Rye is a town near the coast of East Sussex. It is said to be one of the best preserved medieval towns in the UK.
Last year, on my visit to Rye, I found that it felt like how a tourist would imagine a classic English town.
It hadn't been gentrified or overly urbanised. Despite still being in the UK, it felt like it was somewhere further away.
With holidays abroad not certain, I would urge people to consider a trip to Rye.
Rye town - photo by Anoop Bhuller
History
Originally, Rye was a fishing town. Due to the sea retreating this is no longer the case.
In other points of time, it was known for shipbuilding and trade of items such as timber, wool and wine.
Rye had a royal dockyard and shipyard. Especially during the 13th century, it was a very well known and famous area of the UK.
It's also known for being the home of various famous writers. This included Henry James, Conrad Aiken and HG Wells.
The town is now filled with pubs and independent locally sourced cafe's and restaurants.
Where should I go?
Two must visit places include the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve and Rye Castle.
The nature reserve is the perfect location for a scenic walk. It's beaches, lakes and wildlife attract visitors throughout the year.
It's also free and accessible to all, with areas that can be accessed by wheelchair users.
Rye castle is another landmark in its history. It was built in 1249 as a defence from attacks. Its primary purpose has changes since then. It's been a fort, prison, court hall and now a museum,
Entry into the museum does require a small ticket fee for those over 16 years old.
You will be able to see the places that prisoners were kept. As well as having access to the balcony, from which you can see the whole surrounding area.
Group tours and educational visits are also permitted.
Camber Sands - photo by Anoop Bhuller
The highlight of my trip was a visit to Camber Sands.
Located nearby to Rye village, the beach is known for it's golden sand dunes.
The beach extends for 3 miles and certain zones do allow dogs.
Camber Sands is a must visit place, perfect during the summer months. Local cafe's can also be found nearby for a quick lunch.
Comentarios