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If you enjoy a chill down the spine, are sensitive to unseen spirits, or just love a good old ghost story, you'll find plenty to intrigue you all over Kent.

A new itinerary launched by the Heart of Kent tourism partnership highlights some of the legendary encounters which Kent is famous for.

On your next visit to one of Kent's pubs, hotels or stately homes you may see some of the more common sightings seen around the county which include monks, mistresses, servants, young mothers, headless horsemen, queens and dogs...

- The village of Pluckley, not far from Ashford, still holds a claim to fame as England's most haunted village - at least 12 confirmed ghosts have been recorded in various locations around Pluckley and they include a monk, a teacher, a coach and horses, a white lady, a red lady and a gypsy watercress seller.

- Around Maidstone, Leeds Castle's phantom is a black dog, while the Larkfield Priory Hotel is haunted by Charlotte, an 19th-century servant girl. On a small island in the Medway at Nettlestead, a bridge appears once every November and a monk can be seen throwing a bound and gagged woman from it.

- The ghost of a WW2 airman thumbs a lift to Biggin Hill occasionally and sometimes the engines of his plane may be heard although the sky is clear. Also in the Sevenoaks area are the ghosts of two noblewomen: the Duchess of Cumberland who walks in the grounds of Knole (the Duchess Walk was so named after her spirit was seen there several times); and Lady Frederick Campbell, who was cursed by her husband as he was executed, and died in a fire at Combe Bank.

- At Old Soar Manor in Plaxtol near Tonbridge, a servant girl who was made pregnant by the family priest of the great house haunts the manor to this day. Penshurst Place too has its ghosts, while The Bottle House Inn nearby, normally noted for its excellent food, has a lady ghost who is 'felt' rather than seen.

- The town of Royal Tunbridge Wells is rich in ghostly sightings - at least 20 haunt The Pantiles and local trader Geoff Butler leads occasional ghost walks describing them. The villages around are rich in spirit wanderings too - a headless horseman, probably a cavalier, has been seen thundering down a road in Rusthall, while a young mother haunts the site of her former home in Pembury.

- And Anne Boleyn crosses the bridge over the River Eden at Hever Castle every Christmas Eve.

Most ghosts are friendly and mean no harm, their spirits usually manifesting sadness in their lives or deaths. Some are even mischievous and play pranks on the living such as moving items or bending keys double. Whether you are a believer or not, there are many tales of intrigue to captivate visitors to Kent.

If you really want the full immersion, there are even a couple of suggestions for accommodation where ghosts may be seen - or felt - in either guest bedrooms or other rooms.

Visit www.visitheartofkent.com to view all the itineraries and events happening in the county or to book accommodation online.

For photographs or more information on the Heart of Kent call Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR 01892 616647.

There will be a chance for families to Explore Ancient Egypt on a special activity day arranged by newly opened Chiddingstone Castle near Edenbridge in Kent over the May bank holiday and during half term week.

The Egyptian themed activities days will take place on Monday 26th May and also on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th 2008 from 11am to 4pm. Families can decide which activities they would like to do, in whatever order and can just turn up on the day. Participation in the activity day will be free with a family ticket.

The activities include:
Making an Egyptian amulet necklace; make and take activity.Materials will be available from a table with instructions, they can take the materials and sit and make up the necklace.
Making an Egyptian god mask; make and take activity. Materials will be available from a table with instructions; they can sit at the table and paint and decorate cardboard masks.
Egyptian facepainting. Children can enjoy being made to look like a real Egyptian including the ancient pharaoh kings.
Tasting Egyptian bread. Families can try samples of Egyptian style bread made with wholemeal flour, salt and dates.
Writing in hieroglyphs using magnetic boards and hieroglyph tiles.
Building an Egyptian pyramid tomb using wooden blocks.

Chiddingstone Castle, Hill Hoath Road, Chiddingstone, near Edenbridge TN8 7AD.
Open on Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays and Bank Holidays until 28 September 2008, from 11am to 5pm.
Admission is £6 adult, £4 child (5-13), child under 5 free, £18 family (2+2) or £60 for a family season ticket. (Reduced prices for grounds only).
Visit www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk or call 01892 870347 for more information.  

A picturesque Gothik revival castle containing one of the most unusual and eclectic collections of art in Kent re-opens after a period of restoration and exhibition re-display.

Chiddingstone Castle, adjacent to the pretty, much-filmed National Trust village of Chiddingstone, sits in 35 acres of Grade II listed landscaped gardens surrounding a lake and enclosed by woodlands. The building itself was originally a medieval manor house, before being completely rebuilt in the early 18th century as a Carolean mansion with castle styling. It was largely neglected during the early 20th century until 1955 when Denys Bower bought it to display his wonderful eclectic art collections.

Bower left his collections to the nation when he died in 1977 and they are now managed by his trustees. On display within the castle is the Japanese collection including lacquer, Samurai swords and armour from the 14th-19th centuries, as well as substantial Buddhist items. Also shown is an important collection of Egyptian antiquities, Bower's inspiration for which came from the discoveries of Tutankhamen and the work of Sir Flinders Petrie, an eminent Egyptologist at the turn of the century.

There is also an excellent Stuart collection. Denys Bower grew up in Derbyshire and as a result he was enthralled by the activities of Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the 'Young Pretender' also known as Bonnie Prince Charlie. The collection, one of only a very few such collections, contains manuscripts and memorabilia of Stuart and Jacobite history, including documents associated with King Charles II.

Today's visitors can also see a working 200-year-old kitchen, numerous tapestries, stained glass windows and paintings in the castle which is rich in Jacobean wood panelling. The exhibitions open from Easter and facilities for visitors include a tea room and shop.

We want the whole family to be involved when they visit and we have devised some really good educational but fun tasks for the children, said director of Chiddingstone Castle Alex Lochrane, 'children can write their name in hieroglyphics using magnetic tiles, dress up as Samurai Warriors, Victorian Servants or Ancient Egyptians.

They can taste food eaten by Ancient Egyptians and inhabitants of Georgian England, all from original recipes. There are also two activity rooms where children can make a Samurai Helmet, Egyptian Mask or try their hand at Origami or build an Egyptian tomb. For a small charge children can take a fun-filled backpack around the exhibitions to guide them through our collections where Alex the Explorer will introduce them to the Samurai, Ancient Egyptians, Georgian and Victorian England, Castle and Local History through magnetic and drawing activities as well as custom made props found in their backpack.'

For more information visit www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk or call 01892 870347.

It's time to rediscover the true Garden of England in the Heart of Kent.

With counties such as Yorkshire claiming the title of the 'Garden of England', Kent is fighting back with a campaign launched by the Heart of Kent tourism group whose research consistently shows that visitors to the county from all over the world still put gardens and historical buildings at the top of their list of reasons to visit the county.

Following research in 2006 which claimed that Yorkshire was now considered the 'Garden of England', Kent will be seeking to remind us why it should keep its title. The new findings came after a survey was conducted among 4,000 viewers of a UKTV channel which voted Kent fifth from a shortlist of 12 counties drawn up by TV gardeners.

But Kent's place as the Garden of England stems back over 400 years and is not easily given up. The title is believed to date back to Henry VIII's time when he is said to have greatly enjoyed a dish of Kent cherries. Henry was certainly fond of fruit and was personally responsible for many orchards being established in Kent, whose blossoms contributed - and still do today - to the garden-like aspect of the county. Hops were another large crop in Kent, grown in 'hop gardens' (which were allegedly so-named rather than called 'farms' for tax avoidance reasons).

Abundant in Kent today are a great variety of gardens open to visitors. From the great estates to small private enterprises, from ancient parklands and medieval herb plots to newly established gardens, they are to be found in every part of the county, and the region known as the Heart of Kent includes the greatest number of these gems.

Many famous gardens are to be found in Kent: Sissinghurst, Vita Sackville-West's creation, is by far the most well known; with Chartwell, Winston Churchill's beloved house and garden, a close second, vying with Hever Castle with its mazes and ornate Italian Garden.

But, as well as several familiar gardens, there are other equally delightful gardens full of charm which are well worth seeking out: for example, Marle Place Gardens near Brenchley is dotted with sculptures which blend into artistic planting, Emmetts Garden at Ide Hill contains the highest treetop in Kent among its wonderful woodlands and gardens, Hole Park in Rolvenden (pictured) is one of the best gardens in the country for Bluebells and spring colour while The Old Walled Garden at Hadlow is dedicated to exotic plants.

And no less than 14 National Collections of plants are to be found in the Heart of Kent, from herbs such as lavender and oregano, to trees and exotics such as orchids and bottlebrushes - a rich variety indeed.

As well as gardens regularly open to the public, there are also many hundreds of gardens which open only a few times a year under the National Gardens Scheme. Viewed by many as an opportunity to peer over the garden gate, these opportunities also demonstrate how the people of England - and Kent - are indeed a nation of gardeners. A quick search reveals around 100 gardens in the Heart of Kent in the scheme which are not otherwise known to garden enthusiasts.

The Heart of Kent has a tourism website full of information about Kent and its gardens www.visitheartofkent.com . The website also has details of accredited accommodation to suit all types of visitors, including places set in lovely countryside or within attractive gardens. For example, the aptly named 5* Garden Cottage is set in three acres of Munday Manor's gardens at Cheesemans Green near Ashford; while The Beacon in Rusthall near Tunbridge Wells has wonderful views over the Garden of England from its garden terrace. There is also a new itinerary aimed at Garden and Cream Tea Lovers.

For more press information and images, please contact Caroline Edmunds of Pennington PR on 01892 616647 or email her at: caroline@penningtonpr.com.

Link through to gardens open regularly in the Heart of Kent region.

Notes for Editors
1. The survey was conducted in 2006 by Style Gardens on UKTV channel. 12 counties were shortlisted by TV gardening experts then 4,000 people were polled to find the winners, based on criteria that included scenery, village traditions and wildlife diversity.
2. The National Garden Scheme publishes an annual Yellow Book of gardens open under the scheme, with leaflets for each county. All proceeds on NGS days go to charity. The 100+ gardens quoted are those within the Heart of Kent area - there are many more in Kent as a whole.   

The end of summer isn't the end of things to see and do in the Heart of Kent by any means. Visitors will find a variety of events and attractions to keep them interested through to the end of the year.

Hallowe'en, fireworks and Christmas specials are traditional and ever popular themes, but flowers, food, art and music feature as well; not to mention plenty of activities especially for families and children. And the venues range from stately homes and public buildings to steam railways and forests.

We've listed some of the events in October, November and December, but the Heart of Kent website www.visitheartofkent.com has a comprehensive listing - just search by date, location or type of attraction or browse the events and see what takes your fancy. All events have contact details including websites.

There's no reason not to enjoy autumn in the Heart of Kent this year! For full details of the Heart of Kent, visit the website www.visitheartofkent.com. For press information and images, please call Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR on 01892 616647 or email her at caroline@penningtonpr.com  

There is nothing quite so quintessentially English as stately gardens and cream teas - it is the perfect combination for a day or an afternoon out. The Heart of Kent tourism partnership recognises this in one of its five new themed itineraries, highlighted on its website www.visitheartofkent.com.

The Heart of Kent is centred around the historic and diverse towns of Ashford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells, and is blessed with a richness of gardens varying from the formal gardens which surround stately homes such as Penshurst Place, Godinton House and Gardens and Chartwell, to the smaller but no less fascinating gardens in private hands such as Hole Park Gardens or Godinton.

Many of the gardens offer cream teas - a chance to rest the legs, take in refreshment and gaze more leisurely at lush plants and clever garden schemes, before setting off home, well fortified by scones with jam and clotted cream accompanied by a good cup of tea.

But there are of course numerous tea shops; often charming cottages dispensing home made cakes and bonhomie in a picturesque setting (some with interesting collections such as teddy bears or teapots); or hotel lounges with dainty sandwiches and music softly playing in the background.

The Heart of Kent website is attractive, informative and easy to use. As well as the itineraries, there are details of individual attractions and places to eat. If contemplating an overnight stay or perhaps a restful weekend, you can also book accommodation online instantly, thanks to an up-to-the-minute database of everything from B&Bs and self catering to luxury country hotels.

Link through to the Gardens & Cream Teas itinerary.

For more information or images, please contact Caroline Edmunds of Pennington PR on 01892 616647 or email her at caroline@penningtonpr.com.   

Swathes of fruit blossom and hop bines gave rise to Kent's nickname as the Garden of England and these have formed the basis of a brand new itinerary from The Heart of Kent tourism region. Visitors to their website www.visitheartofkent.com can now click on feature itineraries for suggested days out or weekends away; and Food & Drink is one of the tempting themes.

Centred around the historic and diverse towns of Ashford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells, the Heart of Kent is rich in attractions of all kinds. The Food & Drink itinerary highlights a few of the many farms, wineries, breweries, specialist shops and dining venues in the area.

Hops grown to flavour beer were the source of Kent's wealth in the past and, although the industry has shrunk considerably, it's still possible to visit hop-themed museums including The Hop Farm Country Park and The Museum of Kent Life, as well as shops such as The Hop Shop selling hops and related goodies. At the other end of the process is a tour of Westerham Brewery, a small independent brewery which uses Kentish hops.

Vines are now replacing bines across the Kentish countryside and, with a growing reputation internationally, English wine is well represented in the Heart of Kent. A visit to any of the wineries including Chapel Down, Lamberhurst, Tenterden and Biddenden combines a tour with tastings and a stroll through pleasant scenery.

Find out about over 100 varieties of apples and pears - and taste a few - at the Perry Court Farm Shop, or visit The Secret Garden at Mersham to see a fully restored working Victorian kitchen garden with a food hall where local specialist producers offer samplings and tastings.

Among the many dining options, which range from simple, tasty home cooked fare to Michelin-starred cuisine, are some more unusual ideas. How about a Ploughman's lunch or a cream tea on board a steam train as it puffs through Tenterden and out into the countryside? Or go all out and book dinner on a luxury Pullman coach - a meal to remember!

The Heart of Kent website is attractive, informative and easy to use: as well as the itineraries, there are details of individual attractions and places to eat. For staying and making a night or a weekend of it, you can also book accommodation online instantly thanks to an up-to-the-minute database of everything from B&Bs and self catering to luxury country hotels.

Link through to the Food & Drink itinerary.

For more information or images, please contact Caroline Edmunds of Pennington PR on 01892 616647 or email her at caroline@penningtonpr.com.

With so many magazine features on ideas for women to pamper themselves and find 'me' time, a tourism website has turned the tables and devised an itinerary 'just for the boys'. Visitors to the Heart of Kent website www.visitheartofkent.com can now click on feature itineraries for suggested days out or weekends away - and one of the themes is Boys' Day Out.

Centred around the historic and diverse towns of Ashford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells and aimed at everyone from friends getting together and (respectable!) stag gatherings to groups with shared pastimes or fathers and sons on an outing, the itinerary covers a variety of sports, hobbies and interests and allows visitors to be as active or relaxed as they would like to be.

Whether you want to be in the driving seat, or in a ringside seat, activities such as gliding, motorcross, karting and track days let you choose to do one... or both. From the thrill of Brands Hatch to the charm of Headcorn Aerodrome, most of the attractions have a number of options to tailor make a day or weekend out.

For more physical and less automated activities, climbing, golfing and aerial courses offer different levels of exertion so chaps can set their own pace. The itinerary highlights a mere few of the many attractions in the Heart of Kent suitable for men - others such as steam trains, offroad cycle trails and watersports centres can be found by searching the website.

The Heart of Kent website is attractive, informative and easy to use: as well as the itineraries, there are details of individual attractions and restaurants. For staying and making a night or a weekend of it, you can also book accommodation online instantly thanks to an up-to-the-minute database of everything from B&Bs and self catering to luxury country hotels.

Link through to the Boys' Day Out itinerary.

For more information or images, please contact Caroline Edmunds of Pennington PR on 01892 616647 or email her at caroline@penningtonpr.com.

A new feature itinerary on tourism website www.visitheartofkent.com will appeal to visitors looking for a more cerebral experience. The Arts & Culture itinerary, centred around the historic and diverse towns of Ashford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells, gives a taster of some of the many historic and contemporary artistic attractions in the Heart of Kent.

Art, sculpture, music, theatre and literature are all represented by a variety of attractions; some of which have been homes to great figures such as Smallhythe in Tenterden, home to Victorian actress Ellen Terry; and others which house great collections, such as Finchcocks near Goudhurst where over 100 vintage keyboards are not only displayed, but also played in regular recitals.

Contemporary culture is well represented in Kent, from the fascinating sculpture trail at Challock which continues to evolve as more artworks are gradually added, to productions of modern dance, theatre and art at Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells. There's a wealth of art and culture packed into the region, ensuring that all tastes are represented.

The Heart of Kent website is attractive, informative and easy to use: as well as the itineraries, there are details of individual attractions and places to eat. For staying and making a night or a weekend of it, you can also book accommodation online instantly thanks to an up-to-the-minute database of everything from B&Bs and self catering to luxury country hotels.

Link through to the Arts & Culture itinerary.

For more information or images, please contact Caroline Edmunds of Pennington PR on 01892 616647 or email her at caroline@penningtonpr.com.  

Superwoman exists in just about every home today as many women juggle a career, motherhood and running a household. But finding a little precious downtime is almost impossible with so many demands. Sometimes the only way to recharge batteries is to get away from the home with a good friend or two and remind yourselves that there is fun to be had!

An English tourism website has thought of just this and come up with itinerary suggestions that include just the things that women love to do. Ladies' Day is one of five new feature itineraries on www.visitheartofkent.com, the website of the Heart of Kent region which is centred around the historic and diverse towns of Ashford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Whether you can spare just half a day, or a full day, or can stretch to a few days, the itinerary highlights just a few of the many activities in the Heart of Kent which cater for ladies who want to relax, chat, shop, sightsee, explore or enjoy spa treatments. Whether you're a mum and daughter on a special treat, a hen party, or a few friends catching up, the itinerary has answers for where to go, what to do and where to eat or stay.

From the town of Royal Tunbridge Wells which has a great choice of spa venues and a variety of restaurants offering special ladies' lunch rates to complement its excellent shopping outlets, to the attractive hotel, restaurant and spa at Eastwell Manor, near Ashford, with a tempting selection of spa packages, you can choose retail therapy or beauty therapy! And really relax by strolling round some beautiful houses and gardens: enjoy the theatrical museum and cottage gardens of Smallhythe Place, or trace Keira Knightley's footsteps in the lovely gardens of Groombridge Place, one of the settings for the film 'Pride & Prejudice'.

And, for time-poor ladies, the Heart of Kent website has the bonus of being attractive, informative and easy to use: as well as the itineraries, there are details of individual attractions and restaurants. For staying and making a night or a weekend of it, you can also book accommodation online instantly thanks to an up-to-the-minute database of everything from B&Bs and self catering to luxury country hotels. There's no excuse not to book time out right away!

For more information or images, please contact Caroline Edmunds of Pennington PR on 01892 616647 or email her at caroline@penningtonpr.com.

Link through to the Ladies' Day itinerary.

Organising summer trips and days out just got easier, thanks to a new type of itinerary planner on the Heart of Kent tourism website www.visitheartofkent.com.

With so many things to see and do in the Garden of England, it often helps to look at suggestions for days out and short breaks, particularly if visitors have specific interests, or perhaps are looking for something a little different.

To whet your appetite with a taster of the new Heart of Kent itineraries, a 'Highlights' itinerary cherry-picks the choicest attractions from each of the comprehensive itinerary themes, giving a whistle-stop gastronomic, horticultural, cultural, masculine or feminine tour of the Heart of Kent.

The new Heart of Kent itineraries comprise:

Boys' Day Out - caters for Father's Day, stag weekends, or just friends on a day out with ideas for adventurous activities, relaxing golf or leisurely pursuits such as steam trains
Arts & Culture - takes in many musical, literary and theatrical attractions
Food & Drink - explores the wonderful produce and agricultural links in the region, especially hops, vineyards and orchards
Ladies' Days Out - suggests attractive gardens, towns and villages with specialist shops, spas, and restaurants which offer excellent lunches
Gardens & Cream Teas - combines two important pleasures, often but not always at the same venue.

The 'Highlights' itineraries include attractions as diverse and intriguing as the Challock Sculpture Trail for Arts & Culture; Treejumpers at Woodland Court for the Boys' Day Out; Biddenden Vineyard & Chapel Down Winery on the Food & Drink trail; Hole Park Gardens, with homemade cakes, in Gardens & Cream Teas; and Royal Tunbridge Wells with its specialist shops, spa venues and restaurants for the Ladies' Day.

A summary about each attraction is given, with a link to further information and details of their own website, or a telephone number if there is no website available. The attractions have all been chosen from strong background knowledge and cover a wide range of tastes and age groups, demonstrating the diversity of the Heart of Kent.

The Heart of Kent website www.visitheartofkent.com should be the first port of call for anyone considering a trip into Kent, whether just for a leisurely afternoon, or when planning a longer stay. It is an attractive, easy-to-use site with a comprehensive database of accommodation which can be booked instantly online. As well as interesting information about the region and its main towns, there are useful facts such as travel information, and special offers which are regularly updated.

For more press information or images of attractions, please contact Caroline Edmunds of Pennington PR on 01892 616647 or email: caroline@penningtonpr.com

When summer finally arrives and long, hot August days are upon us, we start to plan days out and weekends away. And where better to go than the Heart of Kent?

Situated in the Garden of England and based around five distinctive towns with a huge variety of attractions all around, the Heart of Kent tourism region has something for everyone: families or couples, young or old, active or relaxed, enthusiast or opportunist - it's all in this South-east corner of England.

Each of the five towns in the heart of Kent - Ashford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Royal Tunbridge Wells - has its own historical interest and makes a convenient base for exploring the region. Ashford mixes an old market town ambience with a new international feel, Maidstone is the county town with its Archbishop's Palace right by the River Medway, Sevenoaks has Knole at its heart, Tonbridge's medieval castle overlooks the River Medway as well, and Royal Tunbridge Wells draws visitors with The Pantiles historic arcade. All offer ample choices for shopping, eating and accommodation.

Surrounding these diverse towns, the Heart of Kent has so much to offer it hardly seems possible it's all packed into one region. Historic buildings jostle for attention - there are castles such as Leeds Castle, Hever, Scotney and Chiddingstone; former homes of historical figures such as Winston Churchill's Chartwell, Vita Sackville-West's Sissinghurst and Ellen Terry's Smallhythe Place; houses which have stood through centuries of history - Penshurst Place, Ightham Mote and Quebec House; or even the wealth of historic buildings thronging towns such as Tenterden and Cranbrook.

Gardens naturally feature in the Heart of Kent and, as well as the more famous such as Great Dixter, Pashley Manor or Emmetts Garden, there are numerous smaller and equally delightful ones to see - Hole Park Gardens, Marle Place Gardens and Godinton to name just three. There are gardens with national collections such as Downderry which is home to the National Plant Collections of Lavender and Rosemary in Kent, there are gardens focusing on organic gardening such as Garden Organic Yalding and quirky gardens like Lullingstone Castle's World Garden of Plants.

Perhaps you prefer a more active day? Then check out Go Ape! at Bedgebury Forest & Pinetum where you can also cycle or walk a variety of trails among the trees, or spend an afternoon go karting at Buckmore Park Karting, or play a round of golf at any of the many clubs around the region.

Visitors with more specialist interests can amuse themselves too. Wine buffs can taste their way through the various well-respected vineyards; musicians will love Finchcocks Musical Museum with over 100 vintage keyboards; steam railway enthusiasts are spoilt for choice with Tenterden, Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch and Spa Valley Railway puffing through Kent countryside; animal lovers can visit Eagle Heights Bird of Prey Centre, or the Hop Farm with its shire horses, or the Rare Breeds Centre. In fact, whatever takes your fancy, there's somewhere in the Heart of Kent that will suit you - just check out the website www.visitheartofkent.com.

And, to give extra flavour to August trips, we've included a taster of the many events, large and small, which are being held around the Heart of Kent region. Summer never looked so much fun!

Ends

For press enquiries and images, please contact Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR on 01892 616647 or email: caroline@penningtonpr.com