If you’re looking for country rambles, woodland walks, wildlife to appreciate and the opportunity to soak up the fresh air, then Rother is the place to visit. Some sites have good facilities so there’s no excuse – get out there and enjoy our wonderful countryside. See the Visit 1066 Country Outdoor page to find out more.
Rye Harbour Nature Reserve
This beautiful nature reserve can be enjoyed all year round, which is a must to fully appreciate the constantly changing environment. A mosaic of habitats beside the sea with shingle, saltmarsh, sand dunes, rivers, pits, grazing marsh, reed beds and farmland, Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is full of wildlife for you to discover.
Rother Woods Project
The Rother Woods area, between Robertsbridge and Rye in East Sussex, has been identified as one of the most important areas for woodlands in the region. Hundreds of years of woodland management produced a beautifully wooded landscape rich in fauna and flora. Working with woodland owners, the project hopes to improve habitat conditions for woodland specialist butterflies and moths. More details can be found on the Sussex Butterfly Conservation page
Brede High Woods
This woodland towards the centre of Rother district was acquired by the Woodland Trust in December 2007 after a very successful national and local fundraising campaign. At 262 hectares (648 acres) it is currently the biggest Woodland Trust site in England.
Brede Valley
Brede valley is a stretch of beautiful Sussex countryside near Rye, where the Romney and Walland marshland extends westwards past Winchelsea between two steep ridges of the rolling High Weald. This is a wonderfully tranquil area, an ancient landscape full of history and rich in wildlife. Its many footpaths and narrow winding lanes offer endless scope for exploration. Be prepared to fall under the spell of this lovely valley!
Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay SSSI
3620 hectares of this vast Site of Special Scientific Interest is in Rother, providing a home for many rare and endangered plants and animals. The sites listed below can be viewed from public roads and footpaths, whilst Rye Harbour has a network of permissive paths and 4 birdwatching hides.
Pett Level – grazing marshes where sheep and Curlew feed together
Rye Harbour – shingle ridges and gravel pits full of wildlife.
Camber Dunes – dry and sandy, with many special plants and insects
Romney Marshes – grazing marshes with ditches full of noisy frogs
High Weald AONB
High Weald is an historic landscape at the heart of South East England. It is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) for its rolling hills, small, irregular fields, abundant woods and hedges, scattered farmsteads and sunken lanes.
The High Weald website provides a wealth of information on this wonderful area.
Long distance footpaths
In addition to the many, many miles of public footpath there are 3 long distance paths that converge on Rye. You can walk part, or be really adventurous and travel the whole length, using the information available.
