B U S S F A R M, B E T H E R S D E N, A S H F O R D, K E N T T N E Q T E L E P H O N E

Transcription

1 Darling Buds Farm BUSS FARM, BETHERSDEN, ASHFORD, KENT TN26 3EQ TELEPHONE: Self catering accommodation on the actual farm used as the Larkin s home in ITV s 'The Darling Buds Farm'

2 THURROCK GREATER LONDON BLUEWATER PAGE 16 GRAVESEND PAGE 20 DICKENS WORLD ROCHESTER PAGE 26 PAGE 25 DOWN HOUSE THE HOME OF CHARLES DARWIN KENT THE HOP FARM FAMILY PARK PAGE 13 SURREY TUNBRIDGE WELLS PAGE 26 FINCHCOCKS MUSIC MUSEUM Bodiam Castle PAGE 18 T 2

3 Margate PAGE 20 Whitstable PAGE 7 WESTWOOD CROSS WILDWOOD WOODLAND AND WILD ANIMAL PARK LEEDS CASTLE CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL PAGE 27 WINGHAM RINGLEMERE BARROW WILDLIFE PARK CANTERBURY TALES PAGE 27 PAGE 14 PAGE 13 HOWLETT S WILD ANIMAL PARK ASHFORD TOWN CENTRE & DESIGNER OUTLET PAGE 16 BUSS FARM enterden PAGE 9 PAGE 5 THE RARE BREEDS CENTRE PAGE 10 Sissinghurst Castle PAGE 18 PORT LYMPNE WILD ANIMAL PARK PAGE 12 FOLKESTONE TOWN CENTRE DOVER CASTLE PAGE 27 THE CHAPEL DOWN WINEREY PAGE 11 Dymchurch CAMBER SANDS PAGE 7 3

4 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination The place to be 4

5 Remember the Darling Buds of May? Of course you do, so take this amazing opportunity to come and stay at Buss Farm, located in a serene rural area of Kent the idyllic former home of the Larkin family, the stars of the famous ITV series and where it all began for Catherine Zeta Jones. Pop Larkin aka David Jason would have loved you to pop in to his four-bedroom farmhouse, set in 20 acres of English countryside, for a cup of tea and a chat. The farm is located 1.5 miles from Bethersden, Kent a beautiful village which has all the usual local facilities including a post office, shops, village inns and a church. Experience the good life for a few relaxing days and enjoy the farmhouse with its fantastic oak beams, inglenook fireplace and Japanese oak floor. The hallway is fitted with traditional brick flooring, which leads you into the fully equipped farmhouse kitchen, to enjoy a leisurely holiday fry up, just like Ma Larkin used to rustle up! The large brick inglenook fireplace with its wood burning stove gives the kitchen a cosy feel and is perfect to keep you warm on those colder days. Gather round the table as a family and take the time to catch up over dinner. During the day take advantage of the garden and grounds. There is plenty of parking available and a grassland and paddock area to play ball games or maybe a game of cricket or rounders? The mature trees and hedging afford you the privacy you require to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. However, although you won t want to leave the farm it would be a shame not to visit some of the many local tourist attractions and spend quality time experiencing some of the delights that Kent has to offer with your family and friends. Staying at the Darling Buds Farm is great for many reasons but in terms of area it couldn t be better placed. The location is great because you can easily visit all the sights of London as it is only 38 minutes away, by Ashford s high speed javelin train service, making it ideal if you want to sightsee or even catch a West End Show in the evening. On the other hand it makes a great base to enjoy the very best of the English seaside or explore the Darling Buds of May countryside, picturesque villages, gardens, and steam railways not to mention a host of family friendly attractions. If you are feeling particularly adventurous why not take a day trip to Paris, Brussels or Lille as they are only a couple of hours away by Eurostar, oh là là! A few of the more noteworthy attractions are listed here to give you a head start, happy holidays! 5

6 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination Beaches 6

7 Camber Sands Sat Nav: TN31 7RR What would a holiday be without a great sandy beach to visit? Well, you have just found 5 miles of golden sandy beach. This is the perfect destination for children of all ages to bring their buckets and spades and enjoy all that the South Coast has to offer. If you enjoy your sports then visit The Kitesurf Centre and take a class in kite surfing or maybe you just prefer to take a stroll along the miles of beach or for dog walkers it is the ideal destination to give you both some exercise. If you are lucky you might even catch one of the legendary sunsets, especially in the Spring and Autumn. Camber Sands is also well known for its interesting wildlife and picturesque sand dunes, great fun for the children to slide down! However, aside from all the traditional aspects of the beach, Camber Sands also has plenty of vegetation and wildlife to see and if you still aren t tempted to visit then consider that it must be a great place to visit as Paul McCartney and his band Wings filmed a music video here in 1979 for their Back to the Egg album track Baby s Request. Carry on Follow that Camel was filmed there, as were episodes of Doctor Who! Whitstable Sat Nav: CT5 1FB Take the time out to visit the traditional seaside town of Whitstable with its strong arts culture and rich maritime history. Whitstable is a town like no other it has a certain intimacy about it, a rich character and a bountiful choice of cafes, restaurants and pubs, including one on the beach. Whitstable is famed for its oysters and every July they are celebrated at the Oyster Festival. The town has many independent craft and gift shops, galleries and delicatessens and an amble through the quiet lanes and alleyways is an ideal way to relax and enjoy the sights. Whitstable boasts its own working harbour and there is much to learn (if you are so inclined!) about its interesting history of diving, shipbuilding and fishing. Whitstable has a network of alleyways, which used to serve as an ideal escape route for smugglers in the late 1700s, be sure to check out Squeeze Gut Alley! If cycling is your thing, then head to Kent Cycle Hire at 61 Harbour Street Whitstable CT5 1AG com. They offer daily or weekly hire of bicycles, tandems, tag-alongs and child trailers to enable easy exploration of the town and the Whitstable coastline. 7

8 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination Amazing places 8

9 Tenterden - The Jewel In The Weald Sat Nav: TN30 6AU This charming town has an extensive range of independent shops, with a back in time feel about it. It is a great place to visit for interesting gifts, crafts books, clothes and antiques. Tenterden Golf Club Sat Nav: TN30 7DR The golf club has spectacular views over the Weald of Kent. A challenging course, which is meticulously maintained and a warm welcome is always extended to visiting individuals and societies. London Beach Golf Course Sat Nav: TN30 6HX Open to the public, this beautiful parkland course has a full range of golfing facilities, in addition to the golf course; there is a pitch and putt course, a chipping area and driving range. The course is open to all ages and abilities and has a restaurant open between 7-10pm. Kent and East Sussex Railway Sat Nav: TN30 6HE (Tenterden Station Free Parking) TN31 6QT Northiam Station The Kent & East Sussex Railway is one of the country s finest examples of a rural light railway. Relax and enjoy the picturesque Weald countryside and the tranquillity of the Rother Valley as you meander along ten and a half miles of unspoilt countryside terminating within a stones throw of the magnificent National Trust castle at Bodiam. The railway has been the location used in a long list of film and television productions, including the Darling Buds of May, Jude (1996) directed by Michael Winterbottom, Dracula (1973) directed by Dan Curtis, Downton Abbey in 2010, and Dempsey and Makepeace in Not to mention James May s Man Lab in August 2012, the children s show I can cook, Trinny and Susannah, the Paul O Grady Show, Challenge Anneka, the BBC One Show and Countryfile. The list is endless and full credits are available at the website. The Kent & East Sussex railway was also featured at number 6 of the top 50 British experiences not to miss out on, so put it on your to visit list! 9

10 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination The Stour Centre centres/e/the-stour-centre Sat Nav: TN23 1ET So if the weather isn t great why not head down to this modern leisure facility, which has three pools including two flumes and a raging river. The kids will love it! The centre is also home to a large gym with over 90 stations and a health spa to relax and indulge yourself. Maybe you fancy a game of squash or badminton then make use of their courts and with a café and crèche available the whole family are catered for! Rare Breeds Centre Sat Nav: TN26 3RJ Approx Journey Time: 15 minutes A great family day out is to be had at the Rare Breeds Centre in Kent. Set in 100 acres of beautiful countryside, there are lots of animals to meet, touch and stroke, falconry displays and even pig racing. The children are well catered for as there are two huge play parks, a tube maze and a lovely woodland walk. There is also an indoor soft play barn for when the weather is not great. The adults can browse their Rainbow Nursery shop where plants and produce grown on the farm can be purchased. Grab a bite to eat in the reasonably priced large restaurant, which offers hot meals and caters for children and if you are visiting on a Sunday from pm why not sit down and enjoy a carvery, you can still eat in the restaurant even if you are not visiting the farm. 10

11 The Mill Toy & Pedal Car Museum Sat Nav: TN31 6QT Another hidden treasure in Kent and a Guinness World Records 2014 entry, the Mill Toy & Pedal Car Museum houses a unique and privately owned collection of collectables and nostalgic pedal-powered toys. Some of the exhibits date from Victorian times and the collection will appeal to visitors of all ages and will give every visitor a unique trip down memory lane. Take time to refuel at the Mill tea rooms, which provide a good choice of hot and cold drinks and lovely homemade cakes. The Mill overlooks the Kent and East Sussex Railway and if you visit the railway you will receive a 1 discount per person on your entry to the Mill. Combine the two for a great day out! The Chapel Down Winery Sat Nav: TN30 7NG Approx Journey Time: 20 minutes This is the home of England s leading wine producer. The Chapel Down Winery is located near pretty Wealden in Tenterden. It was designed and built by local artists who used materials that are used during the winemaking process to set up a landscaped ground. The Chapel down Winery includes over 22 acres of vineyard that gives English wine a place to call home. Discover the award winning wines, enjoy the restaurant, herb garden and vineyard walks and the seasonal guided tours give you the opportunity to taste and learn how they grow the vines and make the wines. Maybe you will pick up a few tips and be sure to grab a bottle to enjoy when you get back to the farm! 11

12 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination Parks Port Lympne Animal Park Sat Nav: CT21 4PD Port Lympne Animal Park is set in around 600 acres and bought in 1973 to solve the lack of space at Howletts Wild Animal Park. It is one of the largest animal parks in the UK with plenty of wild space for the animals to roam. The park is well known throughout the UK and the EU for its high standards of animal welfare, the park focuses on endangered species and breeding programmes and this sets it apart from conventional zoos. The park has stunning views and scenery and you could almost think you were in Africa! See at close hand, elephants, giraffes, lions, tigers, monkeys and much more. There is also an opportunity to book a number of experiences, for example short animal encounters to a full day wildlife photography course, or for children the opportunity to be a Junior Ranger for the day. See the website for more details and to book. The staff are friendly and informed and for no extra cost you can experience a safari ride around the park. A fantastic day out for all the family, plenty to see and do, plenty of car parking and good food available at the cafes. Don't miss it! 12

13 The Hop Farm Family Park Sat Nav: TN12 6PY A great day out for families, especially with children under 11 years old. The park has its own outdoor adventure play area, full of slides, bridges etc and also check out the 4D pirate themed cinema and the Hoppers Café and Play, a wonderful indoor soft play area which is ideal for the younger children. Don t miss out on the giant jumping pillows, suitable for all ages, everyone will love them. There is also trick photography in the Magic Castle, not to mention the interactive Hop Story Museum. If you love animals check out the Animal farm with ponies, goats, guinea pigs, llamas and much more. Wingham Wildlife Park Sat Nav: CT3 1JL (Please note: when it asks you to turn off the A257 and on to Rusham Road, please stay on the A257 to find the car park the Sat Nav will often try to take you to the front door!) Visit Kent s fastest growing zoo holding more species than any other zoo in Kent, including Big Cats, Reptiles, Penguins and Primates. The family can also enjoy the play areas, which feature a construction zone (with giant Lego), a toddler area (for under 3s with rockers and a ball pit), a main play frame (3 storeys of padded platforms, slides, bridges and a giant Lions head!) mini diggers and go-karts. A penguin pool was introduced to the park, in the year 2010 which houses a number of Humboldt Penguins. The area has several caves providing a beach like feature and there is a glass viewing area at the deepest part of the pool and a high raised walking path at the shallow end. Hands on encounters, museum exhibits and beautiful picnic locations make this a truly great day out for the family. 13

14 Howlett s Wild Animal Park Sat Nav: CT4 5AE Howlett s Wild Animal Park; a unique animal home in Kent, located near Canterbury. The park was established in 1957 by John Aspinall. John Aspinall had a strong love for animals and he dedicated most of his life to fighting for the endangered species. The park was officially opened to the public in All the zoos opened by Aspinall are known for their unorthodox handling of animals as John advocated for a close relationship between human beings and animals. After his death in 2000, the zoos have found a common national management system. This is one of the parks in the UK with the largest number of different species of gorilla. The park has been named as one of the largest gorilla breeding grounds across the world. 14 It is also the largest home for African elephants in the United Kingdom. Howlett s Walk With Lemurs exhibition is one of the interesting things this park is known for worldwide. The Black Rhino breeding sanctuary is another spectacular place in this park. It houses a variety of rhinos of different ages. John s park is also known as a home for different wild cats. The cats in Howlett s include Amur tiger, Sumatran tiger, Bengal tiger, Clouded leopard, Serval, Ocelot, Pallas cat, Siberian lynx, and Fishing cat. Howlett s Wild Animal Park is an excellent wildlife park and well worth visiting. The park is a great place for a family outing and has plenty of endangered species for viewing plus ample ground for children to play and adults to relax. Unlike many parks, Howlett s is clearly signed enabling visitors to easily find their way. Apart from the enjoyment, the park offers a good educational resource for students and researchers. The park also features good restaurants and refreshment sites.

15 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination Shopping 15

16 Bluewater Sat Nav: DA9 9ST Bluewater is Europe s largest indoor shopping centre. It is set off the M2 and M25, North East Kent. The venue is architecturally breath-taking and fantastically lit and has a large parking area at the upper and lower levels. Bluewater features many unusual and independent shops, stylists and beauty spas and has great restaurants and bars both inside and out. The spacious walkways are full of entertainment such as a cinema, a pirate cove adventure park and Sega XD 3d theatre. Ashford Designer Outlet ashford-designer-outlet/en Sat Nav: TN24 OSD Europe s most spectacular shopping destination which is not to be missed! Here you can shop at top fashion stores such as Nike Factory Store, French Connection, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ralph Lauren, Superdry, Ted Baker, with up to 60% discount off high street prices. Ashford Designer Outlet also offers great entertainment with year-round live music performances. Take time out from the shopping at the food court and entertain the children at the play area and with ample parking available there is no reason not to visit. 16

17 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination National Trust properties 17

18 Sissinghurst Castle Sat Nav: TN17 2AB Sissinghurst Castle has had a diverse history, in the 1700 s it served as a prison and in later years became a home to the women s land army as well as being a family home to a number of fascinating people who either lived there or came to stay. With 450 acres to explore there is something for everyone in your family. You can borrow binoculars from the Visitor reception and stop off at the bird hide or in the summer months borrow an outdoor game to play in the fresh air. Why not bring your four-legged friend with you and enjoy some of the fantastic walks around the estate? During your visit be sure to visit the new look café and have a lunch prepared from the seasonally changing menu, with meat from the on site farmer and vegetables from their organically-managed vegetable plot. Bodiam Castle Sat Nav: TN32 5UA Take time out to visit this Archetypal 14th-century moated fairytale castle. This castle is one of Britain s most romantic and picturesque, with spiral staircases, battlements and a portcullis. Windows where arrows were once fired, a tower that was once a look-out and ruins that were once walked upon by knights, visit a place where you can relive your childhood memories and let your imagination run riot! The castle s original portcullis is still in place and an extremely rare example of its kind and you can still gain an impression of castle life as enough of the interior still remains intact. The children will enjoy the gruesome and surprising tales that are often told by the miller s wife, forester and other colourful characters from the past. Don t forget to visit the tea room and gift shop and check out the website for plenty of events throughout the year. 18

19 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination More places to see 19

20 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination Turner Contemporary Arts Centre Margate Sat Nav: CT9 1HG The Turner Contemporary is a gallery in Margate, delivering world-class exhibitions of contemporary and historical art, events and activities. Admission is free and they are open every day except Mondays, although they make an exception for Bank Holidays. The gallery is in an amazing location and the views from the windows are stunning and that is aside from the artwork! Take a stroll around this beautiful space with lots of polished concrete with faded white wash to the floors, stairs and balistrades. Free talks are often given to explain the background to the paintings and you can enjoy refreshments in the café. Cyclopark (Gravesend) Sat Nav: DA11 7NP This is a fantastic leisure facility designed for all ages. It has several different cycle routes, a skate park and great play parks. Get some exercise and enjoy first class cycling, running and extreme sports at Kent s newest activity place. The home of a fantastic 330 metre first class race track, it is a great place to go especially with the children as it is a safe environment to cycle in, it has a great little café and a nice road circuit and off road circuit. However, if you want to take a more energetic bike ride then you can also do this. Scooters, skateboarders, BMX riders, mountain bikes are all to be seen here. Don t miss out on a fantastic day out and cycle hire is available too. 20

21 Kent Life Centre (Aylesford) Sat Nav: ME14 3AU A great day out in Kent for all the family, giving you the opportunity to explore 28 acres of fun from hands on activities children to a look back at old farming traditions to entertain the older children and adults. Animals to cuddle, tractors to ride, play areas to let off steam and fascinating historic buildings to explore, it is well worth a visit. Even if it is wet and windy there is still plenty to do and there is also a lovely tea shop. Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway Sat Nav: TN28 8PL One of Kent s top tourist attractions with visitors from around the globe coming to see the one third full size Steam and Diesel locomotives, known as Kent s mainline in miniature. Visit the old-fashioned station and ticket office and then climb on board either a steam locomotive or diesel train as it takes you through the fields and behind the houses for a nostalgic ride. If you re hungry make sure you check out the fish and chips at the station restaurant at Dungeness. 21

22 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination Watersports 22

23 Leybourne Lake Watersports Centre Sat Nav: ME20 6JA If you love watersports then visit this 30 acre inland freshwater lake where you can enjoy many different watersports, including windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing, dinghy sailing, scuba diving and open water swimming. 23

24 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination Places of interest Canterbury Cathedral Sat Nav: CT1 2EH Canterbury Cathedral has been an iconic attraction in Kent since the Middle Ages. It is among the most visited places in Kent. Visitors are always welcomed warmly to the old tradition of Benedictine hospitality. This Cathedral is one of the greatest and holy places in Christendom. So there you go, there is something for everyone in Kent, don t miss out and make sure you book your holiday at the Darling Buds farm today! Leeds Castle Sat Nav: ME17 1PL The Loveliest Castle in the World Visitors never forget their first breath-taking vision of Leeds Castle in Kent, rising majestically from the moat as it has done for over 900 years. With 500 acres of beautiful parkland and formal gardens, daily events and year round attractions, it s not just the glorious history of Leeds Castle that will ensure you want to come back time and again. 24

25 Diggerland Sat Nav: ME2 2NU Get a full days entertainment at Diggerland for the whole family to enjoy. An adventure park where the children and the adults can get to drive real diggers and cars. Lots of rides to enjoy and an indoor soft play area with tables inside and out where you can eat your own picnic but if you haven t brought your own then check out the restaurant with a variety of food available at reasonable prices. Best for children over 90 cm because otherwise they can t ride on many of the attractions. Friendly staff and an overall great day out. Dickens World Sat Nav: ME4 4LL Dickens World The Grand Tour is a new totally immersive, live Grand Tour recreating a fantastical Dickensian World. The tour which will take you back to the Victorian times which Charles Dickens so famously depicts in his short stories and novels. The tours are professional and feature performing arts that trigger discovery and bring forth colourful and affecting characters. The tour begins at the Peggotty s Boathouse, featured in the novel David Copperfield. The boathouse offers a great chance to concentrate on the sounds and sights of Victorian England. With the help of your tour guide, you can walk across the bridge and explore the Collards greengrocers. At the grocers, you learn how different social classes used to associate with one another in Victorian England. A truly magical experience which is very reasonably priced, educational and the attraction is surrounded by a good few shops to browse and plenty of places to eat so you can make a day of it. If you are there on a Sunday, be sure to pop next door to Porters Bar for a great Sunday carvery. 25

26 Buss Farm A Perfick Holiday Destination Rochester Sat Nav: ME1 1SX The historic city of Rochester features a good and historic old fashioned shopping experience, within a city with a rich medieval heritage. Rochester has managed to hold onto its heritage by keeping the developers at bay, and is well known for its absence of high street names. The city of Rochester is a great place to explore with numerous independent hostelries and shops such as antique shops, old bookshops and clothing boutiques. The city is home to a number of important historic buildings, the most prominent being the Guildhall, the Corn Exchange, Restoration House, Eastgate House, Rochester Castle and Rochester Cathedral. The city was for many years the favourite of Charles Dickens, who lived nearby at Gads Hill Place and who based many of his novels in the area and descriptions of the town appear in Pickwick Papers an Great Expectations. 26 Royal Tunbridge Wells Sat Nav: TN1 1XF Tunbridge Wells offers shoppers a historic Victorian feel offering some unique and exciting places to visit such as The Pantiles with its famous columned walkways and featuring antiques, bookshops, and boutiques. Another great area is the Old High Street, which is full of character and has a unique range of independent shops with Victorian frontages. Lastly there is the Royal Victoria Place which is an under-cover shopping centre featuring more than 100 high street names all under one roof. Visitors to Tunbridge Wells town centre are also spoiled for choice with an elegant selection of restaurants, cafes and bars.

27 Dover Castle dover-castle Sat Nav: CT16 1HU Dover castle is an ideal location for a family day out and arguably one of the best castles in England. This is a fantastic attraction and there is so much history to absorb and things to see. You want to allow for a full day here to really appreciate what is on offer. The castle offers numerous activities such as reconstruction of Dunkirk and exploration of the war tunnels. The castle is located above the White Cliffs of Dover, and has guarded the shore against immersion for over 20 centuries. Visit the great restaurants, or hunt out the ghosts, or just enjoy the shops and space for children to run around and play. A great day out with your family and friends is assured. Canterbury Tales Sat Nav: CT1 2TG Canterbury Tales is another iconic attraction of Kent and a visit to Canterbury is not complete without experiencing Chaucer s famous tales of medieval misadventures at one of the City s most loved visitor attractions. Experience the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era in this fabulous recreation of medieval life. You will meet a number of costumed guides and you will have an audio guide to hear 5 of Chaucer s, most famous tales. There is even a special version for children. As you end the journey of tales, visit the beautiful reconstruction of the St Thomas Becket shrine located in Canterbury Cathedral. Canterbury s location has made it an iconic attraction site for tourists and pilgrims alike. 27

28 c i f r e P k