Rye and Winchelsea beach circular walk

A walk from the ancient town of Rye in East Sussex across fields to the stranded former port of Winchelsea and thence down to the beach and back via Camber Castle to explore Rye itself before heading home.

From Rye we shall head West across flat farmland to the only high ground during this walk where we find Winchelsea. This town was built on the site of what was originally a much older port, destroyed by the sea, but the 'new' port ceased to be much use as the sea retreated down to Winchelsea Beach. There is the remains of a spectacular old church right in the centre of what must be one of the smallest 'towns' in the area.

We journey towards the sea across what might be rather wet pasture until we reach the sea wall which runs from Pett at the West to the nature reserves below Rye Harbour in the East. Depending on the state of the tide, we shall walk along beach or sand and mud flats for a while and then turn inland again, across this nature reserve and past the ruins of Camber Castle

After that back to Rye and there should be time to explore this fascinating town with its famous cobbled streets and numerous pubs.