Popular walks and rides around Camber
Camber to Rye on the foot/cycle path
The path runs from the eastern edge of the village to Rye following the route of an old tramway.
For the first two of its three miles it parallels the road, but then takes a short cut across the fields through flocks of Romney Marsh sheep (the gate is where the fruit seller usually is) it comes out at the bridge in Rye on the A259.
If you are going into town, turn left here and head past the park to the roundabout. Just to the left of the roundabout is a pedestrian crossing. On the other side of it a steep path takes you up into the heart of Rye – an area known as the Citadel. Turn left at the top of the path and you’ll soon be in the High Street, with views back to Camber and across the flats to Rye Harbour. If it’s clear you’ll see the power station at Dungeness.
Going through the park on the left eventually takes you to the bottom of Rye and the harbour area.
If you want to continue across country, then when you get to the bridge on the A259 cross the road and follow the footpath that takes you along the eastern bank of the River Rother.
This is part of the Sussex Border Path and will take you upriver to where the Rother meets the Royal Military canal.
Camber to Rye via the golf course
This footpath leaves the road at the Rye Golf Course club house, heads south west over the links and turns right at the river Rother to end up where the cycle path drops you – at the bridge over the A259.
Following the path from the Rye end back to Camber, makes a circular walk of about 6 miles with a break in the middle for lunch or and a browse around Rye. This path gives you a good view of the fishing fleet, moored at Rye, and of Rye harbour and the nature reserve.
Camber to Lydd on the foot/cycle path
The path begins at the eastern edge of the village, and runs along the top of the sea wall giving you great sea views. The path passes the car park on the kite surfers’ beach; and then turns inland just past Jury’s Gap, in parallel to the road.
Lydd is 5 miles from Camber and a fabulous flat off road route to cycle with a family. If you want to continue to Dungeness follow the road out of Lydd and turn right at the roundabout. a long flat road takes you right out to the coast again. At Lydd on sea fantastic fresh fish is available at the Pilot Inn, Lydd on Sea. In Dungeness itself check out the Dungeness snack shack.
Rye Harbour Nature reserve walks/rides
Rye Harbour Nature reserve, is on the eastern side of the Rother. You can park at the end of the road through Rye Harbour then choose from three routes.
Follow the river down to the beach, then turn west along the shore, or take a detour through the caravan park, a path that again brings you to the beach. The former is fine for bikes, the latter isn’t.
Alternatively, walk back into the main street in Rye Harbour and you’ll find, a couple of hundred yards back towards Rye, a path on the left that takes you across the nature reserve on an inland route, reaching a road of beach chalets called The Ridge. It’s also good for bikes.
Both this and the shore-line route take you to Winchelsea Beach, with its Ship gastro pub. Head west from here and you get to Pett Level.
Camber Castle walk
Camber castle was build by Henry VIII to protect the then huge but now silted-up anchorage at Rye. It’s off the beaten track, about a mile south of Rye, a mile north east of Winchelsea.
You can get to it either on a footpath that leaves the road from Rye to Rye Harbour just after the bridge, a couple of hundred yards from the start of the road, or on a path that leaves the road from Winchelsea to Winchelsea Beach half a mile each of Winchelsea, where the road makes a very sharp 90 degree turn.
Rye to Appledore and Ham Street along the Rother and Royal Military Canal
This route follows the Marshlink railway that runs from Rye to Ashford and serves the villages of Appledore and Ham Street, with good pubs along the way. You can walk out and take the train back.
The path starts where the Camber-Rye cycle path ends, at the bridge over the A259 – cross the road and head north. If you want this to be your starting point you can park in one of the two car parks at the foot of Rye, on the A259/A268.
The path follows the river Rother until it meets the Royal Military Canal, where you take the canal path heading east. This is a lovely, peaceful but low-lying route, so you get views across the marsh, but no hill-top vistas. Fit walkers will find no problem getting to Appledore for lunch.
Further on at Warehorne there’s a pub, but you’ll need to head on to Ham Street to pick up the train back.
Rye to Peasmarsh circular route via the Rother and the High Weald
This walk starts off alongside the Rother at Rye, then follows the river to Peasmarsh. From there you climb up to the High Weald and join the High Weald Landscape Trail path for a spectacular descent back into Rye.
The first half of this walk gives you the tranquillity of the marsh and the second the drama of the Wealden hills.
You leave the Rother at Blackwall Bridge and follow the lane south west to reach Peasmarsh at Flackley Ash. Turn left and follow the A268 into the village. After a few hundred yards you’ll see the High Weald Landscape Trail path signposted off to the right.
Peasmarsh is a good lunch point. Head a few hundred yards past this turning and you’ll find the Cock, with its good, straightforward pub grub. There’s also the Jempson’s supermarket and café just where the path leaves the main road