Winchelsea and Rye, East Sussex

Difficulty Easy Access

Walking time 1 hour

Length 3.3km / 2.0mi

Route developer: chris smith

Route checker: Barry Iles

Start location Rye, car park or station

Route Summary Linear ramble on cycle route from Rye to Wincheslea, offering varied views of marshland to the south and hillside to the north. Good for wildlife. Short road section near the beginning.

*move mouse over graph to see points on route

Getting there

Public Transport: A route from Rye Station is possible. If arriving from Hastings with a wheelchair go forward to exit the station in Rope Walk. Turn right and cross the Railway Then right again through the car park to return to the main station building. If arriving from Ashford exit by the gate on the left hand side of the station building. From the main station building walk south west along the A268, parallel to the railway. Cross the B2089 and turn first right along narrow pavements (minimum 1 metre) to the junction of two main roads and the start of the ramble. Winchelsea has step free access but there is a steep slope and there are no staff to help. Telephone 08451 272920 for more information. Travel information from Traveline South East

Car parking: Car park at the start of the ramble. There is also a car park (Gibbet's Marsh car park) at TQ915204 a little way into the Ramble. You can access this from the B2089. This may be a better bet for those with trailers.

Description

[1] From the junction of the A268 and the A259 (photo 1) cross the bridge over the river to the west and then turn immediately right. Follow the finger post to 1066 Country Walk (photo 2). Cross the railway, encountering a number of gates. There are 10 on this ramble. The first five do not have any catches, so are easy to open. The remainder have catches. After crossing the railway see Rye Windmill on your right (photo 3). Turn left following the cycle path signs (photo 4), leaving the Gibbet Marsh car park and overflow on your left. About 100m after the car park meet a road (B2089) (photo 5) and turn left along the pavement, again following the 1066 Country Walk. After about 200m bear left (photo 6) onto the cycle path (signposted as the 1066 Country Walk). Keep following the path for nearly 3km, the railway running on the SE side (photo 7).

[2] You will then join a small road (photo 8). If you are returning to your start point you might want to turn round here to avoid the road section. Otherwise head straight ahead and follow the road round to the left. This will bring you to Winchelsea station (photo 9).

[3] Winchelsea station has a two hourly service. It may be worth getting a train in the wrong direction and then coming back.

POI information No details available.

Notes

Terrain: The surface is tarmac at the start, giving way to impacted shale and then, in some places, grass. Once you get to the road you are on tarmac.

Accessible toilet: Opposite Rye station and by the tourist office, which is just to the south of the start of the ramble. The tourist office has a Radar key.

Refreshments: Numerous in Rye. The best bet is likely to be the development around the tourist office, which has a number of cafes and restaurants and is on level ground. Many of these were closed on the day of research, but this is a new development and places should have good access.

Acknowledgements

Rye Windmill at Dusk
By - © Copyright Stephen Nunney and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence (see acknowledgements)
1. Start Point. The Car Park is behind the Kettle of Fish.
By - baffledofbarham
2. Start of the 1066 Country Walk. This sign is on your right as you turn right after crossing the bridge.
By - baffledofbarham
3. Rye Windmill on your right.
By - baffledofbarham
4. Cycle path sign.
By - baffledofbarham
5. Meeting the B2089.
By - baffledofbarham
6. Departure from the road.
By - baffledofbarham
7. Return transport if you want it.
By - baffledofbarham
8. End of the cycle path/1066 Country Walk.
By - baffledof barham
9. Winchelsea Station.
By - baffledofbarham