janisj

The thing is - both do exist. East GriNstead (the grim one ) in Sussex, and East GriMstead just east of Salisbury in Wiltshire.

I wouldn't stay in E. Grinstead in any case. I'd pick one location and use it as a base -- near Sissinghurst would be good, or one of the villages around Bewl Water. Or, if you really want to stay in Rye, then Rye and one other location.

When I'm visiting Kent/East Sussex, I usually pick just one B&B or cottage and use it to see the whole area.

wrenwood

One of the reasons I want to stay at Gravetye is the William Robinson connection. Rick Darke, here in the US, has influenced my personal thoughts, and professional thoughts (landscape and garden design) and he has just released an expanded version of Robinson's book "The Wild Garden." Rick spent time at Gravetye and I think we would like staying there and wandering around. Rick said there is a nice pub "The Cat" in East? West? Hoathley, whichever town is close by. We'll probably do a dinner pkg @ Gravetye for 2 nights, and 1 night more w/o dinner so we can go where we please. It seems to be close to a lot of gardens. They have some nice pkgs for March.

First night (actually 2nd night ~ hoping to take an AM flight from IAD, sleep at Heathrow Marriot and then be able to do a full day on Sunday) I'm thinking of staying at Savill Court Hotel. It's right next to the Valley Gardens at Windsor. I'm sure we could spend a whole day there, and at Windsor Castle if time, we haven't seen Windsor Castle.

If we spend the next 3 nights at Gravetye (M,T,W) that only leaves 2 nights available, Thurs & Fri. I'm assuming we'll stay Sat night somewhere close to Heathrow, maybe Oakley Court again. It wasn't bad and pretty convenient.

So where to spend Thursday and Friday? Working on my list of gardens, will post tomorrow so you can tell me I'm crazy, we'll NEVER have time to see them all. Maybe I have to give up Rye

Hey......it's my FANTASY list!

johngerard

The post code for Gravetye brings up 4 pages of open gardens on NGS site for March. Some are over 20 acres. Hampton Court Palace is listed. One may fill your free afternoon.

wrenwood

I looked at NGS and only came up with one page for the week that we will be there. But there are some on there that look interesting especially Great Comp. Question ~ must we join NGS, or do we just pay for a garden as we arrive?

johngerard

NGS gardens are pay as you enter & depending on size price is usually between £1.50 & £5.00. Some of the smaller ones can be disappointing but there are some gems out there. I try & get a few in one area & make an afternoon. One or two have taken all afternoon.

janisj

Pick up a Yellow Book - it will help you find all sorts of gardens as you motor around.

wrenwood

Below is my fantasy list for the moment. I'm thinking not to stay in Rye and not to do Dover Castle. As janisj said in an earlier post, I could reach all of these I think from one base. I do want to stay at Gravetye..........but I don't want to stay there the whole time, that would be too many $$$. So I still need another base.

Valley Gardens @ Windsor
Wisley
Nymans
Borde Hill
Wakehurst
Hever Castle
High Beeches
Scotney Castle
Leeds Castle
Goodnestone Park Gardens
???Godinton House Gardens
???Penhurst Place

I know, I know, probably too many for 7 days. Chosen because they specifically mention early spring gardens and for Champion or wonderful trees.

janisj

I'd do Penshurst Place over Leeds any day of the week. And maybe try to squeeze in Chartwell. Not hugely famous for the gardens/grounds but very pretty, and the house is lovely.

Not really too many for 7 days IMO. Some might take half a day, but most are in the 2 or 3 hours range and several are near each other.

To give you and idea - last time I stayed in the area -- day 1 I picked up a car at LGW in the AM and hit Hever, Chartwell and Penshurst before diving to our B&B near Ticehurst. It was long day but none of the three place was cut short - opening time at Hever til closing time at Penshurst w/ lunch at Chartwell.

Another day we easily did Sissinghurst, Scotney Castle, Bodiam (not a garden but really interesting) and Bayham Abbey. Had 'brunch' in the cafe at Sissinghurst before the gardens opened at 11:00. Spent about 2.5 hours or a bit more at Sissinghurst and nearly 2 hours hours at Scotney.

They are so near each other you don't waste time in travel. And all are covered by the GBHP.

sassy_cat

My favourite gardens in the area would be

Kew
Nymans
Hever castle
Wisley

I think in 7 days I'd choose a maximum of 7 gardens and if the weather is bad I'd skip the gardens. Spring flowers look awful in the pouring rain!

sassy_cat

Hmm, if gardens are the sole point of the trip then of course it's possible to see drive around and see all on your list.

I hope the weather complies!

wrenwood

janis, what did you like so much about Bodiam?

Chartwell is on my secondary list along with Charles Darwin's house. I'll move Penhurst up, marysidney liked it too.

janisj

If you want a castle w/i a moat, you can do Bodiam (squeeze it in on your Scotney/Sissinghurst day since they are near each other) and then skip Leeds

Bodiam is a ruin of course - but it is very complete and one can do a lot of climbing and clambering. Might make a good break in a series of non-stop gardens (not that non-stop gardens is bad)

These aren't the best photos out there but do give you an idea. http://www.castlegate.net/castles/bodiam/bodiam1.htm

http://tinyurl.com/ybsr4qg

I have a couple of amazing pix but they aren't on-line.

wrenwood

What attracted me to Leeds was the picture

http://www.leeds-castle.com/goto.php...Park_&_Gardens

"In Spring, the Wood Garden alongside the River Len is a particularly lovely way to approach the castle. Its carpet of Daffodils, Narcissi and Anemones presents a vibrant burst of colour."

Bodiam does look nice, I'll keep it marked on my map.

janisj

The grounds at Leeds truly are nice -- I just don't like the castle at all. Really more a conference centre and wedding venue. But if you promise to not go inside and only tour the gardens - then I'll give my permission

annhig

the two best gardener's gardens in the area are [IMHO] Great Comp and Great Dixter. the latter was the life's work of the wonderful Christopher Lloyd and if it's gardens you're after, it's the one you want.

leeds castle is lovely, but best in the summer I think.[a terrific rose garden in June]. we were shown round the house by a flunky who kept going on about "Lady Bailey" in a revoltingly sycophantic way.

Wakehurst Place is the country seat of Kew so lovely but rather tree oriented.

Sissinghurst is primarily for the garden, Chartwell for the house and Churchillian associations [I used to live so close we could walk there if feeling energetic - it's rumoured locally that the famous wall was tidied up by the builders who happened to be working on the house at the time that Churchill was supposedly building it].

i can't remember Bodiam very well. but Scotney is nice in a wild sort of way.

need to look at a map again to suggest a third place to stay.

annhig

hi wrenwood,

How about this place? http://www.hailshamgrange.co.uk/

I found it on alastair sawdays and it's even in the yellow book itself. very well positioned for many of the places you want to see.

please don't lose Rye - it is quintessentially english and there's lots to see [Romney Marsh, Great Dixter, Bodiam, Winchelsea, Sissinghurst?] nearby.

why don't you stay at Gravetye at the end of the trip? - you could go from Windsor to Rye for a couple of days, then back to Gravetye which brings you closer to Heathrow for your return.

wrenwood

ann ~ you are relentless ~ thanks for all you do!

I had thought about staying at Gravetye at the end of our trip but their "packages" (less money) are Sun - Thurs only. We expect to leave on Saturday, arrive on Sunday ~ or if we take a morning flight, we'll sleep at Heathrow Marriot Saturday night and be bright-eyed and bushy tailed on Sunday.

I'll check out Hailsham Grange. Have found some others on the outskirts of Maidstone which look nice too.

Or maybe I go back to Rye? It's only an hour from Goodnestone. Rye would be a good change from Gravetye.

janisj

Oh yes - Great Dixter is a MUST . . . .

wrenwood

janis ~ you think Great Dixter will be fun, even in March? I think of Christopher's herbaceous borders being in full swing in the summer, maybe not as much in early spring.

wrenwood

Stay in Rye for 2 nights or here for 2 nights?

http://limesonthegreen.co.uk/