insideKENT Magazine Issue 76 - July 2018 | Page 93

DAYSOUT
MAKE THE MOST OF THE Sunshine cont.
Kent & East Sussex Railway // Tenterden
The Kent & East Sussex Railway (KESR) runs from
Tenterden to Bodiam (where you can hop off and explore
the National Trust castle there) with stops at Rolvenden,
Wittersham and Northiam on the way. The chance to
ride in a real steam train or diesel engine (there are
different timetables for each one and if you time things
well you can travel out on one train and back on another)
is always exciting, and the ones at the KESR are lovely
examples. Watch out for special days such as the
Day Out With Thomas and the Pullman fish and chip
suppers too.
www.kesr.org.uk
Dreamland // Margate
Dreamland is the kind of amusement park that Kent was
crying out for after it closed in 2003. With no one else
coming to provide the much missed entertainment, it
was down to Dreamland itself to re-vitalise itself and re-
open, which it did on 19th June 2015. Since then, more
and more rides have been added and the famous Scenic
Railway has been brought back to its former glory.
www.dreamland.co.uk
Eagle Heights // Eynsford
Eagle Heights is a place where you can see some of the
most amazing animals in the world including snowy
owls, huskies and different birds of prey. This is one of
the UK’s largest bird of prey centres, so if you love to
watch majestic eagles, hawks and similar birds soaring,
a visit to Eagle Heights has to be on your to do list.
www.eagleheights.co.uk
Kent & East Sussex Railwa
Leeds Castle
Chiddingstone Castle // Edenbridge
Chiddingstone Castle is actually a Grade II listed historic
house which was built (or rather, re-built) during Victorian
times. The site itself, however, does have Tudor origins,
so perhaps ‘castle’ is the right word after all. The house
is set in 35 magnificent acres of Kentish countryside and
inside you will find a huge assortment of items collected
by former owner Denys Eyre Bower over his lifetime. It’s
a fun place to visit just for this, but there are also plenty
of other events that take place here across the year, so
if you are looking for something in particular, you may
find it here.
www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk
Riverhill Himalayan Gardens // Sevenoaks
This perfect Kentish garden is full of the unusual. From
exceptional British sculpture to den building exercises,
secret pathways and even a real live yeti, you and the
children can learn a huge amount in just one trip here.
There is a café on site where you can have a hot lunch
or afternoon tea (ingredients for everything are locally
sourced where possible) and if you want to visit the café
without going to the garden itself, you can enter free of
charge.
www.riverhillgardens.co.uk
Leeds Castle // Maidstone
Leeds Castle has been called ‘the loveliest castle in the
world’ and as you walk from the entrance to the site itself,
you can’t fail to be impressed. It really is lovely, and that’s
inside and out. Visiting Leeds Castle isn’t just about the
building though, as special as it is – the maze is certainly
a highlight (as is the grotto you can only visit by getting
to the end of it), and if you catch the birds of prey events
while you’re visiting you’ll love it even more. For those
who need to rest their tired legs, the land train will take
you to and from the castle for a small fee.
www.leeds-castle.co.uk
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