Maps and trails – Rye Harbour Nature Reserve

Find your way around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve with maps and trails to suit different needs

webrye harbour nature reserve aerial shot stuart conway jan 2023

Main reserve map

This map shows the paths and numbered waymark points that can be found across Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

The map shows numbers 1-15. These correspond to white numbers you will find on posts or stone blocks or waste bins at those locations. You can use them to check your location and progress along one of several routes.

Routes around the reserve

Short circular route

Rye Harbour car park – 1 – 4 – car park is the short circular route of 3.3 km or 2 miles which passes three birdwatching hides and is wheelchair and pushchair friendly with frequent benches along the way to rest

Medium circular route

Rye Harbour car park -1 – 2 – 5 – 7 – car park is the medium circular route of 6.9 km or 4.3 miles, including a look at the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House, from 7 return along the shingle track through Rye Harbour farm.

Long circular route

Rye Harbour car park – 1 – 2 – 5 – 15 – car park is the long circular route of 9.7 km or 6.0 miles including a walk to Camber Castle, the birdwatching hide nearby and the viewpoint

All-tarmac route

Rye Harbour car park – 1 – 2 – 6 – Winchelsea Beach car park is all tarmac private road of 4.8 km or 3.0 miles (each way) with toilets at each end.

Locations of each number

The map numbers can be located by using What3Words – click on the links to find each one.

1 – https://w3w.co/mute.nerd.fallback

2 – https://w3w.co/sunbeam.lightens.fools

3 – https://w3w.co/newlyweds.aviators.clincher

4 – https://w3w.co/amount.piglets.interest

5 – https://w3w.co/sentences.amicably.applied

6 – https://w3w.co/visits.flocking.orchids

7 – https://w3w.co/anyway.trouser.essays

8 – https://w3w.co/motorist.rucksack.proper

9 – https://w3w.co/seemingly.washroom.libraries

10 – https://w3w.co/bother.ruffle.growth

11 – https://w3w.co/bulge.videos.either

12 – https://w3w.co/flesh.upwardly.dusts

13 – https://w3w.co/desiring.manual.tastier

14 – https://w3w.co/bounding.ecologist.remembers

15 – https://w3w.co/seated.lavished.records

16 – https://w3w.co/nanny.advances.twitchy

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Big Discovery Trail

If you’re looking for a longer walk, this trail will take you past the Mary Stanford Lifeboat House and across to Camber Castle. Don’t worry, there are stop-offs at several bird hides and benches along the way.

Download the Big Discovery Trail leaflet (PDF)

Play Trail

Fancy sending the kids off on a scavenger hunt or seeing who can build the tallest pebble tower? Then this is the trail for you.

Download the Play Trail leaflet (PDF)

Poetry Trail

There is an audio trail featuring 13 poems at different locations around Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. You can hold your mobile phone over the QR code at each location on the map to hear the poem recited by its author.

Download the Poetry Trail leaflet (PDF)

Read or listen to the poems

Friends of Rye Harbour Illustrated Map

This map shows most of the location names used for reporting wildlife at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

The artwork is by Pete Smith and it’s available as a tea towel, set of coasters or mug from the Discovery Centre shop, or can be bought from the Friends of Rye Harbour online shop.