Rye to Peasmarsh Circular

From Rye railways station, follow the High Weald Landscape Trail out of Rye towards Peasmarsh. Through low lying Romney sheep fields and marshes, this was very wet and flooded in parts so wear stout waterproof boots or wellingtons in wet weather.

Some of the trails through the marsh are not well signalled, hence a slight detour as you can see on the map!

Passing through Clayton Farm are some lovely views. A working sheep and fruit farm with its cherry and apple orchards, with the majority of the juice goes to Copella apparently, though some is made into their own craft cider called ‘Starvecrow’.

The Cherry Barn is a restored 17th century oak-framed barn set on a working family farm where the family lived for generations and is now wedding event venue.

Then onto St Peter and Paul church which lies about one mile from Peasmarsh village; it is thought the village centre was moved after the Black Death plague

Parts of the original Norman church, built c1070, have survived, including the west and east walls of the nave and about half of the chancel. The fine Norman chancel arch is particularly interesting, being decorated with stylised heraldic animals. The leopard-like creatures have been carved into the iron-sandstone of the arch masonry and are a unique feature of the church.

Every year, in June, the Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival, bringing world-class concerts of chamber music, is held in the church.
Anthony Marwood MBE, British violinist lives locally whilst Rudi Martinus van Dijk, international composer lived in Peasmarsh and is buried at the church.

Another famous resident was Maria Ann Smith (née Sherwood, d. 9 March 1870), from whom comes the name of the Granny Smith apple, who was born here in 1799.

We then took the path through Iden Wood to Rye Foreign. The odd name of Rye Foreign came about in 1247, when King Henry III reassumed control of Rye and Winchelsea from the Abbey of Fecamp, but left part of the area still under the Abbey: hence "Rye Foreign".

A well signposted trail through Lea Farm back to Rye.