Saxon Shore Way 😊, Cliff End (Pett Level) to Rye (09/09).

This is an easy walk of 5 miles over flat terrain & even though way markers are virtually non-existent it is easy to navigate. The route follows the Royal Military Canal for the first 3 kilometres & then, after a 1km stretch down busy Sea Road at Winchelsea, it passes through part of the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve before following the R. Brede into Rye at the Brede Sluice.

The cliffs at the western end of Pett Level are composed of Wealden sandstone & contain numerous fossils & dinosaur footprints from the Lower Cretaceous. A petrified forest is accessible from the beach here at low tide.

The Royal Military Canal, Pett Level. This is the most picturesque part of the walk. Much of the marshland on the seaward side of the canal is designated a  Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Of particular note are Pett Pools  which were dug during the 1940's to obtain material for sea defences.They attract many species of wildfowl & wading birds, especially during the winter & when on passage.

Looking north from the canal towards higher ground where the former coastline ran. The windmill visible on the summit is Higgs Hill Mill, Icklesham. It was built at Pett in 1781 & used to grind corn until 1920 when it was stopped because of a broken weather beam. Currently, it is the location of Sir Paul McCartney's recording studios.

The historic town of Winchelsea lies just to the north of this section of the Royal Military Canal where the SSW turns east onto Sea Road. The original town, 'Old Winchelsea', was situated several miles seaward of  here & was completely destroyed during the 'Great Storm ' of 1287. The new town, 'New Winchelsea', was built on the current site shortly afterwards. When first established, the town occupied a favourable position on a tidal inlet of the estuary of the R. Brede which provided a good harbour, & trade flourished. However, later during the 14th & 15thCs. the town suffered badly from raids by the French during the  '100 years War' & a series of plague epidemics. Silting of the harbour in the 16thC led to the town's ultimate demise.

The SSW passes Camber Castle which was built by Henry XVIII during the 16thC. to protect Winchelsea & the surrounding coast. It was formerly known as Winchelsea Castle & is situated within the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. The whole area is managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust & covers 1149 acres of a variety of habitats including saltmarsh, shingle ridges, lakes, scrub & woodland. 4,355 different species have been recorded here including 280 species of bird. It forms part of the Dungeness, Romney Marsh & Rye Bay SSSI.

A beautiful stretch of the R. Brede just before it enters Rye at the Brede Sluice.

Our destination, Rye: a beautiful & ancient town with quaint old houses & narrow, winding streets. It shares an interesting history which is similar to that of its nearby neighbour, Winchelsea. It, too, was a senior member of the Cinque Ports & suffered from raids by the French during the '100 Years War' in the 14thC. as well as epidemics of plague.It also lost its former influence & prosperity when the harbour silted up. Rye Harbour, located 2 miles downstream from the town on the R. Rother estuary is a mere shadow of its former namesake.