Page 105 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

DRIVE 9: The Garden of England 103

Above left Apple orchards are dense around
May, based on the stories of H E Bates Kentish Hops Pluckley Above right The medieval Twyford
(1905–74) who lived in nearby Little The flowering part of the hop plant Bridge at Yalding
Chart. A booklet on sale in the Post used as a flavouring for beer, hops
Office and the Black Horse pub have given Kent its distinctive red-
outlines a tour of the village’s dozen brick oast houses – kilns used to dry
supposedly haunted sites, one of fresh hops. Half a century ago, East
Londoners would flock to Kent to
them being the pub itself. spend their summers picking hops.
ª Turn right to Bethersden, past Now only a handful of hop gardens
Pluckley station, right on Kiln Lane, remain. The Hop Farm Family Park EAT AND DRINK
then left onto the A28, then first right (www.thehopfarm.co.uk), Beltring,
to Woodchurch. Turn left here onto between Yalding and Paddock ASHDOWN FOREST
the B2067 towards Lympne to Hythe. Wood, explains all things hoppy, Piglit’s Tearoom inexpensive
and has attractions for kids, too,
Use town car parks. including play areas and rides. Have a little something in the tearoom
that adjoins the Pooh Corner shop.
High Street, Hartfield, TN7 4AE; 01892
5 Hythe 770 456; www.pooh-country.co.uk;
Kent; TN27 OQS hire. Hythe is also the terminus for the open in daytime only
One of the Cinque Ports, a group of 22-km (14-mile) Romney, Hythe & PENSHURST
towns formed in 1155 to provide ships Dymchurch miniature railway (open Fir Tree Tea Rooms inexpensive
for the Crown in return for a beneficial Apr–Oct: daily, also Jan–Mar: Sat & Sun; Enjoy cream teas and home-made
tax status, Hythe is now a breezy, www.rhdr.org.uk). Popular with wind- cakes in a 16th-century building.
attractive resort. The old town is set surfers, Hythe’s long sandy beach is Penshurst, TN11 8DB; 01892 870 382;
back from the sea and topped by safe and family friendly. Five miles open Apr–Oct: Wed–Sun & Bank Hol
St Leonard’s Church, dating as far back west of Hythe, Port Lympne Reserve is Mon, Mar: Sat & Sun, all pm only
as 1090. Don’t miss the fascinating home to more than 700 animals; you AROUND PENSHURST
ossuary, with the bones of around can even stay overnight (see left). George and Dragon moderate
2,000 people. Between the town and ª Take the A259, signed to Hastings, Medieval oak-beamed inn that exudes
the sea, the 45-km (28-mile) Royal to New Romney, then turn off on to the character – local produce includes
Military Canal has rowing boats for B2071 and follow it to Dungeness. Ashdown Forest lamb.
Speldhurst Hill, Speldhurst, TN3 0NN
(off the B2176, 4.3 km/2.7 miles
Below Windsurfers in Hythe, taking advantage of the open breezy beach south of Penshurst); 01892 863 125;
www.speldhurst.com
YALDING
Tea Pot Island inexpensive
Have a cream tea, a coffee or snack at
this riverside setting, filled with over
7,500 teapots at the last count.
Hampstead Lane, ME18 6HG; 01622
814 541; www.teapotisland.co.uk;
open in daytime only, daily Apr–Nov,
some weekends Dec–Mar
HYTHE
Hythe Bay Seafood moderate
On the seafront, this large family-run
restaurant has all kinds of seafood –
from simple fish soup to a Hythe Bay
shellfish platter and lobster.
Marine Parade, CT21 6AW; 01303 233
844; www.hythebay.co.uk
Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under £25; moderate, £25–£50; expensive, over £50

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