Sissinghurst Castle, Kent

Last week my parents came to visit, they are completely garden mad and wanted to see this wonderful place. Its only 20 miles from where we live, so last Tuesday after driving Ophelia to school. Alistair, Felix, my parents and I luckily escaped the rain and went to explore Sissinghurst Castle (Garden)

I think the pictures speaks for themselves!

Sissinghurst Castle: a garden, in a ruin, in a farm

Sissinghurst’s beautiful garden was first laid out by novelist Vita Sackville-West and her diplomat husband Harold Nicolson in the 1930’s. The gardens surround the remains of an Elizabethan mansion. Though the place of passionate affairs and weekend parties, Sissinghurst Castle was also the backdrop to a loving family home.

In Vita’s writing room see how she surrounded herself with the artefacts she collected on her travels abroad, as well as photographs of those who were important to her such as her husband and close friend Virginia Woolf.

Climb the 78 steps to the top of the Elizabethan tower which was used as an observation point during the Second World War. Admire views of the fabulous Wealden countryside and plan your walk on the estate.

Round off your visit with a lunch in the Granary Restaurant or an afternoon tea in the Old Dairy Coffee Shop. Since 2008 we have been producing fruit and vegetables on our 3 acre vegetable garden. Our tenant farmer, John, supplies the restaurant with meat and eggs. We use as much locally grown (some food metres) and sourced produce as possible in the restaurant and coffee shop. Our menu changes every month so you get the best and freshest produce of the season.

Text above is borrowed from here