Herstmonceux Castle

A weekend away in Sussex with a family with two small children can be a bit of a challenge in terms of finding something for everyone to do. I suggested Herstmonceux Castle, not least because the castle itself isn't open to the public. While I might like the interiors I am not sure they would be so appealing to a four year-old, even one approaching five. But Herstmonceux has grounds, gardens and a tea room selling ice-creams, so it sounded promising.

A blue-sky would have set off the moated castle beautifully. But we didn't get that. We were grateful we just missed the rain. But the 15th century castle does have a wonderful setting, with a number of compartmentalised gardens behind it, and a nice woodland walk beyond offering just enough walking for the little ones.

Some 300 year-old chestnut trees provide climbing opportunities.

An exhibition of Zimbabwean sculpture looked a little out of place on a grey day in Sussex.

The woodland walk offered a number of points of interest, such as this pyramid.

 An enormous fungus

 A woodhenge

A nice looking folly like a house, but so little depth that it has to be a folly - of no practical purpose.

This bizarre redwood which has effetively grown its own extra foot for support.

And so to the tea-room for a treat - tea or adults, ice-creams for kids

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Ice-cream added to blackberries.

Sunday morning we just went for a walk.

 And came across alpacas, as you do.