Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
Rye Harbour, Coast
Image: Sussex Wildlife TrustA big-sky coastal reserve of shingle, saltmarsh and lagoons where Sussex Wildlife Trust has five bird hides and miles of flat paths. Start at the Discovery Centre and café, then walk out towards the river mouth or Camber Castle.
Highlights
- Five accessible bird hides
- Discovery Centre with Lime Kiln Café
- Shingle, saltmarsh and reedbed habitats
- Family wildlife events in the holidays
Good to know
- Castle Water is currently closed after a suspected outbreak of avian botulism
- Dogs must be on leads on the main track and in marked zones, with extra restrictions in nesting season
- Wear suitable footwear for pebbles and mud
Getting there
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, Rye Harbour village, near Rye, East Sussex, TN31 7TYParking: Rye Harbour village car park, run by Icklesham Parish Council, opens from 6.30am and closes at 7.30pm in winter (9pm in summer). The Discovery Centre is a 10 minute walk away.
Get directionsChecked on 15 October 2026 against rye.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk. Details change, so please confirm with the venue before you travel. How we check
Nearby
Image: Rye CastleRye Castle Museum and Ypres Tower
Climb Ypres Tower, Rye's oldest landmark, for views over the rooftops, Romney Marsh and the sea, with three floors of displays on the way. Look into the old prison cells and Women's Tower, then wander the medieval herb garden and the gun garden among the cannons.
Image: Visit 1066 Country (Hastings Borough Council)Camber Sands
More than two miles of sandy beach near Rye. Winter is the time for long dog walks and kite flying, with the summer crowds long gone.
Image: National TrustLamb House
A red-brick Georgian house at the top of West Street in Rye, home to the novelists Henry James and later E.F. Benson. Behind it lies one of the largest walled gardens in the old town.