Springtime Saunter to Sissinghurst
24 people attending
1 place left
After setting off from Staplehurst station we’ll make our way southwards on this V-shaped (yep, V for Vita) route via Staplehurst Manor, Maplehurst Wood, and the village of Frittenden. At this time of year the woods will be bursting with wood anemones and emerging bluebells.
We’ll break for lunch at Sissinghurst Castle, the former home of Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson. Now owned by the National Trust, the property has recently undergone extensive conservation work.
After taking a generous loop around the estate we’ll make our way northwards along lanes, across farmland, and the River Beult, a tributary of the River Medway, towards the handsome village of Headcorn. The George and Dragon pub is en route to Headcorn railway station and will provide an ideal opportunity to shake off our thirst.
Please note that we will not be entering the formal gardens or the buildings of Sissinghurst.
Image Credits: Oast Houses, Sissinghurst Castle by Poliphilo (Own work) (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons; Sissinghurst Tower, Sissinghurst Moat, and Sissinghurst Entrance by smudge9000; George and Dragon - Headcorn, Kent by Brian Chadwick are licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0; Bluebells & Anemones by event leader.
What to bring
Water: bring at least a litre
Medicines: if you have hay fever, diabetes, minor ailments etc.
Rucksack: or any other bag
Footwear: hiking boots, sturdy trainers or wellies
Layered clothing: lets you quickly adapt to changes in the weather and body temperature. Go for a base layer (vest or t-shirt) and a mid layer (a micro fleece or shirt) and in cooler weather add an outer layer (a windproof jacket or thick fleece)
Trousers: ideally not jeans which become heavy and cold in the rain, breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry and on warm days shorts are OK
Waterproof jacket: breathable fabrics are more comfortable and dry
Hat or cap: stay warm in winter and shaded in summer
Sunglasses: for any sunny day, even in winter
Sun cream: can be useful even on cloudy and winter days
Snacks: bring biscuits, energy bars, gels, bananas, chocolate or dried fruit for example and put them somewhere easy to get hold of
Lunch: bring a packed lunch unless otherwise stated
Food & drink
You will need a packed lunch, and plenty of water and snacks to see you through the day. We will stop for a picnic lunch at a suitably scenic spot; for your own comfort you may wish to bring something to sit on.