The Bell Inn
Staplehurst - Kent

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Sissinghurst, nr Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2AB
Telephone: 01580 710701 (Infoline)
One of the world's most celebrated gardens, the creation of Vita Sackville-West and her husband Sir Harold Nicolson
Celebrated gardens designed by writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson
Intimate setting in the grounds of an Elizabethan mansion
Romantic little compartments filled with colourful floral displays
Lakeside and woodland walks open all year
Lovely unspoilt Wealden countryside
This internationally renowned garden was developed by Vita Sackville-West and Sir Harold Nicolson around the surviving parts of an Elizabethan mansion. It comprises small enclosed compartments, with colour throughout the season, resulting in an intimate and romantic atmosphere. The library and study, where Vita worked, are open to visitors.

Scotney Castle

Scotney Castle
Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 8JN
Telephone: 01892 893820 (Infoline)
Victorian country house set in one of England's most romantic gardens surrounded by a beautiful wooded estate
One of England's most romantic gardens
Ruined 14th-century castle in a tranquil lakeside setting
Unusual heather-thatched ice house
Superb displays of rhododendrons and azaleas
Designated one of the 'Seven Wonders of the Weald'
Scotney Castle was home to the Hussey family from the late 18th century and in 1835 Edward Hussey III, who took the Picturesque style as his inspiration, commissioned eminent architect Anthony Salvin to design a new country house in an Elizabethan style. The celebrated gardens, designed around the ruins of a 14th-century moated castle, feature spectacular displays of rhododendrons, azaleas and kalmia in May and June, wisteria and roses rambling over the ruins in summer, and trees and ferns providing rich colour in autumn. There are fine walks through the estate, with its parkland, woodland, hop farm and wonderful vistas and views. The house is opening in stages over the next five years, with selected rooms open at the moment. Visitors will be able to discover the different styles of each room which show how a house can be changed to accommodate three generations of a family alongside modern living.

Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle Maidstone Kent ME17 1PL Tel: +44 (0) 1622 765400
The castle you see today is the result of over 900 years of alterations and changes. It has Norman foundations; a mediaeval gatehouse; the Gloriette, built by Edward I and updated in Henry VIIIs times; a Tudor tower; and a 19th century country house - all of which were substantially refurbished in the 20th century.

Bewl Water Outdoor Centre

Bewl Water Outdoor Centre, Bewl Water, Lamberhurst, Kent, TN3 8JH, UK.
Bewl Water - A Wonderful Way to Spend the Day
The largest lake in south east England, settled within a gentle green and wooded Wealden Valley, Bewl Water is many things to many people: a place to unwind and relax, a place to enjoy attractions and nature, or a place to take part in the many activities on offer.

Bewls attractions include the enchanting woodland playground, the waterside walks and rides, picnic areas, gift shop, cruises on the passenger vessel Swallow, and The Look-Out family restaurant.

For the energetic, activities include sailing, canoeing and windsurfing, and flyfishing for trout in one of the countrys foremost stillwater fisheries.

Kent and East Sussex Railway

Kent and East Sussex Railway
Tenterden Town Station, Station Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 6HE
Tel: 087 060 060 74
The Kent & East Sussex Railway is the country's finest example of a rural light railway. The line gently wends its way from Tenterden - "The Jewel of The Weald" for ten and a half miles, through the unspoilt countryside of the Rother Valley, to terminate in the shadow of the magnificent National Trust castle at Bodiam.

Whether you are interested in heritage, shopping, nature, food and drink, or recreation, there is always something to enjoy when visiting the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest

Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
Park Lane, Goudhurst, Kent, TN17 2SL
Tel: 01580 211044

Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest
Adventure in a world of trees.

Open every day, Bedgebury is the perfect place for cycling, walking, riding and playing in a spectacular world of trees.

The National Pinetum is a world-class collection of dramatic conifers and a beautiful setting for a country walk in all seasons. The two thousand-acre Bedgebury Forest offers miles of family cycling, mountain-biking, riding, walking and adventure play for all ages and abilities.

The Visitor Centre has cycle hire, refreshments and showers. As a location for healthy outdoor activity in a beautiful setting, Bedgebury is in a class of its own.

The Hop Farm at the Kentish Oast Village

The Hop Farm at the Kentish Oast Village
Beltring, Paddock Wood, Kent, TN12 6PY
Tel: 01622 870804
Set in 400 acres of unspoilt Kent countryside, this once working Hop Farm is one of Kents most popular tourist attractions. The spectacular Oast village provides the perfect setting for a great family day out in the Garden of England.
Open all year round with over 30 special events, The Hop Farm is one the South Easts premier event venues!

Finchcocks Musical Museum

Finchcocks
Goudhurst
Kent TN17 1HH
Tel: 01580 211702
Finchcocks is a fine early Georgian manor in a beautiful unspoilt setting. It is noted for its outstanding brickwork, with a dramatic front elevation attributed to Thomas Archer. Named after the family who lived on the site in the 13th Century, the present house was builtin 1725. Despite having changed hands many times, it has suffered remarkably little alteration and retains most of its original features.

The 13 acres of grounds include parkland to the front. The garden to the rear is fully restored, with wide lawns, mature shrub borders, an orchard for wild flowers and a beautiful walled garden which is used ofr outside events. There is a brick terrace to the side of the house which is suitable for a marquee. There are extensive views over the Kentish landscape of park, farmland and hop-gardens.

Finchcocks Collection

In 1970 Finchcocks was acquired by Richard Burnett, leading exponent of the period piano, and it now houses his magnificent collection of over 100 historical keyboard instruments: chamber organs, virginals, harpsichords, clavichords and a wide range of early pianos; about 40 of these are fully restored to concert condition. There are also a number of barrel organs, musical boxes and other mechenical instruments. These can be seen and heard whenever the house is open.

The house, with its high ceilings and oak panelling, provides an ideal setting for music performed on period instruments.

Finchcocks is now a musical centre and museum of international repute, and many events take place there. The instruments can also be heard in a large number of recordings made in the house by leading performers. There is a fascinating collection of musical pictures, prints and an exhibition on the theme of 18th Century Pleasure Gardens such as Vauxhall and Ranelagh.