Good food and sea air in Rye and Hastings

England's south coast towns of Rye and Hastings have plenty to offer travellers that have a taste for good food, sea air, rolling green countryside and historical attractions.

Located in east Sussex, the towns are in the heart of 1066 country - famous for being the site of the Battle of Hastings that visitors can still trace the history of at the new 1066 centre.

However, the towns and the surrounding area also offer holidaymakers a lot more than a chance to rediscover the Norman conquest, with modern attractions such as shopping, cafes, pubs and galleries - as well as walks through the countryside to nearby villages.

An excellent starting point is the fantastically well-preserved medieval town of Rye.

Located on a hill-top a few miles from the coast, holidaymakers can easily spend a few hours wandering the town's cobbled streets, taking in the timber-framed Tudor buildings, shop for antique jewellery and take in the views over the countryside from the ancient castle, the Ypres Tower.

An excellent place to stop-off and enjoy the home-made muffins is the Apothecary café, which also offers bed and breakfast accommodation. Though there are several pubs all within a few minutes walk of one another, one of the best places to unwind by a roaring fire is the Ypres Castle Inn.

On Thursdays, the market by the station is well worth stopping at. The market has stalls selling deliciously authentic French pastries and breads, as well as local food produce and general household products.

As for a place to stay, Farthing House is a self-catering property right in the centre of town with real atmosphere. A listed Tudor building, the seriously spacious three-bedroom home is above a shop right on Rye's main shopping street.

Rye is also a good starting point from which to discover the local countryside and picturesque villages such as Winchelsea. A number of walks and cycle rides start there, with maps and guides available from the bookshop on High Street.

Around half an hour's drive away is Hastings, a larger coastal town that also has plenty of character.

Hastings' most appealing quarter is the old town, which is an excellent place to sort through antiques shops where you can pick up a real bargain.

Excellent fish and chips can be had opposite the dark-coloured wooden fisherman's shacks that line the beach, and if you are planning to cook later then picking up the catch of the day from the friendly fishmongers is also recommended.

Though there are lots of wooden fishing boats to see on the beach, you can actually climb aboard a traditional boat in the Fishermens Museum - which is also packed full of artefacts and curiosities as well as tracing Hastings' fishing tradition.

For more information on visiting Rye see www.visitrye.co.uk, and for Hastings see www.visithastings.com