Location
Situated on the edge of the historic Wealden village of Biddenden
Nestled in 14 acres of picturesque Kentish countryside, Deer Cottages offer the perfect rural retreat for couples and families alike.
The cottages sit within the beautiful grounds of Rats Castle, a delightful quintessentially Kentish oast house, occupied by the owners. 14-acres of scenic gardens (shared with the owners) await your visit with orchards, grass meadow, tended flower beds, fields, pond, a multitude of wildlife, tennis court and a children’s playground to discover.
Take a stroll hand-in-hand amongst the rows of old fruit trees, or relax on garden seating whilst supervising the children as they explore the wooden adventure playground.
The delightful village of Biddenden was once the centre of the Wealden iron industry and is surrounded by the incredible natural beauty of the Weald of Kent. With fine timber-framed buildings, a delightful church, playgrounds, farm shop, corner shop, pub, café, various footpaths and a Michelin star restaurant, Biddenden is very worthy of exploring. Hemsted Forest, with its extensive walking and cycling paths, and the award-winning Biddenden Vineyards are both just a stone's throw from the cottages.
Just some of the nearby attractions that you might also want to consider visiting whilst in the area include Sissinghurst Castle Gardens, Kent & East Sussex Steam Railway, Bedgebury Forest, Leeds Castle, and the picturesque historic towns of Tenterden and Cranbrook, known as ‘the jewel of the Weald’ and ‘the capital of the Weald’ respectively. Further afield, the large market town of Ashford offers much in the way of recreational and leisure facilities including a sports centre, bowling alley, trampoline park, and many shopping facilities, including the impressive Ashford Designer Outlet Centre – the retail home to a multitude of discounted designer and high-end brands.
Sika Deer
Wild sika deer frequent the gardens from the neighbouring woodland, grazing on grass, indulging in the windfallen fruit in the orchards and investigating the flower beds around the premises. Guests are reminded that although the deer can delight visitors with their close proximity, sightings are not guaranteed and they are wild animals, so please be respectful of their behaviour.
Where to find us
Deer Cottages are located in the grounds of Rats Castle on Cranbrook Road, to the south of the village of Biddenden in Kent. The premises is circled on the ordnance survey map, and is situated almost equal distance between the market towns of Tenterden and Cranbrook.