Читать книгу Railway Day Trips: 160 classic train journeys around Britain - Julian Holland - Страница 38

This is an extremely pleasant day trip taking a leisurely journey in a vintage steam-hauled train to visit one of England’s finest moated castles. With its headquarters today in Tenterden, the Kent & East Sussex Railway was originally built and owned by the legendary Colonel Holman F Stephens, and opened between Headcorn and Robertsbridge in 1905. This delightful rural line led a precarious existence until it was nationalized in 1948 and finally closed in 1961. Since then it has been gradually reopened westwards from Tenterden Town station, reaching Bodiam in 2000. The missing link from here to the national rail network at Robertsbridge is currently being rebuilt.

From Tenterden, trains descend in a westerly direction to Rolvenden station then head south, calling at Wittersham Road station towards the water meadows of the peaceful Rother Valley. After crossing the county border from Kent into East Sussex, trains call at Northiam (for Great Dixter House and Gardens) before following the valley westwards to Bodiam Station where the village, Castle Inn and National Trust castle are all within easy reach.

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

National Trust’s 14th-century moated Bodiam Castle (NT); Castle Inn; Colonel Stephens Museum (Tenterden)

FREQUENCY OF TRAINS

5-8 per day (Trains operate every day in August, but only on certain days for the rest of the year. See railway’s website for details.)

NB Tenterden can be reached by bus from Ashford

10½ MILES 50 MINUTES

NUMBER OF CHANGES: 0

A vintage steam train approaches Northiam station on the Kent & East Sussex Railway.