Sissinghurst Castle, Cranbrook,

Kent, TN17 2AB

TRAIL

Cycling

GRADE

Easy

DISTANCE

6.5 miles (10.5km)

TIME

45 minutes

OS MAP

Explorer 136 (HighWeald)/Explorer 137(Ashford)

Contact01580 710700

sissinghurst@nationaltrust.org.uk

FacilitiesAt Sissinghurst gardens:

Gift and plant shop

Toilets

Restaurant and coffee shopusing local produce

Baby facilities

Walks

National Trust car park (free formembers)

Toilets at Staplehurst station

Station newsagent on the A229(not NT)

Railway tavern on the A229(not NT)

Acorn Stores in Frittenden (notNT)

Bell and Jorrocks pub inFrittenden (not NT)

Accommodation available atSissinghurst Castle Farmhouse(not NT)

Cycle to Sissinghurst Castle andbackThis route has been created toget you from Staplehurst stationto Sissinghurst Castle and back,using the back lanes and keepingyou away from the traffic on thebusy A229. The route takes inleafy lanes, country cottages,farms, oast houses, orchards andthe sleepy village of Frittenden.You'll approach the castle acrossNational Trust farmland.

TerrainAn easy-going route starting at Staplehurst station and taking you to Sissinghurst Castle, whereyou can explore the gardens and estate before returning by the same route. The route is on countrylanes, although the section from the station to the crossroads is on the A229 (30mph limit). There is apavement. The section across the fields to Sissinghurst is a farm track. Estate paths are tarmac.

Things to see

Frittenden to Dig DogLane

Often referred to as the 'gardenof England', this part of Kent wasfamous for growing hops. Afterharvesting they were dried inoast houses before going to thebrewery as part of the brewingprocess. You'll pass a couple ofoast houses now converted intolarge houses. Now the main cropsare apples and cherries.

Into the iconic gardens

These gardens were createdby Harold Nicolson and VitaSackville-West. It's a seriesof garden rooms created byhedges and walls that replicatethe missing rooms of the ruinedElizabethan hunting lodge.Cultivated by us since 1967, ourgardeners have made it colourfulthroughout the year.

Our farmland

In the 1950s, Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson hiredCaptain Oswald Beale as theirfarm manager. Since 2009 thefarmland at Sissinghurst has beenmanaged by our tenant farmerJohn Hickman. The 450 acresof farmland are still farmed inthe same way. It's grazed byRomney Marsh sheep and John'sprize herd of Sussex cattle. Youmay spot some saddleback pigsenjoying a muddy corner of afield. Some arable crops aregrown for feed.

http://nationaltrust.org.uk/cycling

Sissinghurst Castle, Cranbrook,

Kent, TN17 2AB

Start/endStart: Staplehurst station, gridref: TQ784444End: Sissinghurst Castle, gridref: TQ810380

How to get thereBy foot: from Sissinghurstvillage past church to footpathon left signposted SissinghurstCastle (can get muddy)

By bus: Arriva 5 Maidstoneto Hawkhurst (passingStaplehurst train station), alightSissinghurst, 1¼ miles (2km)

By train: Staplehurst station5 miles (8km). Then bus 5 toSissinghurst village. For moreinfo see the Southeasternwebsite

By car: 2 miles (3.2km) north-east of Cranbrook, 1 mile(1.6km) east of Sissinghurstvillage on Biddenden Road, offA262 Parking: 315 yards.

http://nationaltrust.org.uk/cycling

1. From Staplehurst station cycle to the main road and turn right onto the A229. Continuethrough Staplehurst to the next crossroads/traffic lights, turn left onto Headcorn Road, signpostedHawkenbury/Headcorn. Continue on this road and you'll pass the Jubilee playing fields on your left.Shortly after, you need to take the next right onto Cradducks Lane, signposted Frittenden. Continueon this lane until you reach the T-junction.

2. Turn left, signposted Frittenden. At the next T-junction turn right, signposted Frittenden/Sissinghurst. Ride through the village of Frittenden. Look out for a turning on the left, signpostedBiddenden. Take this left onto Dig Dog Lane (you won't see the street sign until you've turned into thelane). Continue on this lane, over the bridge and up a small hill. At the top of the hill turn right onto thebridleway/farm track (can get muddy) to Sissinghurst Castle.

3. Continue down the track and across the field. You'll soon see the white weather-boarded gazebo,the orchard and moat. Keep the moat on your left, further on you'll see the back of the NationalTrust shop. Keep the garden on your left and the shop on your right. Head up the path, passing therestaurant and oast houses on your right and the green on your left (perfect for a picnic). Call in at thevisitor reception and they’ll show you where to secure your bike and give you any help you need.

4. Once you've finished your visit, retrace the route from Sissinghurst Castle to Staplehurst station.Leave the castle grounds on the track that leads down the side of the National Trust shop, keepingthe garden and moat on your right until you reach the gazebo. Head onto the track, leaving the moatand garden behind.

5. Continue on the track until you reach the lane and then turn left. Continue until you reach the T-junction and turn right, signposted Frittenden. Cycle through the village of Frittenden. Turn left intoStaplehurst Road, signposted Iden Croft Herbs. Continue on this lane until you reach CradducksLane on your right, signposted Pay and Play Golfing Park. Continue on this lane until you reach theT-junction and turn left. When you reach the crossroads and traffic lights, turn right; you may wish totake to the pavement for this bit. Turn left into Station Road for Staplehurst station.