Shirkoak Farm’s guidebook
Vineyard
The vineyard is situated on the edge of the picturesque village of Woodchurch in Kent – the garden of England. Set on hills looking south over the ancient Romney marsh down to the English channel, their land has the perfect geography and climate to produce the highest quality grapes and the finest English sparkling wine. 20 minute walk from Shirkoak Farm, you can explore the vineyard by taking a free self-guided tour, or for the full experience join one of their guided tours. Tours include a guided walk around their beautiful vineyard with an explanation of the vineyard activities throughout the year. You will also sample our current releases and learn about the wine making process.
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Woodchurch Wine
The vineyard is situated on the edge of the picturesque village of Woodchurch in Kent – the garden of England. Set on hills looking south over the ancient Romney marsh down to the English channel, their land has the perfect geography and climate to produce the highest quality grapes and the finest English sparkling wine. 20 minute walk from Shirkoak Farm, you can explore the vineyard by taking a free self-guided tour, or for the full experience join one of their guided tours. Tours include a guided walk around their beautiful vineyard with an explanation of the vineyard activities throughout the year. You will also sample our current releases and learn about the wine making process.
Animal Attraction
A five minute drive away is The Rare Breeds Centre, it is the only centre of its kind in Kent and is approved by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Families and adults can enjoy a perfect day out on the beautiful 100 acre farm based in the heart of the Kent countryside. From the exotic butterfly tunnel to the delights of the Discovery Garden; beautiful woodland walks to the edge of the Secret Lake, there is something for everyone. There are lots of animals to meet and pet and fun things to do for children including two play parks, a tube maze and indoor soft play barn. They also hold falconry displays, pig racing and many special events throughout the year.
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南英格蘭稀有品種中心
A five minute drive away is The Rare Breeds Centre, it is the only centre of its kind in Kent and is approved by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. Families and adults can enjoy a perfect day out on the beautiful 100 acre farm based in the heart of the Kent countryside. From the exotic butterfly tunnel to the delights of the Discovery Garden; beautiful woodland walks to the edge of the Secret Lake, there is something for everyone. There are lots of animals to meet and pet and fun things to do for children including two play parks, a tube maze and indoor soft play barn. They also hold falconry displays, pig racing and many special events throughout the year.
City/town information
Located east of the ancient town of Rye, is a beautiful stretch of coastline known as Camber Sands, Camber has over 2 miles of beach, and much of it is golden sands! It is home to the only sand dune system in East Sussex, which provides a valuable natural habitat to many animals and plants. It is only a 25minute drive from Woodchurch and makes a brilliant day out for all the family.
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Rye
Located east of the ancient town of Rye, is a beautiful stretch of coastline known as Camber Sands, Camber has over 2 miles of beach, and much of it is golden sands! It is home to the only sand dune system in East Sussex, which provides a valuable natural habitat to many animals and plants. It is only a 25minute drive from Woodchurch and makes a brilliant day out for all the family.
Tenterden, rich in history, has largely escaped much modern development and has consequently retained its charm. It has an attractive, broad tree-lined High Street, brimming with interesting shops that have something for everyone.
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Tenterden
Tenterden, rich in history, has largely escaped much modern development and has consequently retained its charm. It has an attractive, broad tree-lined High Street, brimming with interesting shops that have something for everyone.
Head out in the car for up to an hour and there is so much to do. Visits must include Canterbury. This historic English cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the seat of The Archbishop of Canterbury who is the primate of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion owing to the importance of St Augustine, who served as the apostle to the pagan Kingdom of Kent around the turn of the 7th century. The city’s cathedral became a major focus of pilgrimage following the 1170 martyrdom of Thomas Becket, although it had already been a well-trodden pilgrim destination since the murder of St Alphege by the men of King Canute in 1012. A journey of pilgrims to Becket’s shrine served as the frame for Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th century classic The Canterbury Tales.
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Canterbury
Head out in the car for up to an hour and there is so much to do. Visits must include Canterbury. This historic English cathedral city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the seat of The Archbishop of Canterbury who is the primate of the Church of England and the worldwide Anglican Communion owing to the importance of St Augustine, who served as the apostle to the pagan Kingdom of Kent around the turn of the 7th century. The city’s cathedral became a major focus of pilgrimage following the 1170 martyrdom of Thomas Becket, although it had already been a well-trodden pilgrim destination since the murder of St Alphege by the men of King Canute in 1012. A journey of pilgrims to Becket’s shrine served as the frame for Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th century classic The Canterbury Tales.
Within a 10 minute drive you can visit two local towns, Ashford and Tenterden. Ashford International railway offers direct links to the European cities of Paris, Brussels and Lille with high-speed Eurostar services. Southeastern high-speed means London terminals are just a 37 minute trip away. If you love fashion and appreciate great savings, there’s no better place to head to than Ashford Designer Outlet, which offers a whole host of labels for up to 60% less all year round.
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Ashford
Within a 10 minute drive you can visit two local towns, Ashford and Tenterden. Ashford International railway offers direct links to the European cities of Paris, Brussels and Lille with high-speed Eurostar services. Southeastern high-speed means London terminals are just a 37 minute trip away. If you love fashion and appreciate great savings, there’s no better place to head to than Ashford Designer Outlet, which offers a whole host of labels for up to 60% less all year round.
Historical
Dover-The most iconic of all English fortresses commanding the gateway to the realm for nine centuries. Climb the Great Tower, meet the characters and immerse yourself in vivid medieval interiors. Then delve deep within Dover’s White Cliffs to witness the drama in the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Roam through centuries of history at Dover Castle, from the Romans to the Cold War, in an action-packed day out.
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多佛城堡
Castle Hill RoadDover-The most iconic of all English fortresses commanding the gateway to the realm for nine centuries. Climb the Great Tower, meet the characters and immerse yourself in vivid medieval interiors. Then delve deep within Dover’s White Cliffs to witness the drama in the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Roam through centuries of history at Dover Castle, from the Romans to the Cold War, in an action-packed day out.
Leeds Castle- One of England’s finest castles, this storybook medieval stronghold commands two small islands on a peaceful lake. Dating to the 9th century and rebuilt by the Normans in 1119, Leeds became a favourite home of many medieval English queens. Henry VIII liked it so much he had it converted from a fortress into a grand palace. The outside attractions are very impressive and include a maze, a grotto, two adventure playgrounds, an aviary of native and exotic birds, and woodland gardens. The castle is 5 miles east of Maidstone. All tickets are valid for a year.
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利茲城堡
Leeds Castle- One of England’s finest castles, this storybook medieval stronghold commands two small islands on a peaceful lake. Dating to the 9th century and rebuilt by the Normans in 1119, Leeds became a favourite home of many medieval English queens. Henry VIII liked it so much he had it converted from a fortress into a grand palace. The outside attractions are very impressive and include a maze, a grotto, two adventure playgrounds, an aviary of native and exotic birds, and woodland gardens. The castle is 5 miles east of Maidstone. All tickets are valid for a year.
Another popular local attraction is Sissinghurst Castle Garden, at Sissinghurst, was created by Vita Sackville-West, poet and writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson, author and diplomat. It is among the most famous gardens in England and is designated Grade I on Historic England’s register of historic parks and gardens. It was bought by Sackville-West in 1930, and over the next thirty years, working with, and later succeeded by, a series of notable head gardeners, she and Nicolson transformed a farmstead of “squalor and slovenly disorder” into one of the world’s most influential gardens. Following Sackville-West’s death in 1962, the estate was donated to the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty. It is one of the Trust’s most popular properties.
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錫辛赫斯特城堡花園
Biddenden RdAnother popular local attraction is Sissinghurst Castle Garden, at Sissinghurst, was created by Vita Sackville-West, poet and writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson, author and diplomat. It is among the most famous gardens in England and is designated Grade I on Historic England’s register of historic parks and gardens. It was bought by Sackville-West in 1930, and over the next thirty years, working with, and later succeeded by, a series of notable head gardeners, she and Nicolson transformed a farmstead of “squalor and slovenly disorder” into one of the world’s most influential gardens. Following Sackville-West’s death in 1962, the estate was donated to the National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty. It is one of the Trust’s most popular properties.
Pub
The Bonny cravat was rumoured to be a meeting place for smugglers and has an underground tunnel leading from the cellar over to the church opposite.
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Bonny Cravat station
The Bonny cravat was rumoured to be a meeting place for smugglers and has an underground tunnel leading from the cellar over to the church opposite.
The Six Bells has a beautiful Wisteria that cascades over the entrance of the pub and is in full bloom in early May.
Six Bells
5 Bethersden RdThe Six Bells has a beautiful Wisteria that cascades over the entrance of the pub and is in full bloom in early May.
Sightseeing
Ellen Terry's early 16th-century house and cottage gardens
Built in the early 16th-century when Smallhythe was a thriving shipbuilding port, Smallhythe Place was later purchased by renowned Victorian actress, Ellen Terry, in 1899. A year after her passing in 1928 her daughter, Edith Craig, transformed the house into a museum which now displays a fascinating personal and theatrical collection that reflects Ellen's extraordinary career and unconventional private life.
Smallhythe Place includes a colourful cottage garden and a charming 17th-century thatched Barn Theatre. Ellen's legacy is kept alive today with a diverse programme of productions in the theatre and garden that are performed throughout the year.
Smallhythe place is only a 15 minute drive from Shirkoak farm.
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National Trust - Smallhythe Place
Smallhythe RoadEllen Terry's early 16th-century house and cottage gardens
Built in the early 16th-century when Smallhythe was a thriving shipbuilding port, Smallhythe Place was later purchased by renowned Victorian actress, Ellen Terry, in 1899. A year after her passing in 1928 her daughter, Edith Craig, transformed the house into a museum which now displays a fascinating personal and theatrical collection that reflects Ellen's extraordinary career and unconventional private life.
Smallhythe Place includes a colourful cottage garden and a charming 17th-century thatched Barn Theatre. Ellen's legacy is kept alive today with a diverse programme of productions in the theatre and garden that are performed throughout the year.
Smallhythe place is only a 15 minute drive from Shirkoak farm.
Travel back in time!
Steam through beautiful countryside on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, recognised as both the country’s finest and first example of a rural light railway. The main station is in the charming town of Tenterden where you can buy your tickets and learn about the history of the railway before stepping aboard a preserved steam or diesel train to travel a route that’s been used for more than a century.
Designed to serve rural villages, the railway opened in 1900 and originally ran between Robertsbridge and Tenterden. By the 1950s passengers were no longer carried on the line and trains stopped altogether in 1961 but it was not long before a team of railway enthusiasts got together and formed a society to preserve what they could of the railway – ten and a half miles of track between Tenterden and Bodiam – and since 1974, the Kent and East Sussex Railway has operated as a tourist attraction.
Passengers today may notice the tightly curved line and steep gradients as trains wend their way through beautiful High Weald countryside, these are typical of light railways at the time which were developed on shoestring budgets. There are stations at Rolvenden, Wittersham and Northiam en-route to Bodiam in East Sussex, where the line terminates in the shadow of the magnificent National Trust castle. For more information visit the Kent & East Sussex Railway website.
Tenterden station is a 15 minute drive from Shirkoak farm.
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肯特和東薩塞克斯鐵路
Station RoadTravel back in time!
Steam through beautiful countryside on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, recognised as both the country’s finest and first example of a rural light railway. The main station is in the charming town of Tenterden where you can buy your tickets and learn about the history of the railway before stepping aboard a preserved steam or diesel train to travel a route that’s been used for more than a century.
Designed to serve rural villages, the railway opened in 1900 and originally ran between Robertsbridge and Tenterden. By the 1950s passengers were no longer carried on the line and trains stopped altogether in 1961 but it was not long before a team of railway enthusiasts got together and formed a society to preserve what they could of the railway – ten and a half miles of track between Tenterden and Bodiam – and since 1974, the Kent and East Sussex Railway has operated as a tourist attraction.
Passengers today may notice the tightly curved line and steep gradients as trains wend their way through beautiful High Weald countryside, these are typical of light railways at the time which were developed on shoestring budgets. There are stations at Rolvenden, Wittersham and Northiam en-route to Bodiam in East Sussex, where the line terminates in the shadow of the magnificent National Trust castle. For more information visit the Kent & East Sussex Railway website.
Tenterden station is a 15 minute drive from Shirkoak farm.