Rye is handily places for wonderful beaches (both the family resort kind, and the nobody-around-for-miles kind), picturesque towns, gardens, castles, galleries and museums. Here are just a few ways to fill up your days.
Guide to near Rye
Dungeness
Dungeness is a wild, remote stretch of shingle, where hardy homeowners, rare birdlife and a massive power station live in harmony. Visit the lighthouse, covet the innovative architecture, see Derek Jarman’s renowned coastal garden (pictured) and ride the miniature railway. Time your visit to enjoy a lobster roll at the Dungeness Snack Shack.
Camber Sands
Camber Sands is a huge, glorious stretch of sand, backed by massive dunes, just 4 miles away, or less if you walk/cycle. Take a bucket and spade, learn to kitesurf, play hide-and-seek in the dunes or just sit outside the beach cafes with a cup of tea and watch the world go by.
There’s a regular bus service from Rye to Camber Sands so you don’t need a car to get there from the town.
Hastings Beach
Hastings is a proper bucket-and-spade resort, with arcades, rides etc. Pelham Beach, close to Hastings town centre, is family friendly, with a lifeguard in summer.
Hastings is under 20 minutes away on the train from Rye.
Winchelsea Beach
Winchelsea Beach is a large shingle beach, on the opposite bank of the River Rother to Camber Sands, accessed via Rye Harbour. It’s generally much quieter than Camber. Keep walking west and you’ll get to the beach at Pett Level, with Hastings and its sheer cliffs at the end.
The South of England Rare Breeds Centre
The South of England Rare Breeds Centre, Woodchurch has trailer rides, an aviary, creepy-crawly world, a hill fort, aerial runway, and lots more, including tons of animals from shire horses to guinea pigs. In summer there are pig races every day, with children divided into teams to race alongside.
Smuggler’s Adventure, Hastings
Smuggler’s Adventure in Hastings is a network of secret caverns and tunnels buried deep in the cliffs. The most exciting way to get there is to take the quaint West Hill Cliff Railway from George Street.
The Kent & East Sussex Railway
The Kent & East Sussex Railway runs between Tenterden and Bodiam; it’s fun any time, but there are periodic family-friendly days such as days out with Thomas the Tank Engine and Santa Specials at Christmas. Visit the website for timetables and dates of service.
Bodiam Castle, Robertsbridge
Climb the turrets of this 14th-century moated castle (owned by the National Trust) with ruined interior. It’s a great place for children to let off steam – buy them a wooden sword in the shop, then let them run riot.
Bodiam station is a stop on the Kent and East Sussex Railway; you can walk the quarter of a mile from the station to the castle itself. The Bodiam Boating Station is also close by, for hiring a row-boat, kayak or SUP.
Bateman’s, Burwash
The atmospheric Jacobean home of Rudyard Kipling, who lived here from 1902 until his death in 1936.
Kipling regarded Bateman’s as a place of sanctuary; with its mellow sandstone architecture and tranquil garden, it’s easy to fathom why. The house is a memorial to the writer, left as he and his wife lived in it, and includes letters, memorabilia and Kipling’s library, where he would write.
Smallhythe Place, near Tenterden
Victorian actress Dame Ellen Terry’s 16th-century timbered home. Some of her amazing theatrical costumes are on show, there’s a sweet cottage garden, and it’s virtually opposite the excellent Chapel Down vineyard if you want to stock up on local food and drink while you’re here.
Sissinghurst, Cranbrook
Created by Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson, this is one of the world’s most famous gardens, arranged as a series of romantic outdoor ‘rooms’ around a central Elizabethan tower, where Sackville-West used to write.
The garden is part of a wider 450-acre estate, and makes a fine base for a countryside walk.
Great Dixter, Northiam
The family home of the late gardening writer Christopher Lloyd. The garden, with its topiary, mixed borders and explosions of colour, is exquisite in summer and has influenced gardeners throughout the world.
Bexhill-on-Sea
A relaxing old-fashioned air pervades Bexhill. Stroll on the promenade or the beach, and see what’s on at the De La Warr Pavilion, the sensational modernist arts centre that dominates the seafront.
Tenterden
Full of handsome red-brick architecture, Tenderden feels like the quintessential English market town. Its thriving high street has a mix of independent shops, high-end chains and antique shops, and the Kent & East Sussex Railway also starts here. Just outside the town is Small Hythe, home to Smallhythe Place and the Chapel Down vineyard.
Battle
Site of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, this quiet town is anything but turbulent now. The ruined Battle Abbey, built by William the Conqueror to celebrate his victory, and the battlefield itself are open to the public courtesy of English Heritage.
The town has a pretty high street with lots of boutiques and independent shops – especially food shops, from a traditional butcher and fishmonger to ice cream.
Ashford
If you fancy a day of big-name shopping, Ashford has pretty much every retail chain you can think of, while the Ashford Designer Outlet includes more than 80 stores offering discounted goods, including Barbour, Jaeger, Kurt Geiger and Ted Baker.