Travel Information

The park is open from 9am until dusk (or 9pm whichever is sooner), and is part of a large country estate set in a lovely valley. It is an ideal place for a walk at any time of the year, with a lake, a stream running through the centre of the valley, and fringed with large specimen trees. Children will love the wide open spaces to play in and particularly the children’s play area. There are also cycle routes to follow if you have brought your bikes in the back of the Motorhome. The park is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, with marbled white butterflies, green woodpeckers, carpets of snowdrops in spring. It was the site of a Victorian pleasure garden and bamboo from this remains. A large lake forms the centre of the site with two small islands. The larger island is the final resting place of William Tournay, the last lord of Brockhill Manor who died in 1903. There is a café on site open from 10.30am till 5.30pm. There is also an excellent circular walk for the keen walkers amongst you. Named the Saltwood Saunter, the walk is detailed with maps and further information on the Brockhill Country Park website. To get to the Country Park in your Kent Motorhome Hire from the M20 at junction 11, drive towards Hythe, and then half a mile south of Sandling station is the joint entrance to the park with Brockhill School. There is a parking charge. For further information click the blue text below.

Brockhill Country Park
Sandling Road
Saltwood
Hythe
Kent
CT21 4HL

Located in the Kent countryside, Chislehurst Caves is a great place to explore during a motorhome holiday. There are over 20 miles of caves and passageways at Chislehurst which date back over 8000 years. The caves are split into three sections; Saxon, Druid and Roman, each of which offers a unique insight into historic mining.

Chislehurst Caves has even been used as a filming location for several films and television programmes, the most recent being the BBC series Merlin.

In spite of the modern trend for hustle and bustle the caves are run as a family business, they are not over commercialized, the atmosphere is relaxed and the staff are all helpful and friendly. They can also provide private tours for groups, evening tours, WWII tours for schools and even children’s birthday parties. Where else can you carry a hurricane lamp underground? You may even get the chance to experience total darkness if the tour is not too big!

Open from Wednesday to Sunday, the tours leave every hour on the hour, the first at 10am and the last at 4pm. During local school holidays (except Xmas) the Caves are open every day.

Old Hill
Chislehurst
Kent
BR7 5NB
TEL:(44) 020 8467 3264

If you are planning to be in Kent on your camper van hire, take a visit to the spectacular Dover Castle. Set high above the white cliffs of Dover, the Castle is historical and fascinating place to visit. Explore the labyrinth of Secret Wartime Tunnels, buried deep within the cliffs and even take the Dover Castle ghost tour of the spookiest and most haunted areas of the castle.

While on your trip why not take a picnic to the spectacular admiralty lookout, and enjoy the stunning views it has to offer.

Dover Castle
Dover
Kent
Telephone:(44) 01304 211067

From the Folkestone Camping and Caravanning Club Site you may be able to see the coast of France on a clear day. For traveling on the way to France via the Channel Tunnel this is the perfect stop over. You can also do day trips to France on the ferry or channel tunnel. Set on a cliff above Folkestone it is a great base for local exploration. The site is close to Warren Country Park which makes it the ideal location for bird watching and walking. This is a Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest with  nature trails and family activities throughout the year. The site overlooks a great shingle beach and has excellent sea fishing.  For eating out you will find plenty of places in Folkestone town with its cobbled high street and working harbour. This is not just a one night only campsite, you may want to spend time in this area in your Kent Motorhome Hire relaxing as there is a great deal to see here. For information regarding facilities on the campsite and booking click on the blue text below.

Folkestone Camping and Caravanning Club Site
The Warren
Folkestone
Kent
CT19 6NQ

Telephone: 01303 255093 (No calls after 8pm please.)

Hever Castle holds a historically important place in the story of England. This is due to its association with the ill fated, manipulative and tragic Anne Boleyn. Hever Castle was her childhood home and in all likelihood the place of her birth. It is whilst living here that she was romanced by the libidinous Henry VIII, a courtship which led ultimately to their marriage, the creation of the Church of England and the birth of their daughter, one of our greatest monarchs Queen Elizabeth I. In a strange twist of fate, Hever later became home to the fourth wife of HenryVIII, Anne of Cleves, constituting part of her divorce settlement, the property having been taken by the king after the death of Anne’s father. Subsequently Hever passes through a number of families over the decades until in 1903 William Waldorf Astor bought the estate and set about the restoration of the castle, the building of the Tudor village and the design and creation of the stunning gardens. The current owners of the castle use the estate for a number of different leisure and conferencing purposes, but the castle and grounds are open to the public. On display are many Tudor portraits and tapestries and importantly still houses two prayer books signed and inscribed by Anne herself. In the long gallery there are figures of Henry VIII and his six wives. In the gatehouse you will find on display a collection of historic weaponry and armour as well as some gruesome instruments of torture. You will not be disappointed by William Astor’s efforts in the gardens. The Italian gardens are spectacular and were built to display his collection of Italian Sculpture. The 38 acre lake was dug by 800 men over a period of 2 years. Some feat with no mechanical diggers. The beautiful rose garden will not disappoint either with over 4000 plants creating a riot of colour. You will probably need a full day to appreciate all that is on offer at Hever castle. So make sure you arrive early in you Kent motorhome rental in order to make the most of your day out. For further information, click on the blue link below

Hever Castle
Hever
Nr Edenbridge
Kent TN8 7NG

Telephone : 01732 865224

If you feel like testing out your sea legs, it is well worth contacting Horizon Sea Safaris and booking a trip. Janice and John the company’s founder have spent a life time messing about on the water and have been keen sailing enthusiasts since their teens. Both have an extensive knowledge of the Kent coastline and are more than happy to share their information on the tours. Safety is an uppermost concern and all safaris are conducted by two crew members, all crews are qualified and many have marine emergency experience so you will definitely be in safe hands. All that is left to you is to choose a boat trip that you fancy. There is plenty to choose from including a tour of the local lighthouses, beaches and coves, many of which have been used by smugglers over the decades. If you are a wildlife enthusiast there is a 90 minute seal tour where you can see all these lovely animals as they go about their daily routine. Pick either from a Goodwin Sands sea tour or a Stour Estuary seal tour. There is also an interesting tour of the Kentish wind farms coupled with the WWII defence forts in the Thames estuary. Of course there are also fishing trips available and it is possible to charter a boat for either a full day or a part day hire. You will find Horizon Sea Safaris in the historic Ramsgate Harbour, this old harbour dates back to Roman times and was given its royal status, the only one of its kind in the UK, by King George IV when he sailed to Hanover from Ramsgate in 1821. Before you visit Horizon Sea Safaris in your Kent motorhome hire, be sure you phone in advance to book and avoid disappointment on the day. For contact information, please click the blue link below.

Horizon Sea Safaris
Royal Ramsgate Harbour
Ramsgate
Kent
CT11 9FT

Telephone: 07931 744788

The entire family, children particularly, will find something of interest at a visit to a wild life park. Set in vast acres of parkland, many animals roam free as they would in the wild. Howcetts Wild Animal Park protects rare breeds and endangered. You can also get close to Lemurs and view big cats and wild dogs. This charitable organization aims, where possible, to place animals back into the wild in safe areas for them to breed. The park itself is home to the Black Rhino and a large herd of elephants and they have a breeding programme here in England too. The Aspinall foundation also manages breeding programmes in Gabon and the Congo where it rescues gorillas and returns them to the wild. If you want to do your bit to preserve these animals the park has a scheme in which you can adopt an animal. At the park, if you are athletic and energetic, you can try the treetop experience and climb high in the trees on their adventure course. They also hold photography courses here that have been well received. You may want to be involved in one of their courses as part of your Kent Motorhome Hire holiday. This is a place that the whole family can find something enjoyable to see and do. For more details of opening times, admission prices and events here, click the highlighted link below.

Howcetts Wild Animal Park

Bekesbourne Lane

Canterbury

Kent

CT4 5EL

Telephone: 01227 721286

Surprisingly, you will not find Leeds Castle in the city of Leeds. In fact, you will not find it anywhere in the county of Yorkshire. Leeds Castle is instead located in Kent and south of London. Hire a motorhome and find it for yourself. There are many castles in the UK, many of which have been marvellously maintained and act as wonderful beacons of history. Leeds Castle is no exception to this given its moat and 500 acres of surrounding landscaped parkland. Kent as a county is also full of countryside and scenery to explore. Inside the castle you will find plenty of historic artefacts to view such as furnishings, paintings and tapestries. Formal gardens also add a touch of class to the outdoor space.

Leeds Castle
Maidstone
Kent
ME17 1PL
TEL:(44) 01622 765400

Rochester Castle in the ancient city of Rochester has a distinguished history. It was one of the first castles mentioned in the Doom’s Day book.

The Secret Garden of Sandwich, which is encircled by the old stone city walls, is a little pocket of beauty waiting for you to explore. At the heart of these gorgeous gardens sits the beautiful Lutyens manor house, The Salutation, a masterpiece of the famed English architect. He also envisioned the three and a half acres of garden with the help of Gertrude Jekyll the celebrated garden designer. For a quarter of a century these beautiful gardens lay neglected, but thanks to the dedication of the owners and their team of gardeners, the grounds have now been restored to their former glory. The process culminated with the gardens official opening in 2007 by Monty Don, the Gardeners World Host. Gertrude Jekylls gardening philosophy of unexpected views and visual surprises as well as a layout of garden rooms, each with their own character, is certainly in evidence within these beautiful gardens. However there are many new and exciting features such as the tropical border and the tranquil Lake Patricia. To get to the Secret garden in your Kent motor home hire exit the M2 at Junction 7, take the A2 signed for Dover and Canterbury. Leave the A2 taking the B2046 towards Wingham. At Wingham, go straight on to Sandwich on the A257. At the T junction of the Bell Hotel turn left then immediate right to the quay. The entrance to gardens are off the car park. Whilst there, the plant enthusiast will find a fabulous nursery selling plants, all of which have been grown on site. You can also explore the gardens to see how each plant will mature. You can also get help and advice from the team of gardeners on your own garden projects. For further information, please click the blue link below.

Secret Gardens of Sandwich
The Salutation
Knightrider Street
Sandwich
Kent
CT13 9EW
United Kingdom

This is a truly glorious garden to visit in Spring and Summer. The garden is surrounded by the ruins of the Elizabethan House. It is further famed by its redidents in 1930. Purchased by the writer and dimplomat, Harold Nicolson he moved in here with his wife, Vita Sackville-West the poet novelist and gardener. Vita was famous for her aristocratic life, and her passionate affairs with women. Both Vita and Harold were bisexual and had an open marriage. The couples shared passion was also gardening, and Sissinghurst Castle Gardens was created in its entire splendor as a result of their work. Apart from its amazing flower borders if you visit between May and September you can also view the progress of the vegetable garden. There are car parking charges and admission charges for entry to the gardens. There is also a restaurant and coffee shop on site. Fruit and vegetables grown in the garden are used in the restaurant and meat and eggs are produced on the local tenanted farm. To drive to Sissinghurst Castle Gardens in your Kent Motorhome Hire, Drive two miles north-east of Cranbrook,  and one mile east of Sissinghurst village on the Biddenden Road, which is off the A262. For more information click the blue text below.

Sissinghurst Castle
Biddenden Road
near Cranbrook
Kent
TN17 2AB

Telephone: 01580 710701

The ruins of the abbey are now part of Canterbury’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Site. There is a museum with genuine artefacts and a free audio tour also on site.

St Augustines Abbey
Entrance on Longport
Canterbury
Telephone +44(0)1227 767 345

Kent is a fantastic place to visit explore in a motorhome. Whilst in the area a trip to The Historic Dockland in Chatham is a great way to spend a day. The Dockland occupies a vast 80 acre site with plenty to explore for children and adults alike. Witness historic warships and submarines and experience the many interactive displays which allow visitors to immerse themselves fully into the dockland experience. There are plenty of facilities too, including a tea shop, picnic area, restaurant and gift shop to make sure that everyone is well looked after.

The Historic Dockland has even been the site for many film and television productions including The World is Not Enough (1999), The Mummy (1999) and The Golden Compass (2007).

The Historic Dockyard
Chatham
Kent
ME4 4TZ
Info Line: +44 (0)1634 823807
Fax: +44 (0)1634 823801

Saturday 26th to Friday 1st June 2007

The Supadog Show, one of the world’s biggest dog agility shows. Hundreds of dogs of all shapes and sizes will race around courses of jumps, tunnels and see-saws, competing to become the Supadog Champion of their category.

The Hop Farm at the Kentish Oast Village
Paddock Wood
Tonbridge
Kent
TN12 6PY

Telephone: 0870 0274166

The Museum of Carriages is housed in the medieval stables of the Archbishops’ Palace in the centre of Kent’s County town.

Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum of Carriages
Maidstone
Kent

Telephone:01622 754497

One of the most popular beaches in England and certainly one of the most famous. Must be visited if you are traveling in motor home in Kent.There are a number of excellent beaches.

White Cliffs Of Dover
The M20 and M2 connect directly to Dover making an easy 1 1/2 hours drive from the centre of London.
Dover Visitor Information Centre 01304 205108

From Saturday July 23rd to Friday 29th July, Whitstable holds its annual oyster festival. Hoards of people will be queuing at the many stalls to buy oysters. This is a festival to celebrate this curious sea creature. If you have never tried oysters fresh from the shell on the sea front, now is your chance. The town attracts thousands of people for the festival so expect it to be packed, particularly at weekends. This is a great place to be. This is much more than oysters it has become a celebration on a large scale. Every day from the 23rd July to the 24th there are concerts and entertainment put on around the pubs, restaurants, venues, and streets of Whitstable. This becomes an eclectic and entertaining mix of outdoor and indoor events including heritage, arts and food and drink. There is something for the whole family to enjoy. All events are reasonably priced and many are free.  Because the Festival is so popular, traffic in the town can become very congested in Festival week so avoid entering the town itself with your holiday campervan hire. Many of the car parks in town will be absolutely full even first thing in the morning till late at night. Choose a Park and Ride service which will be available for the opening weekend of the Oyster Festival (Saturday 23 July and Sunday 24 July). The Final event on Sunday 24th is the Finale of the (fishy Wishes). You are invited to join in, dressed in your mermaid masks, waving your maracas and windy things and carrying your willow fish if you have them! This event features special guests and the mysterious mermaid. If you don’t like crowds on your campervan hire holiday then give Whitstable a wide berth during the festival period. If you are keen to see everything click on the Whitstable Oyster Festival website for more information.

Whitstable Oyster Festival
Sea Front and East Quay
Whitstable
Kent
CT5 3DB

Wildwood is a fantastic day out for all the family and features native British species, some of which no longer roam wild within the UK such as wolves and some more common animals as well as those which are rarely seen either due to endangerment or because of their secretive nature. You will also see beaver and the two resident lynx sisters, these beautiful creatures were hunted to extinction in the Britain over 1500 years ago. You may have to look quite closely in the enclosures for some of the inhabitants as the park tries to provide as natural an environment as possible for the animals. The wild boar are quite hard to spot and can sometimes look a pile of earth, so if you see a mound moving, it is likely to be a boar! If you want to get more hands on with the animals there is a petting centre where you can stroke rabbits and pygmy goats as well as a variety of other domestic animals. If the children still have plenty of energy left after looking at all the animals, there is a fantastic outdoor play area with tree top towers, a wild fort, swings and climbing frames. The main feature is the drop slide which is the tallest in Kent. If you have really little ones, there is an under 5’s play area with slides, swings and rockers which is separated off from the main play area so you don’t have to worry about your little ones getting knocked down when the bigger children are running wild! If you want to picnic or just have a rest, there are plenty of benches to sit at and relax. If you decide to visit Wildwood in your Kent motorhome hire it is worth checking up on events before you go as there are plenty of special activities available. To find this information, please click on the blue link below.

Wildwood
Wildwood Trust
Herne Common
Herne Bay
Kent
CT6 7LQ

Telephone: 01227 712 111

This is a campsite set in the heart of rural England in a quiet park like setting with trees surrounding. It probably has grass standing only as it does not advertise hard standing, if any of you visit and discover hard standing please let me know!  It does have electric hook ups and a toilet and shower block, washing-up facilities, launderette, licensed bar, ice pack freezing, gas and camping accessory sales, public telephones, children’s play area,  and a small site shop. If you are staying there with your Motorhome parking on grass is at your own risk. You share the site with tents and caravans. If you are traveling in the area there are some lovely attractions to view on your journey. Gardeners will love looking around Sissinghurst Castle Gardens which are a real treat to see in summer. There is also the stunning Leeds Castle, said to be the most beautiful castle in England and also the ancient Cinque Port of Tenterden is worth a visit. The campsite itself is close to Biddenden which is an idealic English village with plenty of medieval architecture and shops, pubs, restaurants and sporting facilities i.e. tennis, squash courts and bowling green. The village itself is approximately one and a half miles from the campsite so within walking distance for the more active motorhomer!  If you are on your way to the coast or touring through the county you may find this campsite a useful place to stay in your Kent Motorhome Hire.

Woodlands Park Camp site
Tenterden Road
Biddenden
Kent
TN27 8BT

Telephone: 01580 291216

The Museum is owned and run by the Wye Rural Museum Trust, and holds historic examples of local rural life.

Agricultural Museum
The Street
Brook
Ashford
TN25 5PS
Kent
England