Castles. One of the big must-do's Ash and I had this trip was to see castles. We don't have these things in Minnesota, let alone the U.S., so we made it a point to hit a few fortresses during our drive.
When planning for this trip, I made a list of the castles we would be passing from North Elham on our way to Brighton, and in total there were four that caught our eye. After much deliberation, Ash and I decided on two: Bodiam and Hastings. You can get to Bodiam from North Elham in just about an hour taking B2067.
I would like to give credit where credit is due, so much of the historical information you read on this blog comes straight from the Bodiam Castle Website (please visit!). Bodiam Castle resides in the town of Bodiam, a 30 minute drive from the southern border of England. We parked our little fiat in the castle car park (a small fee of £3.00, so come prepared), bought our £9.80 ticket at the visitor center, and took a short walk to the castle grounds.
The compact little castle dates back to the 14th century, and although the outside looks intact, the inside is mostly ruins- beautiful, beautiful ruins. Surrounded by a moat... yes an actual moat... you have to walk across a bridge to get to the interior of the structure. Once inside you can climb from room to room, walk up and down old staircases, and hang out on top of the castle walls. For the price you pay, and the views you get of the surrounding landscape, I would recommend stopping here. They even have a cafe offering a quick bite before or after your visit to the grounds, and if you are lucky you can watch an old steam train go by while you snack.
Have you visited Bodiam Castle? What did you think? We would love to hear about your experience, so please drop us a note!
I do ask that this stays a positive and safe space for readers, so please, no hurtful language or remarks about other's experiences. Thank you.
