LOCAL TOWNS
Marden – Closest village 10 minutes away
Cranbrook – Historic Wealden town (10 miles away)
Tenterden – (15 miles away) is also known as the Jewel in the Weald. This pretty market town has a good selection of shops and weekly farmers’ market
Rye – Ancient town with cobbled, narrow, winding streets, antique shops, various festivals and excellent restaurants
Tunbridge Wells – Spa town (15 miles away)
Hastings – an interesting town full of maritime history
Whitstable – an hour away, a charming place to visit with its famous restaurants.
Canterbury – also an hour away, full of heritage and history
Battle – See where the Battle of Hastings is reputed to have taken place
WHERE TO EXPLORE
Battle of Britain Memorial – Dover
Big Cat Sanctuary, Wildlife Heritage Foundation – Smarden
Bodiam Castle – 14th Century moated castle
Buttercups Goat Sanctuary – Boughton Monchelsea
Canterbury – Ancient Historic City & Cathedral
Dover Castle – Historic Castle and Secret Wartime Tunnels
Hever Castle – Castle and extensive gardens
Kent & East Sussex Railway (runs from Tenterden to Bodiam)
Leeds Castle – Castle, Garden and other attractions
Port Lympne Animal Park – Wild Animal Experience
Rare Breeds Centre – Woodchurch
Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway
Smallhythe Place – National Trust – Ellen Terry’s early 16th-century house and cottage gardens
WHERE TO EAT & DRINK
Biddenden – Three Chimneys, West House
Bodiam – The Curlew
Boughton Monchelsea – The Cock Inn
Cranbrook – The George, The Wendy House, Arthurs
East Farleigh – The Horseshoes
Frittenden – Bell & Jorrocks
Goudhurst – Goudhurst Inn, The Vine
Hawkhurst – Great House, Queen’s Inn
Iden Green – The Woodcock
Kilndown – The Small Holding
Langley – The Potting Shed
Linton – The Bull
Loddington – The Musket Brewery
Loose – The Chequers Inn
Maidstone – Maidstone Distillery
Marden – The Stilebridge
Rolvenden – The Bull
Sissinghurst – The Milk House
Staplehurst – Frankie’s Farmshop, The Lord Raglan
West Farleigh – The Tickled Trout
NATURE & OUTDOORS
Bedgebury Pinetum – Cycling, Forest Walks with Children’s Play areas, “Go Ape” Tree Adventures
Bewl Water – Watersports, outdoor activities and fishing
Buckmore Park
Digger Land
Golf – Chart Hills and Tenterden Golf Club
Kent Downs AONB
Monk Fishing Lakes – Marden
Mote Park
Riding – Bedgebury Park
The Hop Farm
TAKE AWAYS
Chinese: The Fat Dragon, Park Wood
Fish & Chips: A&Z Fisheries, Loose and The Heath Fish, Coxheath
Indian: Zarda Cottage, Yalding
Marden Tandoori, Taj of Kent Marden, Jumeira, Staplehurst
FARM SHOPS
Cranbrook – Cranbrook Farm Shop, Hartley Dyke
Goudhurst – Lower Ladysden Farm & PYO
Loddington – Loddington Farm Shop
Marden – Marden Farm Shop
Staplehurst – Frankie’s Farm Shop & Nursery
SEASIDE
There are a number of excellent sandy beaches in this part of Kent as well as numerous water sports available near to Camber Sands, a few miles from Rye.
GARDENS TO VISIT
Great Dixter House & Gardens – Northiam
Hole Park Gardens – Rolvenden
Pashley Manor Gardens – Ticehurst
Penshurst Place – Penshurst
Scotney Castle – National Trust, Lamberhurst
Sissinghurst Castle and Gardens – National Trust, Sissinghurst