Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Alison and Clive Gilbert

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Rye Harbour Nature Reserve may not be well-known outside its immediate neighbourhood, but its shingle ridges, pools, reedbeds and grasslands are a haven of tranquillity on a stretch of the South Coast which has not always been treated kindly by the developers.

This gentle walk, mostly on track or path, skirts the edge of the reserve, taking in visits to a couple of bird hides on the way, extensive views from Dungeness to the cliffs of Fairlight and a breezy burst of beach-striding. Early on in the walk, you pass a small information centre, Lime Kiln Cottage, where you can learn a little of the area's history and note which of its 91 species of bird visitors are currently in residence on the reserve, including the slender avocet, whose fluffy and altogether delightful chicks are frequently spotted. In early summer an impressive variety of wildflowers soften the shingle landscape and fill the air with sweetness – an attractive offering for butterflies. You may also encounter a flock of rare-breed sheep and goats, currently 'employed' to keep the grassland trim.

England - South England - East Sussex - Coast