Places of Interest

Ashford - The International station offers a 2 hour journey to and from Paris. Brussels can be reached in 1¾ hours.

Canterbury - Contains England's premier Cathedral founded by St. Augustine in 597. Nearby is St. Martins, perhaps the oldest parish church in England and associated with King Ethelred and Queen Etheldreda. Two impressive statues commemorate this at Lady Wootton's Green.

Dover - This is the traditional gateway to Europe nowadays by Ferry and Sea Cat. It also has Roman remains and an impressive castle. We especially commend to our visitors the 'Dover Boat', the oldest known seagoing vessel in the world and beautifully displayed in Dover Museum.

Dungeness - This tongue of gravel pointing into the English Channel is premier bird watching territory and a 'must' for 'twitchers'.

Dymchurch - (with Hythe and New Romney) are connected by the light railway, an enchanting feature of east Kent.

Folkestone - This is the station for 'Le Shuttle' taking cars under the sea to and from Calais.

Leeds Castle - Built originally by Robert de Crèvecoeur about 1119, significantly altered by Edward I and again later, by Edward II and by Henry VIII, it is said to be the most beautiful castle in the world.

Rye - Once a seaport is now a mile inland through costal change. Associated with smugglers in years gone by it is famous for the Mermaid Inn and various literary associations.

Nearby is Winchelsea where John Wesley preached his last outdoor sermon. A tree marks the spot.

Samphire Hoe - This new part of England made from spoil from the Channel Tunnel and now a nature reserve. It is located between Dover and Folkestone.

Sissinghurst - Made famous by Vita Sackville-West it contains probably England's most famous garden. Her husband, Harold Nicholson, was secretary to Winston Churchill.

Wye - Apart from the College, the village is famous for Wye Crown, cut into a chalk hillside in 1902 and visible many miles away. Below the Crown is an outdoor theatre derived from a chalk quarry and devised to bring together both ecology and drama.

Walks in Kent - Since Geoffrey Chaucer immortalised the idea of walking to Canterbury, several new routes have been added recently. Walks that pass through Wye include the North Downs Way and the Stour Valley Walk. Other walks in East Kent are the Elham Valley Way, Greenward Way, High Weald Landscape Trail, Royal Military Canal and Saxon Shore Way.