By Thom Sanders
If there is one thing that can provide a relaxing and tranquil holiday like no other, it's being on or near a river. There are few other places where you will be constantly put at ease by the gentle gurgle of water or be able to engage in the most passive of pastimes, fishing. Whether you're staying on the river bank and remaining safely on land, renting a house boat to travel on for a week, or just taking time out on your holiday to hire a small row boat and set off up the river, you'll find that the bodies of water you encounter will be one of the most memorable parts of your holiday.
This is where the River Rother comes in. It runs through the counties of Kent and East Sussex, and then exits into the sea by the beautiful town of Rye. A decent section of the river is navigable, and there are picturesque views along its entire length. Rye itself is well known as being a gorgeous example of a medieval town, full of thatched buildings and cobbled streets, and there are many sights like this to be seen along the river.
Bodiam Castle is an absolutely beautiful ruin of a 14th century castle. It even has a moat! The exterior is remarkably well preserved, and seeing it from the river you could almost believe that it was still occupied. It's featured in numerous paintings and has been repeatedly held up as an excellent example of architecture perfectly complimenting a landscape. Seeing it from between the trees that surround it is like stumbling upon a hidden treasure.
Large areas of the land around Rother River were covered by the sea many year ago, and now that this has retreated they have become marshland as water easily drains into the low lying areas. The marshland, whilst not particularly spectacular itself, provides excellent opportunities to see plenty of animals that can only be found in marsh environments.
Another feature of note is the Isle of Oxney. It used to be a proper island just off the coastline when the sea covered the area, but it now is just an area of higher land near the river. Having a look around and working out where the sea level previously reached can provide a pleasant evening's stroll.
This article was written by Thom Sanders on behalf of Flackley Ash Hotel, one of the Rye Hotels that is an East Sussex Hotel.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-River-Rother-Which-Runs-by-Rye&id=5052037] The River Rother Which Runs by Rye
