insideKENT Magazine Issue 34 - January 2015 | Page 93

In January, Scotney Castle’s winter warmer hike
takes walkers around the estate to spot flocks
of over-wintering birds, mammal tracks, historic
landscape features and more. A bonus at the
halfway point features a warming bonfire in the
woods, which overlooks the best views the estate
has to offer.
The estate is open dawn to dusk daily, while the
house, old castle and garden are open 10am3pm (shop and tearoom, 10am-3.30pm) between
Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
The winter warmer hike runs daily between
Saturday 10th January and Friday 16th January,
1pm-2pm. Normal admission charges apply.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Created by Vita Sackville-West and her husband,
Harold Nicolson, the gardens at Sissinghurst
Castle are renowned for their vibrant planting.
During the winter months, the atmosphere is
transformed; the pink brickwork and linear hedges
reveal the structure that forms the backdrop to
the abundant garden seen earlier in the year.
The garden takes a much-needed rest in winter,
but behind the scenes winter tours are available
daily between 26th December and 2nd January,
and run from 11am-3pm.
The restaurant and shop is open 10am-5.30pm
between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, while
the garden is closed, except by guided tour. The
estate is open dawn to dusk all year round.
South Foreland Lighthouse. © National Trust

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Winter tours cost £6.25 per person, which
includes a Gift Aid donation.
White Cliffs of Dover
Enjoy an atmospheric walk along the cliff tops
throughout winter and spot some of the visiting
birds including the guillemot out at sea, shorteared owl feeding over the grassland, or the
unmistakeable waxwing in the hedgerows.
On New Year’s Day, join a free turn-up-and-go
walk from the White Cliffs visitor centre to the
lighthouse at 11am. Your guide will cover the
history and interesting features of the cliffs, and
there's an option to return by mini bus for those
with tired legs. One of the Trust’s most
photographed tearooms, Mrs Knotts, will also
be serving delicious cakes and more on the day.
The Coastline and car park is open 8am-6pm
daily throughout winter, while the visitor centre
is open 11am-4pm between Boxing Day and
New Year’s Day.
On New Year’s Day, the lighthouse and Mrs
Knotts are open 11am-4pm; last admission
3.30pm. The mini bus service runs every 40
minutes each way, with the first bus from White
Cliffs at 11am and the last bus fr the lighthouse
om
at 4pm. Additional charges apply for the mini
bus (including for National Trust members).

www.nationaltrust.org.uk