Places to visit and things to do:

The Old Rectory is an ideal spot from which to visit many fascinating places in Kent and East Sussex. There are castles such as Leeds, Bodiam, Walmer, Deal and Dover; for garden-lovers, there are many glorious gardens including those at Sissinghurst Castle, Great Dixter, Godinton House (near Ashford) and Goodnestone Park. The historic city of Canterbury and the towns of Hythe, Rye and Tenterden are all within forty minutes drive.

Wildlife parks at Port Lympne (near Hythe), Howletts (near Canterbury) and the South of England Rare Breeds Centre (near Tenterden) are within easy reach. The Kent and East Sussex railway steam trains run from Tenterden, and the narrow-gauge Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway can take you from Hythe to the lighthouse at Dungeness. There are golf courses at Tenterden, Rye and Littlestone; horse racing at Folkestone; good sandy beaches at Littlestone, Camber and St. Mary's Bay.

You can explore the countryside by bicycle on the quieter lanes of Romney Marsh or by walking the many miles of footpath which criss-cross the area (the Saxon Shore Way runs within 200 yards of the Old Rectory).

Further details may be found on the following websites:

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For an independent review of The Old Rectory, Ruckinge, click here for our entry in Alastair Sawday's, Special Places to Stay