Page 108 - (DK Eyewitness) Back Roads Travel Guide - Great Britain

106 BACK ROADS GREAT BRITAIN

0 Sissinghurst with adventure playgrounds, cycle
Kent; TN17 2AB trails and educational activities. Hire
One of the great National Trust estates some bikes, enjoy a picnic or just
in southeast England, Sissinghurst stroll among the tall trees.
Castle Garden (open daily mid-Mar–Oct; Also near Goudhurst, off the A262
www.nationaltrust.org.uk) is not in fact is Finchcocks (Apr–Sep: open Sun &
a castle but the remains of a Tudor bank hols; Wed–Thu in Aug; 01580 211
manor built around 1560. It became a 712; www.finchcocks.co.uk), a Georgian
“castle” in 1756 when it was used to manor set in beautiful grounds with a
house French prisoners of war who museum of early pianos and other
called it “Le Château”. The estate was instruments. Return to the A262 and
bought by the parliamentarian Harold follow signs for Scotney Castle (open
Nicolson and writer and keen gardener daily; www.nationaltrust.org.uk). This
Above Rural scenery of wheat fields and hay Vita Sackville-West in1930, magical 14th-century
bales near Sissinghurst, Kent who laid out the grounds castle has towers, a moat,
as a series of “rooms” , flower gardens, shady
ACTIVITIES AT BEWL WATER each with a distinctive woodland and a hop farm.
theme and colour. The ª Take the road out of
Bewl Water Outdoor Centre white garden, best in Scotney Castle to the
Bewl Water, Lamberhurst, TN3 8JH; early July, is spectacular, roundabout, turning left
01892 890 000; www.bewlwater.co.uk
but at any time of year on the A21. Turn right to
there is something to Piano at Finchcocks, Bewl Water following the
WHERE TO STAY
see. Climb to the top of the near Goudhurst signs – park on site.
AROUND BEWL WATER tall brick Elizabethan tower
The Bell moderate in the centre of the gardens for a w Bewl Water
South of Bewl Water, this quirkily bird’s-eye view of the estate; Vita’s Kent; TN3 8JH
furnished village pub has seven equally old writing room lies halfway up. Built in the 1970s, the largest inland
unconventional rooms. Good food, too. ª Carry along the A262 to Goudhurst. water in southeast England, Bewl
High Street, Ticehust, TN5 7AS; 01580 Turn left at the village pond for free Water (open daily) is encircled by a
200 300; www.thebellinticehurst.com
parking, just down on the right. 21-km (13-mile) walk and riding path.
BATTLE There is a wide range of activities on
The Powder Mills moderate q Goudhurst offer at Bewl Water Outdoor Centre,
Gorgeous Georgian country house Kent; TN17 1AL such as canoeing, windsurfing and
hotel with fishing lake and grounds. This is an idyllic village with a fine pond rock climbing. Alternatively take a lake
Good restaurant open to non-residents.
Powder Mill Lane, TN33 OSP; 01424 and uplifting views. The church tower cruise, explore an adventure play-
775 511; www.powdermillshotel.com is sometimes open, for even better ground, hire a bike or try some fly
views across the Weald. South from fishing. After all that, enjoy a snack
Below left The gatehouse of Sissinghurst Castle Goudhurst on the B2079 lie the green at the restaurant.
Below right The splendid gardens and hall forests of Bedgebury Pinetum (open ª Return to the A21, turn right and
house of Great Dixter daily; www.bedgeburypinetum.org.uk), then left onto the A268 to Hawkhurst,

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

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