Line © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked by Global Adventurer.
The walk
From the car park at Rye Harbour the walk follows the main track beside the River Rother, past the Discovery Centre, to the river mouth. It turns west along the private tarmac road behind the shingle beach, with the lagoons and hides of the reserve on the right, for about 2.5 km towards Winchelsea Beach. It then turns inland on the track through Rye Harbour Farm and comes back north-east past the flooded gravel pits to the village.
It is 6.9 km and flat, with 0 m of ascent; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: level and firm, with more than half on the tarmac road.
Dogs must be on leads on the main track between the car park, the Discovery Centre and the beach. The shore is open to the wind and there is no shelter beyond the hides. The Castle Water part of the reserve, towards Camber Castle, has been closed since August 2026 because of suspected avian botulism among the birds; this walk does not go there. Keep dogs out of the water and do not touch dead birds.
The car park has no set charge, but donations are asked. It is open from 6.30 am to 9 pm in summer and to 7.30 pm in winter. The nearest station is Rye, about 2.8 km away. Bus 313 runs from Rye to the village.
Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.
Good to know
- Out past the Discovery Centre to the mouth of the Rother, then along the shore road beside the shingle
- Back by the track through Rye Harbour Farm and the old gravel pits
- A Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve of shingle, saltmarsh and lagoons, with more than 4,000 species recorded
- The main track is step-free and five of the hides can be reached in a wheelchair
Getting there
Start: Rye Harbour car park · Free parking. 50.93717, 0.76234
By train: Rye station is 2.8 km from the start.
Places to stay nearby
Rooms in and around Rye: Booking.com → Expedia →
Affiliate links: if you book, Global Adventurer earns a small commission at no cost to you.
Paths change, and the weather decides the day. The line and figures come from OpenStreetMap and our own checks; take a map, check the forecast, and turn back if it isn't right.
