Magnificent castle gardens steeped in history

There's a definite chill in the air in England, and it seems that the long, hot summer we were promised, never made it to our shores - as many of my British blogging colleagues have already noted. In fact, there has been more rain this year than I remember in other years and looking at the pitiable list of UK gardens that I've succeeded in visiting .... this just confirms that I wasn't able to get out and about as much as I wanted this summer (even if I did manage to visit many gardens overseas).

This week, I've had a friend visiting from abroad and inbetween the torrential rain, wind squalls and flash floods, I felt that I should show him a little bit of England, so I took him on a castle tour in Kent - first to Hever and then to Scotney. It made a wonderful day out and judging by his reactions, I recommend this itinerary to anybody who loves history and gardens.

Hever Castle (above) is one of my favourites and is a visual feast, both inside and out. This was once the home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, who was beheaded after just three years of marriage because she was unable to provide the king with a son. Historians visit because the castle is fascinating and garden lovers come because the grounds are beautiful.

The castle dates back to the 13th century and comes complete with moat and drawbridge. But the gardens were laid out at the beginning of the 20th century for William Waldorf Astor who had purchased Hever in 1901. A century later, they have reached maturity and are stunning throughout the season. There is a magnificent Italian garden divided into rooms, which are regularly re-planted throughout the year to reflect the seasons (above); 35 acres of lake that involved the labour of 800 men over a two-year period; a magnificent topiary chessboard; a water maze, which children love; an impressive pergola; woodland walks and ancient statues sent home from abroad when Astor served as an American minister in Italy. There is something for all ages here at Hever and you will not be disappointed as you wander through the 30 acres of immaculately kept gardens.

Scotney Castle is another visual feast, set in the valley of the River Bewl on the Kent/Sussex border. This was once the home of the Darrell family. The estate extends to some 750 acres and is particularly lovely when the leaves begin to turn in the autumn. But the focal point is the ruined castle surrounded by water (below), with its small cottage-style garden and lovely borders. This is a garden to spend time in, to walk around and savour, and enjoy the views of the castle from above; absorb the feel of England, as you watch the grazing animals in the fields nearby; and then look out over the moat from the picturesque gardens surrounding the ruins.