Three Days Exploring High Weald Castles
from Judins Cottage
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Judins Cottage sits in a perfect pocket of the High Weald, close enough to three of the most rewarding castle days you can have, yet far enough away that each feels like its own proper adventure. Whether you're drawn to water, gardens, countryside walks, or just the romance of moated ruins, there's a day here that works. All three are dog friendly, all three keep things at a relaxed pace, and all three can easily stretch into a longer afternoon if you find yourself lingering.
DAY 1
The Bodiam Day: River and Castle
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Bodiam Castle - Lime Wharf Cafe & Bodiam Boating Station
It's 21 minutes to Bodiam Castle, 9.7 miles through rolling Wealden lanes, and the journey already feels like you're stepping into something older. Bodiam itself is unmissable: a 14th-century moated castle with a silhouette that feels almost unreal in its perfection, especially on a quiet morning. Dogs are welcome on short leads around the grounds and into the Wharf Tea-room, which overlooks the River Rother and serves homemade cakes alongside light lunches.
Bodiam, near Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5UA
01580 830196
Opening 10:00 to 17:00, last admission 30 minutes before
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bodiam-castle
The real magic happens 11 minutes further on, at Bodiam Boating Station, though you'll find it under its proper name, Lime Wharf Cafe. This is where the day opens up. The Scandinavian boathouse sits right on the river with views of the Kent and East Sussex steam trains chugging past in the distance. You can eat here (lovely freshly sourced food check website for details), and dogs are welcome. But the whole point is that the river is there. You can hire a paddleboard, kayak, or canoe for an hour or two, or book a river cruise upstream toward Rye.
Lime Wharf Cafe & Bodiam Boating Station
Riverside Cottage, Station Road, Northiam, East Sussex TN31 6FE
01797 330025
Open daily 10:00 to 17:00 (seasonal variations)
www.limewharfcafe.co.uk
If you want something more structured, the Kent and East Sussex Railway runs heritage steam trains from nearby Tenterden to Bodiam station, a 10.5-mile journey through the Rother Valley that takes about 45 minutes each way. Freedom Tickets (£18 per person, dogs travel free) give you all-day travel so you can hop on and off at the intermediate stations. Book online the day before for discounted prices.
Kent and East Sussex Railway
Tenterden Town Station, Kent TN30 6HE
01580 765155
Trains operate April to October, up to five daily departures
www.kesr.org.uk
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Looking for somewhere to eat after a day exploring? We've put together a guide to our favourite dog-friendly pubs near Burwash, including welcoming country pubs that are ideal for a relaxed evening meal before returning to Judins Cottage.
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DAY 2
The Sissinghurst Day: Garden and Water
Sissinghurst is 35 minutes north, 16 miles, and the drive already signals you're crossing into proper Kent. The castle and gardens are famous enough that they need no introduction, but what matters here is the practical: dogs are welcome on short leads around the wider 450-acre estate, but not in the formal garden or vegetable garden. The estate itself has 13 miles of walking trails through woodland and grassland, so there's plenty to explore with a dog without feeling like you're missing the main event.
Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Biddenden Road, near Cranbrook, Kent TN17 2AB
01580 710700
Opening 11:00 to 17:30, last entry 16:45
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden
The Milk House is in Sissinghurst village itself, half a mile from the castle. Dogs are welcome on leads in the garden and on the terrace (but not the dining room). It's a former coaching inn with a proper bar, a wood-fired pizza oven, and a grazing menu that shifts with the seasons. The coffee arrives early, they open at 9am, and the local sourcing is genuine. Free parking for guests.
The Milk House
The Street, Sissinghurst, Kent TN17 2JG
01580 720200
Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 22:00, Friday to Saturday 9:00 to 23:00, Sunday 9:00 to 21:00
www.themilkhouse.co.uk
On the way to or from Sissinghurst, Bewl Water is a natural break or half-day on its own. It's the South East's largest reservoir, 800 acres of water and ancient woodland with 13 miles of walking trails. The Waterfront Cafe sits right on the water with views across to the woods. Dogs are welcome (on leads as standard). You can cycle, walk, open-water swim, or just sit with coffee and watch the light change on the water. The Aqua Park, a floating obstacle course, runs from £25 per person if anyone in the group fancies getting thoroughly soaked. (Booking required)
Bewl Water
Bewlbridge Lane, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8JH
Open daily, dawn to dusk
The Waterfront Cafe 10:00 to 17:30 (seasonal)
www.bewlwater.co.uk
DAY 3
The Scotney Day: Ruin and Pub
Scotney is 28 minutes away, 13 miles northeast, and the drive takes you deeper into the Kent side of the border. The castle is a 14th-century moated ruin wrapped in a romantic Victorian country house, and the gardens are genuinely beautiful in a way that feels intimate rather than grand. Dogs are welcome on short leads in the grounds. Note: car park booking is essential, particularly at peak times.
Scotney Castle
Lamberhurst, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN3 8JN
01892 893820
Opening 10:00 to 17:00 (or dusk if earlier), house opens 11:00
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/scotney-castle
Seven minutes away, just 2.3 miles, is the Elephant's Head. It's a historic Grade 2 listed timbered farmhouse pub at Hook Green near Lamberhurst, the kind of place with real fires, Harvey's ales on tap, and home-cooked food. Dogs are very welcome. It sits on the Kent/Sussex border and has the feeling of a place that's been there for centuries, which it largely has. There's no fuss about it; you walk in and feel immediately at home.
Elephant's Head
Hook Green, Lamberhurst, Kent TN3 8LJ
01892 739525
www.elephants-head.co.uk
A Gentle Option for Departure or a Lazy Day
Bateman's, Rudyard Kipling's home, works beautifully as a last thing before you leave, or as a break on any of the three days above. It's just 2 minutes up the road by car from the cottage, or you're welcome to walk across our fields and leave your car parked here while you explore. The gardens are lovely, the house tells the story of Kipling's life here, and dogs are welcome on leads in the grounds. You could easily spend an hour or two without any sense of hurry. If you'd like to do this on your way out, just let us know and we'll make sure everything works smoothly.
Bateman's
Burwash, East Sussex TN19 7DS
01435 882302
Opening 11:00 to 17:00 (hours vary seasonally)
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/batemans
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Before You Set Off
Book the Kent and East Sussex Railway online the day before if you plan to ride it; tickets are cheaper that way and available until midnight. The steam trains run up to five times daily April to October. Dogs travel free in standard class.
If you're thinking of paddleboards or kayaks at Bodiam Boating Station, pre-book the evening before in summer months, good weather brings crowds.
Sissinghurst and Scotney both get busy in July and August, so arriving early or late in the day changes the whole experience.