Thursday 29th July Leeds Castle

We headed off to Leeds Castle in Kent but first we went into Maidstone to have a coffee and to post some stuff home - mainly books and souvenirs.

Off to the Castle and paid our £21 and started off down the path that said to the castle. TTen minutes later still no castle in sight but getting along at a good clip Jannie remarked that it was good that we were getting our walk in. Fastest we have moved since getting to Britian.

It is said to be the Loveliest Castle in the World. This castle has been here for 900 years in some form or other although the Normans were responsible for the major build in 1068. After the Norman Conquest in 1066 the Normans were responsible for some 1000 castles being built in Britian.

Leeds Castle had a large fire in 1665 and it has been rebuilt and added on to a number of times. Although a number of Monarchs have owned it or stayed in it the Castle was purchased in the early 1900s by Lady Baillie for £180,000 and remained in family hands until 1976 when it was put into a trust for all to see.

It was a lovely experience and the old part of the Castle was magnificient. The grounds are enormous and the Castle is surrounded by water and you cross the moat at the gatehouse. There are a couple of huge lawn areas where they have regular events and families were picnicking all over on the dsy. There is a 9 hole golf course that costs £9.99 a round - I should have had a game as I had my caddy with me!! There are lots of gardens, punting, a ferry to take you from one end of the Great Water to the other, a maze and grotto, falconry shows, birds of prey, Squire's Courtyard playground, restaurants and coffee shops.

We were not there long enough to see it all and mainly stuck to the castle itself.