insideKENT Magazine Issue 34 - January 2015 | Page 97

DAYSOUT

hidden winter gems
WITH SO MUCH TO SEE AND DO IN KENT ALL YEAR ROUND, JANUARY IS NO TIME TO
HIBERNATE. ONCE YOU’VE COMPLETED YOUR WINTER WALKS (P92) AND TRIED A FEW
SEASONAL SPORTS (P94), WHY NOT LET VISIT KENT GUIDE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
AROUND A FEW EXTRA SPECIAL TREASURES IN THE COUNTY?
Rare Breeds Centre

Prince’s Golf Club

Families, adults, and groups can
enjoy a perfect day out any time
of the year at this beautiful 100acre farm based in Woodchurch,
near Ashford. The farm features
a wide variety of animals to meet
and pet, as well as plenty of fun
things to do including two play
parks, a tube maze, and an
indoor soft play barn for
youngsters. Adults can snap up some plants and produce grown on the
farm, and the Granary Restaurant offers tasty local food. From the exotic
butterfly tunnel to the woodland walks and secret lake, there is something
for everyone.
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10.30am-4.30pm (1st November to 31st
March); open daily, 10.30am-5.30pm (1st April to 31st October).
www.rarebreeds.org.uk

A chill in the air shouldn’t put off a true golfer, so why not get some exercise
and hone your skills on one of Kent’s finest courses? Prince’s Golf Club,
on the magnificent Sandwich coast, offers any visitor a superior day out
with its world-class facilities and attention to detail. Prince’s offers 27 holes
of championship links golf, four-ball play throughout the week, extensive
practice facilities, and a warm and welcoming clubhouse. The three loops
of nine holes – The Shore, The Dunes, and The Himalayas – each have
their own unique characteristics, and remain in superb condition throughout
the winter, when the links course comes into its own.
www.princesgolfclub.co.uk
Kent offers a wide range of golfing facilities and breaks. Visit
www.golfinkent.co.uk for full details.

Tonbridge Castle
Reputedly England's finest
example of a motte-and-bailey
castle, Tonbridge Castle is a true
hidden gem in West Kent.
Featuring a splendid 13th-century
gatehouse, the castle is set in
landscaped gardens overlooking
the River Medway. However, the
ancient site is not just a feast for
the eyes – its story is interwoven with kings and archbishops, tyrants and
heroes, and murderers and mercenaries all of whom have helped write 900
years of English history.
day, 9am-5pm; open Sunday, 10.30am-4.30pm.
Open Monday to Satur
www.tonbridgecastle.org

Buckmore Park Kart Circuit

Lullingstone Roman Villa
One of the most outstanding
surviving Roman villas in Britain,
Lullingstone provides a unique
all-weather family day out. The
villa, set in the beautiful Darent
Valley, dates back to around 100
AD and reached the peak of
luxury in the mid-4th century.
Visitors to the villa can view the
spectacular mosaics and prints of the original wall paintings, as well as the
heated bath suite and a fine collection of Roman artefacts. Kids will love
playing dress up in the Roman costumes, and they can even try some
traditional board games from the period.
The villa is open Saturdays and Sundays, 10am-4pm, until 15th
February. Hours increase later in the year; check the website for full details.
www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/lullingstone-roman-villa

Adrenaline junkies need not wait for the summer months to get their fix of
outdoor fun, as Buckmore Park offers year-round karting experiences for
ages four to 84 at the world-famous kart racing circuit. The floodlit MSAlicensed circuit is open seven days a week, all year, day and night, rain or
shine. Buckmore has been the home of karting for almost half a century,
offering everything from bespoke services to group events. This is the circuit
where Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton honed their skills, so why not
visit this winter to see if you’re F1’s next big thing? Racing continues to
11pm (weekdays March to October), and 10pm (weekdays November to
February). On Saturdays, racing finishes at 9pm, and on Sundays, 8pm.
www.buckmore.co.uk

For more information on things to see and do in Kent, go to www.visitkent.co.uk.

97

@visitkent