Day Three

Monday 12 October – Tenterden to Marden

I walked a few roads in the morning. These were mostly not very busy, and the hectic stretches were mercifully short. I could have avoided most of this by heading north-east instead of east, but I had a purpose. In order to justify my membership of the National Trust (which I don’t resent, despite not very often using it) I had decided to visit Sissinghurst for lunch and a quick look round.

The second half of the morning’s walk was more peaceful, consisting mostly of woodland paths.

Arriving at places by the back door being something of a speciality of mine, I entered Sissinghurst across the lake and through the trees, and left it through the car park. In between, I enjoyed a good lunch (rather better balanced than yesterday’s) and a mooch round the garden. How wonderful to be there on a sunny October Monday: how less than wonderful, I suspect, to be wrestling the crowds in Spring and Summer! When I first went to the entrance to the garden, I produced my NT membership card, but the very nice lady on duty explained that I needed to visit the ticket office first to "go through the computer". This process caused me no pain; I understand that Sissinghurst gets a divi from NT High Command for every visiting member.

The afternoon was characterised by blue sky, sun and fluffy clouds. Horse Race House, near Sissinghurst, had a very interesting sculpture in its garden. Orchards and hop gardens (not hop fields, my mum, a Maid of Kent, corrected me) dominated the walking, which was, surprisingly for October, accomplished in my shirtsleeves. A particularly exciting encounter was with a tiger – sadly dead – among the hop poles. .

My entry to Marden will be very grand in years to come. Young trees have been planted in two lines, diagonally across a field. Not yet a grand avenue, but give it time…