Goudhurst

Goudhurst sits at 400 feet on a ridge in the High Weald, the village built up both sides of a steep hill with a duck pond at the bottom and a 12th-century church at the top. The view south from the churchyard and the Star and Eagle pub takes in hop gardens and oast houses stretching toward Hawkhurst, with church towers visible in the dips between ridges. It is one of the wider fixed-point views in Kent.

The village is not configured for large numbers of visitors and is better for it. There is a pub, a duck pond, a church and the view; the appeal is in what is not there rather than what is. The hop-garden and orchard country surrounding Goudhurst on all sides is accessible by footpath from the village, and the lanes descending the ridge to the south reach orchards that are working farms rather than visitor attractions.

April to October is the main season. September is the most rewarding single month: the hop fields are at their tallest before harvest, the Weald colour is beginning and visitor numbers have dropped from the August peak. Winter visits are viable for frost on the duck pond and completely clear, unobstructed Weald views, but the Star and Eagle garden is less comfortable. The Glebe Field car park at the bottom of the village and the Balcombes Hill car park at the top both fill quickly on fine weekends.