We invite members from the East Sussex Area to join us for a visit to Herstmonceux Castle Estate. If anyone wishes to meet us we intend to be at the cafe between 11.00am and 11.30am to have a coffee before walking around the grounds. We will also be likely to be back at the restaurant over lunchtime!
The NGS booklet indicates that the Herstmonceux Castle Estate has formal gardens, woodland trails, meadows and lakes set around a majestic C15 moated castle. Features include an avenue of ancient sweet chestnut trees and lakeside folly in the style of a Georgian house with a walled cottage garden. Partial wheelchair access to formal gardens. Dogs are allowed, picnics welcome and there is light refreshments in Chestnuts Tea Room. There are a number of picnic areas with seats where you can eat your own picnics, or you can take your own chairs if you wish.
Enquiries have been made with the Tea Rooms about gluten free options and they have assured that they usually have some G/F cake and also bread for sandwiches or to accompany soup, etc.
Details are in the NGS Gardens for Charity – Sussex 2023 – booklet, page 36, number 60 and also on the Herstmonceux Castle Estate website, which is http://www.herstmonceux-castle.com
Please note: in the NGS book it indicates that the location to be between Hermonceux & Pevensey on Wartling Road. From Herstmonceux take A271 to Bexhill, 2nd R signed Castle.
If using SatNav, enter Wartling Road instead of postcode.
Area Organisers Marilyn & Jenny will aim to get to the Estate and find the Chestnut Tea Room at 11.00am, subject to traffic. We would love to meet up with anyone who is coming and then, depending on numbers we can decide if we stay as a group or split into smaller groups to go round the Estate depending on the weather and the number of people on the day.
Individuals pay an entrance fee of £8 on arrival at the Gardens and for any food or drinks they wish to purchase.