Page 104 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

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102 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN
VISITING ASHDOWN FOREST
1 Ashdown Forest museum and children’s playground.
Getting There East Sussex; RH18 5JP Stop off for a cream tea at the Fir Tree
From East Grinstead take the A22 south. Probably most famous as the home Tea Rooms, once part of the estate.
After three roundabouts (10 km/6 miles) of the children’s book character Visit St Mary’s church in Speldhurst,
turn left at traffic lights down Colemans Winnie the Pooh, Ashdown Forest is just off the B2176, to see windows by
Hatch Rd. The Forest Centre is on the left.
filled with deer and sheep and Pre-Raphaelites William Morris and
Ashdown Forest Centre provides walks, views and picnic Edward Burne-Jones. Try the George
Wych Cross, Forest Row, RH18 5JP; spots. Pick up walking maps at the and Dragon for a top-end pub lunch.
01342 823 583;
www.ashdownforest.org Ashdown Forest Centre (open Sat & ª Take the B2176 east, turn left on
Sun; also Mon–Fri pm Apr–Oct) or the A26. Keep right, turn right at the
continue on to the shop Pooh Corner second roundabout and left at the
WHERE TO STAY
(open daily) at Hartfield (along third before turning off right onto
AROUND PENSHURST Coleman’s Hatch Road to B2110, right, B2017. Continue to the A228 and turn
Charcott Farmhouse inexpensive and then left on B2026). Here you left. Turn right onto the B2015, then
This B&B in a 16th-century farmhouse can buy the rule book for Poohsticks take the B2162 to Yalding.
has three simple, country-style rooms to play at Poohsticks Bridge, a
(two en suite) and a pretty garden. 40-minute walk away. Nearby 3 Yalding
Leigh TN11 8LG (off the B2027, 5 km/3 Cotchford Farm is where Pooh’s Kent; ME18 6JB
miles north of Penshurst); 01892 870 024;
www.charcottfarmhouse.com creator, A A Milne, brought The village lies on the River
up his son, Christopher Beult, which joins the
PLUCKLEY Robin (and also where Medway at The Lees,
Elvey Farm moderate Rolling Stone Brian where the medieval
This boutique guesthouse is a rural treat, Jones drowned in his Twyford Bridge spans
with rooms in an old stable, granary,
oast house, barn and a vintage caravan. swimming pool in 1966). Pooh Corner shop the river. Nearby is the
Elvey Lane, TN27 OSU; 01233 840 442; ª From Hartfield, at the end sign, Hartfield 500-year-old, much flooded
www.elveyfarm.co.uk of the High Street turn right Anchor pub, opposite Tea
HYTHE onto the B2110 all the way to the Pot Island (see right) and Twyford
The Beach moderate A264. Turn left, then take the first yacht basin. Once a centre of hop-
Boutique B&B on the Hythe promenade, right down the B2188 to Penshurst. growing, Yalding is an attractive
with seven stylish en-suite rooms and a village, with a farmers’ market on
sun terrace for alfresco breakfast. 2 Penshurst the third Saturday of each month.
50 Marine Parade, CT21 6AW; 07967 Kent; TN11 8DG ª Turn left on the B2010, turn right
590 732; www.thebeachhythe.co.uk
The stone bridge over the fledgling and follow the signs for the B2163,
AROUND HYTHE Medway is a delightful approach to right on the A274. After Headcorn,
Giraffe Lodge expensive this attractive village. Don’t miss take the third left to Smarden and
Spend a night on safari at this wild Penshurst Place (open Apr–Oct daily, then on to Pluckley. Park on the street.
animal park, with game drives and Sat & Sun mid-Feb–March; 01892 870 307;
overnight accommodation in www.penshurstplace.com) – one of the 4 Pluckley
luxurious tented lodges.
Port Lympne Reserve, Hythe, CT21 4LR; grandest estates in the county. Dating Kent; TN27 OQS
01303 264 647; www.aspinall from 1346, the pretty, crenellated This is apple country, and the hedges
foundation.org/port-lympne manor house contains the largest along the lanes protect the orchards
original medieval hall outside from winds. Pluckley has two claims
Below left Attractive local stores and petrol Westminster as well as some great to fame: as the most haunted village
station, Penshurst Below right The fertile state rooms and galleries. It also has in England, and as the setting for the
Kent countryside near Yalding beautiful walled gardens, a small toy UK TV comedy The Darling Buds of

Where to Stay: inexpensive, under £80; moderate, £80–£150; expensive, over £150

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