Rye

A thriving market town, beautifully preserved, with a maze of cobbled streets crammed with medieval, Tudor and Georgian buildings. The town’s maritime heritage dates back to Norman times when it was owned by the Abbey of Fecamp in Normandy. By the 18th century, Rye had become a major centre for smuggling and some of the secret tunnels and passages the smugglers crept through can be seen today on a Blue Badge Guide tour. There are also two audio walking tours of the town and an impressive walk to Camber Castle across the marshes. There is a scenic cycle track from Rye to Camber. Camber beach, with over half a mile to walk to the water’s edge at low tide, provides plenty of opportunity to beachcomb for beautiful shells. The outstanding surrounding area has everything from Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, golden sands beach at Camber and the Romney Marsh. The Marsh is famous for its sheep and smuggling. RSPB Dungeness Nature Reserve, occupies 2000 acres of the Dungeness peninsular, the largest shingle formation of its kind in Europe and is an area famous for its rich variety of animal and plant life. Lydd and New Romney both have town trails.