Romney Marsh, Isle of Oxney and Rye Harbour

We went for a spin down to west Kent over tiny Romsey marsh lanes and through the Low Weald to cross the marsh again and explore the Isle of Oxney - an isle no more of course but full of charm and oak trees bursting into the special oak leaf green.  Marsh sheep and their lambs shone in the sun; we saw Marsh Buntings and Avocets, terns and a great colony of Black-Headed Gulls preparing to nest, our first three swallows, half timbered houses to die for, smallholdings that would make you weep for the pleasure of living.

We passed through places such as Cuckold's Corner, The Dowels, Shirley Moor, Thrift Cottage (it was tiny), Rentlands, Hole Farm, Willow Cott Farm, The Dandy, Gibbet Oak Farm, Stone Corner Farm, Ebony, Waddle Corner, Moon's Green and Potman's Heath.

And then on to Rye and the shingle nature reserve, the wind now swung to the south west but cold and bright.

The first photo is at New Bridge at Shirley Moor (part of the Romsey Marshes) - the river or drain is Craddlebridge Sewer. The second is the sweeping expanse of the shingle banks at Rye Harbour and the third is Knock House at eastern tip of the Isle of Oxney taken from the Royal Military Canal that linked Hythe to Rye.