Читать книгу Walking in Kent. 40 circular short walks and day walks онлайн

29 страница из 58

Apart from the pleasures of the North Downs, there are many other features to this walk. First, a riverside stroll with views across a man-made lake to the Tudor manor house of Lullingstone Castle, then an opportunity to make a short diversion to inspect the remains of a Roman villa. There are handsome farmhouses and flint-walled cottages, an imposing mansion set in neat lawns, and a rather striking viaduct marching across the valley. Near the end of the walk, Shoreham has lots of interest and attractive scenes at almost every turn.

From the visitor centre entrance take the very pleasant streamside path among trees, with the Darent on your right. Beyond the stream can be seen an extensive lake that extends as far as the red-brick mansion of Lullingstone Castle.

Lullingstone Castle is a Tudor mansion with a red brick Queen Anne facade set within 120 acres of countryside. Home to the same family since 1497, it has a 15-acre lake and the UK’s first World Garden of Plants created by plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke. The house and gardens are open to the public on set days between April and September. For information see www.lullingstonecastle.co.uk.