Cycle Route National Route 2 - Dover - Plymouth

Dover is a port in East Kent, in the South East of England.

Understand

Dover has been a permanent settlement since at least the time of the Romans, who were the first to record its presence, giving it the name Dubris. It also marked the start of Watling Street, a major Roman road. The Roman lighthouse built on the present-day site of Dover Castle is one of the oldest buildings in Britain.

Today Dover is a major port town facing into the English Channel and, at just 21 miles from the French port of Calais , it is the closest port to continental Europe on mainland Britain. It is most famous for its white chalk cliffs which have been celebrated in song.

See

• ⊙Dover Castle, Castle Hill, CT16 1HU,  ☎ +44 1304 211067. Known as the "Key to England", the castle has 2,000 years of history contained within its walls, including a Roman lighthouse, a Saxon church and a Norman keep. Below ground a series of casements and tunnels have been dug into the chalk. From these tunnels Operation Dynamo (the Dunkirk evacuation) was planned. adults £17.00, children £10.20, concessions £15.30.  
• Battle of Britain Memorial - A very touching memorial dedicated to the men who fought and died in Britain's most desperate hour. Vintage airplanes are also on display.
• ⊙Roman Painted House. Well preserved ruins of a Roman townhouse that includes a hypocaust heating system and mosaic fragments.  
• ⊙The White Cliffs of Dover Visitor Centre, Langdon Cliffs, Upper Road, Dover, CT16 1HJ. ☎ +44 1304 202756. Open: Visitor Centre till 15. July & from 7. September till 1. November every day 10.00 to 17.00 h, 16. July till 6. September every day 10.00 to 17.30 h, 2. November till 30. December every day 11.00 to 16.00 h  (updated 2015). 
• ⊙South Foreland Lighthouse, The Front, St Margaret's Bay, CT15 6HP,  ☎ +44 1304 852463.  
• ⊙Dover Museum and Bronze Age Boat Gallery. Includes a 3,500 year old wooden boat that was found preserved in mud.
• ⊙Grand Shaft. Triple staircase constructed in Napoleonic times to enable quick troop movements between Townwall Street and the abandoned Western Heights fortifications.

Rye is a town in East Sussex .

See

The docks by the river.

Rye also has a 12th-century church, overlooking the town.

The old town town centre is very picturesque with its extreme cobblestone roads (ensure you wear sensible shoes), its many timber-framed houses, and the occasional traditional—though now slightly touristy—tearooms where you can enjoy cream tea.

There are many places which overlook the local scenery, from Rye Castle you can see out to Dungeness. Recently wind turbines have been placed near to Rye, which has changed the nature of the landscape.

• ⊙Rye Castle. Rye Castle (with Ypres Tower).
• ⊙Camber Castle (south of Rye along the A259), ☎ +44 1797 227784. Open by guided tour (a few days per year) only, see Sussex Wildlife Trust for dates. Adults £3.00, children free, concessions £1.50. (updated Jun 2018)
• ⊙Lamb House, West St, TN31 7ES, ☎ +44 1580 762334. Henry James, EF Benson and Rumer Godden have all lived in this charming 18th century house. The home is owned by the National Trust.  

Do

• Walk around the docks mentioned above, visit the many shops.
• Climb the church tower to get a magnificent view over Rye and its surroundings.
• Walk across the meadows to the ruins of Camber Castle (open on summer weekends; check with its owner, the English Heritage).
• Visit Ypres tower and have a chat with the elderly gentleman who has been keeping it open for visitors for the last 15 years. Get locked in in one of its small, dark cells!