Hop Along for a Taste of Kent

Day 1

We make our way south to Kent and a 4 night stay at the Bridgewood Manor hotel, Chatham .Dinner in the hotel.

Day 2

This morning we head to Canterbury with free time to explore the historic city, famed for its medieval buildings, quaint tea shops and magnificent cathedral. This afternoon we travel along the coast road down to the beautiful Samphire Hoe nature reserve, home to some of the best views in Kent. We keep our eyes peeled for wildlife, rare plants, stunning landscapes of the White Cliffs and spectacular English Channel views on our guided walk. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 3

This morning we make tracks for the Kent & East Sussex Railway to embark on a return steam train journey from Tenterden to Bodiam. Free time for in Tenterden for lunch , before we travel the short distance to the renowned and award-winning Chapel Down Vineyard. Here we enjoy a guided tour of the vineyard, learning how the various still and sparkling wines are harvested and produced, followed by a tutored wine tasting. Dinner in the hotel.

Day 4

After breakfast we head out to Hole Park for a guided garden tour. The vibrant gardens offer stunning vistas of the hills, woodlands, and fields that typify this part of Kent. After our tour, we enjoy a ploughmans lunch. Our final visit today is to Hukins Hops, this 5th generation farm grows and harvests varieties including intense apricot from Ernest, oranges from Bullion and the classic English flavours of Fuggle. We enjoy a detailed 1 hour guided tour of the farm and the premier hop yards, learning about modern beer making, before we sit down and take part in a tasting of three of their craft beers. Final dinner in the hotel.

Day 5

We leave our hosts at the Bridgewood Manor for the return journey home.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner