Scotney Castle

Scotney new Castle

Merv and I are on our way home from Tenterden and it's starting to get dark but there is just time to see something else of the Kentish weald: Scotney Castle is just a small detour off our route.

It turns out that it is actually two castles: a 19th century one on high ground and the ruins of a medieval castle surrounded by a moat lower down. We started at the top and entered the courtyard of Anthony Salvin's 1837 castle built for Edward Hussey III. It is described as being in Elizabethan style, but the efect is quite severe, suggestive of the late Victorian Scottish Baronial style. The yellow and grey stone was quarried from close by. The property was left to the National Trust by Christopher Hussey in 1970.

A small gate leads round to a terrace where you can see the back view.

There is a lovely view up a long shallow valley.

We then headed downhill, missing a partial view of the old castle. However, this enabled us to gradually discover its delights. We first passed the odd-looking thatched Ice House.

 At the bottom we had our first view of the rear of the old castle. It is in fact an amalgam of two elements: a medieval tower and a 17th century house attached to it. Part of this was pulled down by Edward Hussey to create a picturesque ruin.

The most dramatic view however is from part of the way round the moat where the tower is to the fore and the new castle can be seen on its hillside beyond.

We circled round the moat to see the inside of the castle ...

... and climbed to take one last landscape view.

It remained only to head back up the hill to the car park and to brave the M25 to get home.

Conditions: cold.

Rating: four stars. A delight.