The call of nature

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This isn’t about the need to “pay a visit” but, if anyone who either hasn’t been before or who fancies a walk to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, I can personally recommend it having gone there last Sunday. The thought was obviously shared with many others as the free car park was at least half full, a sure sign that visitors are visiting again.

A local visitor attraction, ever increasing in popularity even before the Visitor Centre opens.

Free parking, a fact worth mentioning once more (though donations are encouraged), unheard of at most tourist attractions these days, and plenty of room (currently) for all to park comfortably, no tight or limiting spaces other than the usual restricted headroom on entry.

From the car park a solid walkway takes you past the newly constructed visitor centre (with slightly restricted access at the moment whilst the service conduits are laid), a great surface for walking, cycling, buggies and dogs. The paths continue to the shingle beach and through the nature reserve, great for kids on bikes and no traffic or obvious hazards to negotiate. Along the way I passed the liveried Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Land Rover and pillbox which gives a framed view from of the seascape from inside.

The visitor centre looks very established now, the timber cladding is silvering as time goes on and the building seems to sit well in the landscape, quite a contrast to the recently renovated Norton’s Hut with its now glossy red roof and crude concrete base, a mecca for those looking for a backdrop with a difference for those must have selfies.

Carrying on over the shingled foreground, you drop down eventually to the sands, stretching as far as the eye can see to Winchelsea Beach and Pett. It was empty other than a few walkers and a lone fisherman. The old groins zig zag up the beach and disappear once more out of sight as the tide comes in.

Camber Sands is clearly visible from here, the wind turbines too, but, unlike the previous week, the strong winds have deterred all but the hardiest of sun worshippers and, at least today, some sense of normality has returned. There was a marooned and damaged boat, which found its way onto the shingles, now mysteriously disappeared, but the huge steel industrial chains are still there.

What struck me whilst wandering along the paths was how popular this venue was on Sunday, and there was a cross-section of locals and visitors which included families, dog walkers, cyclists, runners, couples, those with walking disabilities, “twitchers” and fishermen.

Quite a contrast to the visitors descending on Camber recently and when the visitor centre finally opens it will add the missing piece to complete the picture for this increasingly popular and unique visitor attraction.

Image Credits: Nick Forman .

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