Gardens and a Castle with a Moat

Tuesday dawned cloudy and a bit muggy; we met our group for breakfast, and then headed to Sissinghurst, a beautiful garden dating to Elizabethan times, designed by Vita Sackville-West.  For those of you not up on your British lore, Vita was the lover of Virginia Wolfe, a poet, novelist and garden designer.  

Arriving at Sissinghurst, we joined the National Trust, which gets you into a myriad of British attractions, it also contributes to supporting each of these sites.  Touring the gardens we were told that they were at the end of their season, due to the lack of rain in the UK.  The dahlias were out in great glory, and the area was gorgeous, even in the rain. 

Figs

It's apple season; some grow on trellises

When they trim the hedges here, they use a level!

After spending quite a bit of time here, we decided to hit Bodiam castle; a beautiful representation of a medieval castle with a moat.  

British royalty and history has always fascinated me, and this castle was the stuff of your imagination…with a drawbridge, moat, and turrets.  

During World War II this area of Kent was where the British assumed the Germans would mount an invasion, and so on the property of the castle, there was a pillbox that was used as a defense during the war. 

Since the day was rainy and cold we decided to head back to the hotel and a cream tea, which is tea with two scones, clotted cream and jam.  The perfect way to end the day.