Places to Visit and Things to Do
Walking and cycling: The Weald is laced with wonderful walks and cycle routes. The Greensand Way is literally on the doorstep (the Cottage sits on the route). The North Downs Way and the Pilgrims Way are within easy reach. OS maps of the area are available to you as well as our local knowledge. Bike storage is also available.
Flying, parachuting and plane watching at Headcorn aerodrome. Come and watch the planes takeoff and maybe book a flight in a Tiger Moth, take a flying lesson or parachute jump whilst you are staying with us. Balloon flights are also available at Leeds Castle, just ten minutes away.
Wine tasting at the nearby Chapel Down Winery and Biddenden Vineyard. Lamberhurst Vineyard is also closeby at Tunbridge Wells.
Fine dining at The West House in Biddenden, the Michelin starred restaurant where Graham Garrett does the cooking. Only a short drive from Cottage, why not include it in your special weekend away?
Golfing: The Weald of Kent Golf Course is 5 minutes away whilst the world renowned Chart Hills Golf Course, designed by Nick Faldo and where the Ladies English Open Championship was hosted from 2004 to 2007, is down the road at Biddenden.
National Trust and other Properties and Gardens: The area has many beautiful historic houses and gardens to visit. Leeds Castle is only 10 minutes away, whilst wonderful Ightam Mote, Chartwell, Batemans (home of Rudyard Kipling), Canterbury and its Cathedral, Bodiam Castle, Smallhythe Place and Knole, to mention only a few, are all with easy reach of Chart Hill Cottage as are the gardens of Hole Park, Sissinghurst and Great Dixter.
Coast: If you feel like a trip to the coast it can be reached in less than an hour. You will see working fishing boats and kite surfing at Hythe; fishermen, lighthouses and steam trains at Dungeness Point; wide sandy beaches and dunes at Camber Sands.
Romney Marsh is within easy reach and can be enjoyed on foot, by bicycle or a leisurely drive. It is an alluring place.
Driving Tours: Kent and East Sussex provide you with beautiful views and routes to enjoy by car. You can decide to follow official routes such as the High Weald Tour or make up your own as the mood takes you. You might want to combine a morning in the countryside with an afternoon in one of the many nearby historic towns and villages such as Smarden, Chilham, Tenterden, Canterbury, Tunbridge Wells and Rye.
London: If you feel like a day in the city, London is within easy reach by train or car.
France: Why not sample the cheeses and wines of France whilst here? The Channel Tunnel and Channel Ports are within easy reach for a day trip to France.
