6 day tour of Kent

What’s on : Activities

13 Sep

Activities

Date: 13 Sep 2015
Start time: 8:00 AM
Venue
Speaker: N/A

Event Information

£415 per person couples, £ 100 single supplement

The proximity of Kents long coastline to the Continent and its natural waterway into the Capital via the river Thames has given it a long and varied history and shaped its landscape; from a Bridgehead into Britain at Richborough (Rutupiae) for the Romans, through other invasions including the threat of invasion by Napoleon, and more recently to the threat of a German invasion during WW2. The gentle rolling countryside of the Weald has a softer side though and became noted for fruit growing, gardens, and at one time for hops (alas no more), and featuring an increasing number of vineyards, while the sheltered waters of the Thames estuary made it a natural location for a naval base. Kent was also at one time home to a coal mining industry, but the signs of this have now disappeared. The YPS tour will try to provide an eclectic flavour of some of these features.

Staying at the Great Danes Mercure Hotel on the outskirts of Maidstone, the provisional Itinerary is

Day 1

Leaving Memorial Gardens, Leeman Road, York at 8.00 a.m., we travel to Wimpole Hall Estate (NT) by coach with a short break en-route. The Estate comprises an imposing mansion with interior chapel, walled garden, unusual church, and home farm as well as extensive grounds. Listed in Domesday book 1086 and rebuilt 1650 the Hall was latterly lived in from 1938 by Captain George & Mrs Elsie Bambridge (daughter of Rudyard Kipling) who created dramatic interiors containing fine furniture, porcelain, pictures, and prints. Mrs Bambridge gave the Hall to the NT in 1976. Lunch may be bought in the café.

We then travel to one of the largest forts in Britain at Tilbury (EH), designed to protect London from Napoleonic invasions along the Thames. Leaving Tilbury we then continue to our hotel.

Day 2

A short drive to Upnor Castle (EH) on the bank of the river Medway and intended to guard the approach up the Medway towards the naval dockyards at Chatham. It was a dismal failure and the Dutch fleet sailed past it, destroyed many of the English fleet at anchor and sailed away with the English flagship! We then cross the Medway to the Historic Dockyard at Chatham where various ships can be toured and various nautical crafts related to shipbuilding and repairing can be visited, including a large ropeworks. Pepys was a frequent visitor.

A short journey then to adjoining Rochester for some free time for lunch, and the possibility of visiting the fine historic cathedral (Englands second oldest dating from 604), castle (EH), or Guildhall museum. Charles Dickens had a property at Gads Hill near Rochester and many places in north Kent form backdrops to his novels, including Restoration House in Rochester (inspiration for Miss Faversham’s House in Great Expectations). There is also a Dickens World themed experience in Chatham.

Our last visit of the day will be to Loddington fruit farm mostly orchards – where we should coincide with the apple harvest for a guided tour and simple tea, before travelling back to our nearby hotel. The hotel is only 1 mile from the adjacent picturesque Leeds Castle, so anyone not wishing to take part in the above Day 2 offering could possibly arrange their own day with a visit to the castle.

Day 3

A day near the capital. Firstly to the O2 (The Dome) to take an included high level return trip by cable car over the Thames, with extensive views of London and the Thames Barrage. We then make our way to Rangers House (EH) in Greenwich for a guided tour of the mouth-watering Wernher Collection amassed by a wealthy diamond merchant and one-time owner of Rangers House.

A short hop by coach then to Blackheath for free time for lunch and possible visits to The Greenwich Maritime Museum, Queens House, or Fan museum (all free), which are closely grouped and walkable.

Then it is back in the coach for a short ride to visit Eltham Palace (EH) a one-time Royal medieval moated manor house bought by the Courtauld family and turned into a wonderful Art Deco home. EH have recently opened up more of the property, including the secluded gardens, and it is now one of the showplaces of East London. A café is available.

Day 4

An hours drive to Quex Park one-time home of the Powell-Cotton family where we shall visit the Museum which houses the best dioramas in Britain of exotic wildlife displayed in appropriate settings. Quex House also has gardens, and there is a garden centre adjacent. Also a café.

From Quex we head back to Canterbury where the rest of the day is free to get lunch and explore this walkable city centre. Major attractions are the Cathedral (£), Beaney House of Art & Knowledge (free), Heritage Museum (£), Roman Museum (£), Canterbury Tales Experience (£), Freemasonry museum (free), or just wander the pleasant streets, walls, gardens, and castle ruins freely. A town centre map and list of attractions will be provided.

Day 5

Today we visit Lullingstone Castle, home to the adventurous plant hunter Tom Hart Dyke, for a guided tour of the unique World Garden he created. The tour will also include the estate church and the castle. Refreshments will be provided midway round, and there will be an included simple lunch at the end.

After lunch we move to adjacent Lullingstone Roman Villa to see its famous mosaics before moving on to the Grade 1 listed medieval moated manor house and garden at Ightham Mote, where a multimillion pound restoration is under way. On the return to the hotel we shall pass Kitts Coty, an impressive Megolithic dolmen, all that remains of an ancient long barrow.

Day 6

Leaving our hotel and setting off for home, our route will take us to the important Roman town of St. Albans where there will be free time to visit the cathedral and get refreshments. The coach will then take us across St. Albans centre to visit the Verulamium Roman museum and to see the Roman amphitheatre. Proceeding homewards again, we expect to arrive in York about 7.00 p.m. after a comfort stop en-route

General information

The tour includes comfortable coach travel, en-suite accommodation on a D B & B basis at 3* Great Danes hotel, all gratuities, and with meals and admissions at sites visited as shown, but importantly, does NOT include admission to National Trust (NT) or English Heritage (EH) sites as many group members already belong to these institutions and get free site admission.

For non-members of National Trust or English Heritage, the expected cumulative costs of Seniors admissions for this tour, assuming we qualify for group rates, are National Trust – £23.85, English Heritage – £24.08. You may therefore wish to consider taking out membership which in addition to reducing tour costs will allow further visits free of charge to other sites of your choice for at least a further year.

Current Senior membership rates are NT £60 single, £99 joint. EH £39 single, £60 joint

Alternative annual memberships having reciprocal rights (check!) with NT & EH are

National Trust for Scotland £39.50 single, £63.50 joint

Cadw £24 single, £42 joint

The websites of all the above often feature advantageous membership offers. The YPS does not act as an agent for any of the above bodies.

If you would like to join this tour, please complete the application form below and return it to me c/o the Lodge, preferably before the end of May, and including a deposit of £50/person, and a reasonably sized stamped addressed envelope (no church collection envelopes please yes, it really has happened!).

To download a copy of the form as a Word document, click here:-Tour to Kent (1)

To download the YPS booking terms and conditions, click here:-YPS booking t&c’s

Alan Owen

Tour Organiser

To Alan Owen, YPS, The Lodge, Museum Gardens, York YO1 7DR

Tour to Kent – 13 to 18 September 2015

Please reserve .. places for me / us on this tour in a Single / Twin / Double room (please circle)

A deposit of £. is enclosed (£50 / person. Cheques payable to Yorkshire Philosophical Society please)

Balance of £465 for singles or £730 couples sharing will be due by Friday 10 July. No reminders.

Name(s) . Tel. .

Address . Email

NT members YES NO (Pl. circle)