Cranbrook Sissinghurst Scotney Castle Gardens High Weald Kent UK

Sissinghurst Castle Gardens

Midway between Cranbrook and Tenterden sits probably Kent's most famous gardens - Sissinghurst Castle Gardens. Their fame is due in large part to the fame of their garden designer Vita Sackville West (1892-1962). Sackville West's well known Kent family home is Knole near Sevenoaks. As well as garden design, a passion she shared with her husband Harold Nicolson who collaborated with her on Sissinghurst's creation, she was also an acclaimed novelist and poet winning awards for poems such as 'The Land' (1927).

Linked with the Bloomsbury Group, Sackville West had a number of Lesbian affairs outside of her close marriage with politician and civil servant Harold Nicolson. The most famous of these affairs was with Virginia Woolf through most of the 1920s. Woolf dedicated her work 'Orlando' to Sackville West, who's life and family history was a considerable influence on Woolf's depictions of her Orlando through various generations. Sissinghurst is a garden to linger long in. Climb to the top of the Elizabethan Tower for spectacular panoramic views of the entire site and note Vita's writing room on the first floor. Also on-site is the Oast House Exhibition and the Elizabethan Barn plus National Trust Shop, licensed Granary Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Ice Creams, Plant Shop and a Picnic Area with tables.

Sissinghurst Gardens blends the romantic (Vita's specialism) and the more ordered classical (Harold's preference). Sackville West bought the site after a visit to Sissinghurst with her son in 1930. The many small enclosed compartments and the romantic edge to Sissinghurst are down to her. Sissinghurst is a delightful garden mix with rose gardens, cottage gardens, orchard and white garden and all around iconic feature buildings such as well photographed Elizabethan Tower. Before it was purchased by Sackville West Sissinghurst was a home to many of the poor who worked much of the land here. Prior to that the Elizabethan house had served as a prison for prisoners of war during the Napoleonic Wars. Woodland trails and lake walks are on-site.

Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, nr Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2AB. Tel. 01580 710701. See the National Trust weblink for opening times.

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Cranbrook Attractions Museum Kent

Overlooking Cranbrook stands Union Windmill, the second tallest remaining windmill in the UK! Built in 1814, Union Mill still grinds flour for sale to the public, with small exhibition and tour inclusive. Union Mill is open from March over the Summer months and is just one of a scattering of surviving windmills within Kent. Union Mill is one of the best preserved, and huge - not to be missed on the Kent History trail. Tel. 01580-712984 or 712256.

Just a short walk from Cranbrook's High Street sits the town's local history museum with its particular focus on the agricultural history of the area, plus exhibits on the Cranbrook school of artists who settled here. Boosted by the volunteer Cranbrook Local History Society, the archive and artefacts on display here pertaining to rural industry and agricultural history give a detailed insight into Cranbrook town. Cranbrook seems to have started life in the Roman period on the back of iron ore deposits discovered in the area. Mining of these rich iron ore deposits triggered off settlement. The Kent Weald's links with iron deposits emerge in all sorts of interesting areas, including in the cool iron rich waters of the Tunbridge Wells Chalybeate Spring discovered by Dudley Lord North in 1606 which then sparked the boom of Royal Tunbridge Wells as spa town resort of choice during the Georgian period.

Cranbrook also offers a superb choice of fine restaurants, Kent country pubs, cafes and tearooms alongside some delightful arts and crafts shops, art galleries, deli specialist food shops and select clothing shops. For full listings of shops, restaurants and pubs see the comprehensive Cranbrook town webguide right. Cranbrook Farmers Market takes place monthly at Vestry Hall on Stone Street from 9.00am-12.00pm on the fourth Saturday each month.

Cranbrook Museum, Carriers Road, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 3JX. Tel. 01580 712516. Open April to October. Tuesday to Saturday from 2.00pm to 4.30pm, and Public Holidays. Parking opposite, small admission charge. Disabled access on ground floor.

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Scotney Castle Garden

West of Cranbrook sits another of the Weald's Seven Wonders (see Weald Seven Wonders webguide right), Scotney Castle Gardens. This Victorian country house garden come ruined 14th century castle site boasts particularly romantic Kent gardens. The site is extensive and includes the Old Castle surrounded by water moat, a Boat House, a beautifully set Henry Moore Sculpture, the Walled and Quarry Gardens and the main house and stable block.

A feature highlight here at Scotney is the thatched ice house! One of Scotney's distinctive round towers (much like those at nearby Bodiam Castle in Sussex) dates from the 1300s. Note too the dinosaur footprint in the Quarry Garden! Read a full history of Scotney Garden in the hands of the Hussey family from the 18th century onwards via the National Trust Scotney webguide right. Guided tours by arrangement, NT shop and excellent family facilities are on-site including a children's trail, baby-changing facilities and extensive lawn picnic areas.

Scotney Castle & Gardens, Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 8JN.Tel. 01892 893820.

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Kent Weald Gardens Pinetums & Groombridge Lamberhurst Vineyards

If you're looking to explore the essence of the Kent Weald's many gardens and forestested area, then basing yourself in or around Royal Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook and charming village Lamberhurst is a good idea. A huge number of Kent gardens and forested areas of national importance are in the area, with more gardens afoot just over the Kent/Sussex Border. Popular garden choices include Groombridge Place with its enchanted forest and gardens, Marle Place Gardens and the Bedgebury Pinetum, one of the 7 Wonders of the Kent Weald (see 7 Wonders of the Weald webguide right for details).

Parts of Groombridge, south west of Tunbridge Wells, have recently featured in a new film adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'. Groombridge combines traditional heritage gardens with ancient woodland to great effect. The formal gardens date from the 17th century and remained open only to the select few for around 300 years! Twentieth century additions included the Knot Garden and White Garden. The Drunken Garden was a favourite of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who visited Groombridge often. He used Groombridge for The Valley of Fear, called Birlstone Manor in the novel.

Groombridge is just 4 miles to the south west of Tunbridge Wells. Groombridge, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 9QG. Tel. 01892 861 444. Open daily from 31st March to beginning of November. Check the Groombridge webguide for directions and opening times.

Another stunning Kent Weald garden in the area, east of Tunbridge Wells, is Marle Place Gardens and Wood. Covering 10 acres, Marle Place features a Victorian Gazebo and delightful Edwardian rock garden. Marle Place Gardens, Brenchley, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 7HS. Tel. 01892 722304. See also the webguides right for nearby Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent's finest forest area consisting of rare pines and conifers - walking, cycling and birdwatching are all popular here. See also webgides for Bewl Water, a huge reservoir south of pretty Lamberhurst village. Watersports, especially sailing, and fly fishing are popular at Bewl. Other attractions nearby include the historic remains of old Bayham Abbey dating from between the 13th and 15th centuries, and another of the 7 wonders of the Weald - Lamberhurst Vineyards.

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