Rye. You will be turning right at a road junction which you can see 200m ahead; there is no pavement but shortly after the end of a small parking area you can veer left through the undergrowth onto a narrow grassy path along the bank.
2. Opposite the junction return to Military Road and go across it onto the side road (Houghton Green Lane). In 250m, where the lane turns slightly right by a footpath signpost, bear left through a wooden fieldgate onto a grassy path along the left-hand edge of two small fields.
3. At the end go over a stile to continue along the bottom edge of a large field sloping up to the left. In 200m turn left at a signposted footpath crossing, away from a gap in the hedge on your right. Go straight up the field and leave through a metal fieldgate at the top.

   There are farm notices requesting that walkers stay on the public footpaths, so do not be tempted to head directly towards this exit from the stile.

4. Keep ahead on a track, going gently downhill past some houses. In 150m turn right, crossing the driveway to “Saltbarn” and going over an old stile onto a grassy path through a meadow dotted with trees, heading S. In 75m fork right at a Y-junction to go across the meadow to the far corner.

   Strictly speaking the right of way is along the other path to the left-hand edge of the meadow where you would turn right onto another footpath, but there is nothing to deter walkers from cutting off this corner.

5. On the far side go through some trees and round to the right to emerge in the bottom corner of another field. Follow a clear grassy path slanting up to its top left-hand corner, with a view back across the marshland to the wind farm? which you might have glimpsed earlier, about 5 km away.
6. At the top of the field bear right, merging with another footpath coming through a gap in the hedge (the shorter afternoon route). Follow a tree-lined track heading W and keep ahead where it joins an unsurfaced lane (Rectory Lane) by the entrance to a house (Maytham Rise).

Continue the directions at §M.

12. New Road to Playden (Rectory Lane) (1½ km)
• Go straight ahead along the tree-lined edge of a playing field (Cricket Salts). In the corner veer right to join the adjacent footpath and cross the railway line. Follow the footpath past garden fences and then alongside the River Rother until it swings left and comes out onto Military Road. Continue in the same direction along the road for 400m, then take the second of two footpaths on the left, along a private road and then slanting up a field. At the top veer left onto an enclosed track which leads into Rectory Lane.
1. After crossing the road you could take the tarmac footpath going straight ahead, but it is usually more pleasant to walk along the tree-lined edge of the playing field. If you have not already done so by the time you reach the corner, veer right up the slope in order to join the footpath.
2. Follow the footpath across the Marshlink railway line, flanked by white wooden gates. It continues past garden fences for 150m, then veers right to cross a driveway onto the embankment of the wide River Rother, with views of Walland Marsh beyond it. Unfortunately the path turns sharply away from the river after 125m and you have to continue in much the same direction along a road (Military Road).
3. In 400m the pavement on its left-hand side ends and there are two signposted footpaths off to the left, on each side of the last house (Playden Cottage). Go past the first footpath (leading to steps) and turn left onto the second, a private road leading to a few houses. This swings right and climbs gently through a wooded area.
4. In 100m turn left onto a driveway, but instead of following it all the way round as it doubles back towards a house, go straight ahead up a mown path alongside a hedge and then through a small wooden gate into a field. Turn half-right and follow a grassy path slanting up to its top right-hand corner, …
5. At the top of the field go through a gap in the hedge and veer left, merging with another footpath coming up the adjacent field (the longer afternoon route). …
13. Rectory Lane to Rye (Tillingham Avenue) (2 km)
• In 75m turn left off Rectory Lane into Butt Field and go across it to the far right-hand corner. Go along a fenced path into Playden churchyard and go through it to the A268. Turn right briefly onto the main road, then turn left onto Leasam Lane. In 600m fork left, then in a further 100m turn left onto a footpath going down Leasam Hill. At Rolvendene Farm take the footpath heading south alongside the River Tillingham.
1. In 75m turn left off Rectory Lane at a footpath signpost, going through a gate into Butt Field?. The right of way is straight across the field to a path crossing on the far side where you would turn right, but there is a well-used grassy path leading directly to the right-hand corner. Go through a gate there onto a fenced path heading W. At the end go through another gate into Playden churchyard and up to St Michael's church?.
2. Follow the path out of the churchyard and along a gravel drive to the A268. Turn right onto the grassy strip alongside the main road, passing bus stops on both sides of the road.
   • If you want to finish the walk here the stop on this side is for buses to Rye.
3. Cross the main road carefully and take the side road just past the bus stops, Leasam Lane. Go along this quiet lane for 600m, passing a communications mast and with occasional views across the undulating countryside on the right.
4. The lane eventually comes to a Y-junction where you fork left. In a further 100m turn left at a footpath signpost onto an enclosed path going gently downhill between two large fields. In 300m you go through a wooden kissing gate and the path descends Leasam Hill more steeply, with fine views ahead towards Rye and along the Tillingham valley to the right.
5. At the bottom of the hill go through a small wooden gate and head towards a wooden fieldgate 60m away. Go through this and bear right onto a grassy path which leads up to and then goes alongside the River Tillingham. Follow this up to a metal kissing gate and turn right onto a tree-lined tarmac path, heading S. In 150m the river curves away to the right and you can see some houses ahead at the end of Tillingham Avenue.
14. Tillingham Avenue to Rye Station (1¼ • ½ km)
• To revisit the town centre and its refreshment places, bear right across a meadow to return to the riverside path. Cross the B2089, go past Rye Windmill and across the railway to the A259. Continue along Strand Quay and fork left up a side street into the town centre. If you go up Mermaid Street and West Street to the church, return down Lion Street and zig-zag left and right for the station.
  • Alternatively, take a path alongside Tillingham Avenue to the B2089, cross the railway and turn left to reach the station directly.
    

The suggested route goes back through the town centre for a choice of refreshment places. If you want to go directly to the station, follow the direct route in [?].

1. Main route (1¼ km)

1. Fork right off the tarmac path onto a short track leading into a meadow. Go straight across it on a broad grassy path and past some flats to the B2089.
2. Cross over the road and continue on the riverside path. At Rye Windmill? follow the path across the railway tracks to reach the A259 at Strand Quay, with Strand Fish & Chips and Café on the Quay by the roundabout on the left.
3. For other places, retrace your outward route along the A259 and turn left by the Rye Heritage Centre. The Old Grain Store, the Mermaid Street Café, the Old Borough Arms and the Ship Inn are all around the jumble of roads behind Strand Quay.
4. Continuing up the cobbled Mermaid Street would lead to the Mermaid Inn, but for the High Street turn left into The Mint. This street curves gently round to the right, passing the Standard Inn and then the Old Bell pub on the left.
5. Cobbles Tearoom is in Mermaid Passage, an alleyway opposite the Old Bell. If you are still looking for refreshment places before heading to the station there are several more cafés and coffee shops ahead on the High Street (some of which you passed earlier).
6. … …

2. Direct route (½ km)

1. Keep ahead on the tarmac path, initially alongside Tillingham Avenue. After veering left to go round the back of some houses the path comes out onto the B2089.
2. Turn left onto the road and cross the tracks at the level crossing. Turn left along Station Approach to reach the station building. …
   

Walk Notes

1. St Mary the Virgin, Rye dates from 1150 but suffered major damage in 1377 when its bells and other valuable items were looted to France (though later recovered). Its prominent tower has acted as a shipping beacon for centuries.
2. The Rye Heritage Centre on Strand Quay includes a detailed model of how the town looked in 1872, constructed by two volunteers in the 1970s.
3. Camber Castle has a concentric design with four circular bastions around a central keep. The fort was constructed by Henry Ⅷ in the 1540s to protect the anchorage outside Rye from French attacks, but it soon became obsolete as the harbour silted up and the coastline receded; it is now 1½ km inland.
4. Castle Water was created when gravel extraction ceased in 1970. In 2003 Sussex Wildlife Trust began a major wetland creation project to create more freshwater and reedbed habitat.
5. The Mary Stanford Lifeboat House has been left abandoned as a monument to the 17 crew who drowned in 1928 when their lifeboat capsized while answering a distress call, one of the worst disasters in the history of the RNLI.
6. This is the trackbed of the Rye Harbour branch line, a spur from Rye station which led to a jetty in the village. It was only used for freight and closed in 1960.
7. The Church of the Holy Spirit, Rye Harbour was built in gothic style in 1849. A new chancel was added in 1912; inside, the roof is in the shape of an upturned boat. There is a fine memorial in the churchyard to the victims of the Mary Stanford Lifeboat tragedy.
8. The oil refinery on Harbour Road is the continuation of a local industry which developed in the late 19^thC, distilling tar from gasworks into products such as creosote and paint thinners.
9. The white smock Rye Windmill was rebuilt in 1932 after a fire; there has been a windmill on this site since the 16^thC. The building has been a B&B since 1984.
10. Saltcote Place was built as a private residence in 1905, in Queen Anne style. It has subsequently been used as a military headquarters and three times as a school, and is now a luxury guesthouse and wedding venue.
11. A plaque on the East Cliff lookout records that it was donated by the writer EF Benson when mayor of Rye in 1935.
12. The Landgate was built in 1329 to help protect the town from French raids. It is the only one of the town's four medieval gateways to survive.
13. The Mermaid Inn is a Grade Ⅱ* listed 15^thC inn with Tudor additions. It was the local base of the notorious Hawkhurst Gang of smugglers in the mid-18^thC.
14. The elegant Lamb House was built in 1723 for the town's mayor, James Lamb. It was the home of the American writer Henry James from 1898 to 1916, and was later rented by the author of the “Mapp and Lucia” novels, EF Benson.
15. Ypres Tower was probably built in the 14^thC (not 1249 as previously thought). It was part of Rye's defences against French raids but was unable to prevent much of the town being destroyed in 1377. It now houses the Rye Castle Museum.
16. The Sussex Border Path runs for 240 km along the length of West & East Sussex, from Thorney Island on the Hampshire border to Rye.
17. The Saxon Shore Way runs for over 250 km, from Gravesend on the north Kent coast round to Hastings in East Sussex. It marks a line of coastal fortifications built by the Romans in the 3^rdC as a defence against Saxon invaders.
18. The Royal Military Canal Path runs for 45 km, mostly alongside the canal built in the early 19^thC to protect England from a threatened Napoleonic invasion.
19. Scots Float Sluice was constructed in the early 18^thC to control the river level for navigation. It prevents tidal saltwalter flowing upstream and maintains the marsh environment in dry summers. It is named after Sir John Scot, who enlarged a harbour on the site in the 15^thC.
20. The ‘hillside’ alongside Military Road to the north of Scots Float Sluice would have been a sea cliff in medieval times, as implied by the route of the Saxon Shore Way.
21. Little Cheyne Court Wind Farm was developed by Npower despite objections from local environmental organisations. Its 26 turbines have been operational since 2009, with a combined capacity of 60 MW.
22. Butt Field was used for archery practice in medieval times (the butt was the mound of earth behind the target).
23. St Michael, Playden dates from around 1190 and much of the Norman stonework survives. Its finest possession is an early 14^thC carved oak screen.

» Last updated: May 22, 2025

Return to Top | Walk Map | Walk Options | Walk Directions.