Page 106 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

104 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

6 Dungeness 7 Rye
Kent; TN29 9NB East Sussex; TN31 7LA
The headland of Dungeness – the It is a pleasure just to stroll around this
largest shingle spit in Europe – lies pretty, ancient and cobblestoned
at the southern end of Romney former port. Climb St Mary’s Tower for
Marsh, a low-lying area of expansive excellent views; on the High Street,
skies, narrow lanes, water channels pop into Rye Art Gallery (open daily),
and fields dotted with sheep – look buy sweets from jars in Britcher &
out for Romney saltmarsh lamb in Rivers’ 1920s shop, or pick up delicious
restaurants. On your approach along picnic snacks from Rye Delicatessen.
the coast road towards the nuclear Head to the waterfront where the tar-
power station (closed to visitors), stop by black former warehouses are troves
Prospect Cottage, where film-maker of bric-a-brac and antiques. Watch
Derek Jarman created an unusual the fishing boats behind the bowling
garden from what he found on the green landing the day’s catch.
Above Rye Windmill guesthouse, on the beach. At the 45-m (147-ft) Old On the road in to Rye lies Camber
pretty Tillingham river, Rye Lighthouse (open daily Easter–Oct), Sands, a vast sweep of beach revealed
climb to the top to see the view and when the tide races out across the flat
WHERE TO STAY examine the great glass prisms. The shore. Popular with horse riders and
area’s special habitat has made it an sand yachters, the beach gets busy on
DUNGENESS important RSPB site (open daily) with summer weekends.
The Watch Tower moderate trails for kids and regular sightings of ª Leave Rye on the Winchelsea Road
Lovely B&B with a three-room suite that bitterns, plovers and wheatears. and take the turning signed to Rye
comes with its own private, plant-filled ª Take Dungeness Road north to Lydd, Harbour. Drive to the end and park in
conservatory overlooking Dungeness.
Dungeness Road, TN29 9NF; 01797 321 then follow signs to Camber and on to the car park, by the Nature Reserve
773; www.watchtowerdungeness.com Rye. Park at the entrance to the town. Information Centre.
RYE
Rye Windmill moderate 8 Rye Harbour
Near the quay, this hotel offers rooms
with character and excellent breakfasts. East Sussex; TN31 7TU
Mill Lane, TN31 7DW; 01797 224 027; Home to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk),
www.ryewindmill.co.uk; minimum these wetlands and reed beds are great for birdwatching. A network of
two-night stay at weekends
paths cross the area, so it is easy to tailor a walk to the time available.
AROUND TENTERDEN Lime Kiln Cottage by the River Rother is the information centre.
Barclay Farmhouse moderate
This 18th-century farmhouse, off the
A262, offers rooms in its old oak barn A three-hour country walk lifeboat with 17 volunteers rowed out
and a cottage let. No children allowed. From the car park follow the river to help a storm-stricken ship; all were
Woolpack Cnr, Biddenden, TN27 8BQ; past Lime Kiln Cottage 1 and lost at sea. Turn inland by the marked
01580 857 127; www.barclayfarm
house.co.uk; May–Aug minimum continue past the bird hide to the footpath that runs right by the edge
two-night stay at weekends sea. Turn right and follow the coast of the larger body of water – Nook
west, past the Ternery Pool on the Beach – and turn right, veering round
Below left The Old Lighthouse (1904), right – a great place to see wildlife. to the left past Castle Farm barns.
Dungeness Below right Film director Derek Walk past the Mary Stanford Lifeboat Carry on to a small cluster of houses,
Jarman’s Prospect Cottage, Dungeness House 2 from where, in 1928, a to Sea Road and walk up to the

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