insideKENT Magazine Issue 70 - January 2018 | Page 51

Day 2
AM
Today you may wish to discover the
beautiful countryside and villages around.
Strap on your walking boots and stride out
on a nice walk at Jeskyns Park, or Shorne
Woods Country Park and take in some of
Gravesham’s glorious countryside views. the hall will take in huge marble fireplaces
and immense chandeliers. Follow in the
footsteps of the original owners – the
Darnley family, and walk through the
ancient cattle-grazed woodland to visit the
Cobham Mausoleum.
Gravesend is also rich in links to one of
England's greatest Victorian authors. Hunt
out the compelling Charles Dickens’
connections; Chalk, Shorne, and Higham
Marshes. Drive back to Gravesend and pass the village
of Higham and Gad’s Hill place, the house
of Charles Dickens. It was right here that
Dickens wrote Great Expectations and The
Mystery of Edwin Drood. The house is open
for tours between April and October on
weekends. Please check the Visit Gravesend
website for updates:
www.visitgravesend.co.uk.
LUNCH
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, make
your way to the quaint village of Cobham
to the Leather Bottle pub for creative
cuisine, atmospheric beams and more
connections to Dickens – the novelist wrote
The Pickwick Papers here:
www.theleatherbottle.pub/index
PM
Visit the beautiful Cobham Church with
its magnificent collection of brasses, some
of which are more than 600 years old. By
reputation they are the finest collection of
medieval brasses in the world.
Cobham Hall is another architectural gem,
with the perfect blend of Elizabethan,
Jacobean, and Georgian design. A tour of
Where to stay
BUDGET
Gravesend Best Western Manor Hotel –
www.bw-manorhotel.co.uk
MID-RANGE
Clarendon Royal Hotel -
https://clarendonroyalhotel.co.uk
SPECIAL TREAT
Rowhill Grange Hotel and Spa -
www.alexanderhotels.co.uk/rowhill-
grange-luxury-hotel-kent
CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE LITERARY FESTIVAL
FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR, WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE
RUNNING ANOTHER LITERARY FESTIVAL AT CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE THIS MAY.
The festival programme has been
finalised and we will host author
talks for adults and teenagers on
Sunday 6th May; a wide range of
events for families on Bank
Holiday Monday 7th May; and a
whole day of children’s authors,
illustrators and workshops
especially for schools on Tuesday
8th May.
We are currently selling a limited-
edition Sunday Day Pass online
for just £70. These reduced-price
vouchers allow the holder
access to: • You can buy these at www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/
literary-festival-2018
• Seven talks from renowned
authors including Ian Rankin,
Diana Henry, Anna Pasternak,
John Sutherland and Erwin
James, Adam Kay and Cathy
Rentzenbrink and Anne de
Courcy in the Main Marquee on
Sunday 6th May
• Visit the Castle’s historic rooms
and collection of art and
artefacts
• Enjoy a free glass of wine in the
festival bar Details of the 2018 programme are being released on our website:
www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk/literary-festival-2018. Tickets to
individual events will
be available to
purchase online from
1st March 2018 so to be
one of the first in the
Box Office queue, pre-
register your interest
online and follow our
Facebook Event Page
for updates.
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