Rye: Inside the medieval town home to rare wildlife

Rye sits two miles from the coast and is embroiled in secrets, nature and authenticity.

The town is famed for its history, with plenty of tales of smuggling, invasions and shipwrecks.

Rye was a hotspot for overseas intruders due to its close proximity to the sea, enduring hostile visits from the French and Spanish.

The town was wrecked by fire and the bells from St Mary’s Church were stolen following a French attack in 1377, although residents retrieved the bells in a subsequent revenge voyage.

Smuggling was also common in the town due to the lure of its narrow streets and pockets of shadows, utilised by the infamous Hawkhurst Gang.

Visitors can connect with Rye’s smuggling history at The Mermaid Inn, a 600-year-old restaurant and hotel visited by the gang in the 1730s.

The Mermaid Inn is shrouded in secrets of the past (Image: Herman Vandenbroeck)

History lovers may also spot carvings etched into the walls by fleeing Catholic priests during the Reformation and thrill seekers should indulge in the ghost stories that haunt the building.

The inn is at the top of Mermaid Street, dubbed one of the “prettiest streets in England” and named because of sailors’ tales of sirens near the port.

The enchanting street, which allegedly dates back to the 10th century, is lined with picturesque houses that appear to be frozen in time and is a hotspot for tourist photographs.

Visits to Camber Castle, built by Henry VIII, Ypres Tower, built in the 13th or 14th century, or the Rye Heritage Centre will also draw you into the web of history that Rye is embroiled in.

Camber Castle was built by Henry VIII and is situated in Rye Harbour Nature Reserve (Image: Mervyn Rands)

Not only is Rye the ideal spot for history fans, but also nature enthusiasts.

It is home to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, one of the largest wildlife sites in England that is “beautiful all year round”.

The reserve, of outstanding national importance, contains more than 4,355 species of plants and animals, 300 of which are rare or endangered, and it is famed for its vibrant bird life.

Rye Harbour Nature Reserve is a hub of rare wildlife (Image: Simon Carey)

Visitors to the Sussex Wildlife Trust reserve have also spotted grey seals swimming in the sea.

A day out in Rye not only offers historical and natural enrichment but many high quality venue where you can enjoy a quick bite or lavish meal.

For tourists seeking a pub, the Rye Waterworks Micropub in Tower Street is a “must visit gem” that originated as a water pump house for the town.

The quirky pub offers local ale, beer and cider, as well as home-cooked scotch eggs and pork pies.

Ranked number one on TripAdvisor, restaurant Fletchers House in Lion Street is the place to go for food and is described as the “pearl of Rye”.

Fletchers House is a pearl of Rye (Image: P L Chadwick)

The venue offers locally sourced food, including fresh fish caught by day boats in Rye and Hastings and meat from Romney Marsh, as well as a varied cocktail menu.

For day trippers after good food, rich history and an array of nature, Rye is the place to visit.