Rye Ramblings: Where the High Weald meets the Marsh

Most walks from Rye set off southwards towards the sea at Camber or Winchelsea. This time we are going in the opposite direction to discover the lovely countryside which lies behind and above this wonderful town.

The first part of the walk is almost completely flat as we follow the River Rother upstream on the edge of Romney Marsh. Before the river diverts westward on its course back towards Bodiam and Robertsbridge, we shall turn inland and up into the higher ground where we shall hopefully find a nice place to have lunch.

This is the typical undulating landscape of the High Weald, which starts here. We shall pass explore the countryside around the village of Iden and we may well stop in their rather lovely pub. From there we skim the edge of both Peasmarsh and the strangely named hamlet of Rye Foreign and skirt around Playden which is on the hill directly above Rye.

Our return should afford us good views across Rye and to the sea. The photos of Rye Church and Camber Castle were taken from a marvellous viewpoint on our route.

Trains leave the town in both directions on an hourly basis and if you are not in a hurry, I can do a bit of a guided tour of Rye and doubtless one of its many pubs will beckon. It did last time as shown in one of the photos.