Hole Park
One of the best known gardens in Kent, winner of Visit Kent's Garden of the Year award in 2016.
Rolvenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4JB
Facilities
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Accessible loos
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Accessible parking
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Bike storage facilities
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Cafe / restaurant
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Free parking
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Garden only
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Mostly wheelchair accessible
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Parkland / open spaces
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Pet friendly
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Picnic area
The gardens are fully accessible to disabled, with most steps now removed or alternative diversions. Disabled WC.
Disability visitors can gain access to the Bluebells but may choose not to venture into the steeper parts of the garden and woodland.
Hole Park is one of the best-known private gardens in Kent: a past winner of Visit Kent’s Garden of the Year award, it is renowned for its Spring Bluebell Spectacular, Wild Garlic Valley, Herbaceous Borders and Autumn colour displays.
Hole Park is located in the classic English parkland of a large rural estate in The Weald of Kent with spectacular views of the surrounding High Weald National Landscape.
The extensive sixteen acres of gardens that are open to the public feature formal lawns with specimen trees and extensive yew topiary with statuary and herbaceous borders within. An interesting feature is the standard form wisteria in the Vineyard which blooms twice a year – first in May and then in July.
Walled gardens surround the imposing private house (which is not open to the public). Meadow and woodland gardens lie beyond, with bulbs and orchids to be found in profusion in wild flower meadows and a Woodland Garden with Rhododendrons and Azaleas in Spring and early Summer.
Hole Park’s Bluebell Wood is recognised as one of the finest places to see these magnificent English wild flowers, offering up an unparalleled carpet of violet blue during April and early May. This is closely followed by the emergence of swathes of Wild Garlic in the aptly named ‘Wild Garlic Valley’.
Visitors to the gardens in the summer months can see the recently renovated long herbaceous borders and the bold and colourful planting of the Walled Garden (formerly the Rose Garden). This was completed in 2023 to celebrate 100 years since the garden’s creation by the present owner’s great grandfather, along with extensive replanting of rhododendrons and additional bulbs for the Spring.
The late flowering agapanthus ‘Hole Park Blue’ – unique to these gardens – and colourful exotic border, with its cannas and dahlias, are an impressive sight in late summer. This is followed by the reds, yellows and golds of autumn, bringing colour and interest to the gardens in October, from the trees and shrubs specifically chosen and planted for their Autumn leaf displays.
Homemade teas and light lunches are served in The Coach House, reached from the Walled Garden and Millenium Garden beside the house.
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the Gardens and in the courtyard outside the Coach House but not inside the Coach House itself.
Please note: The information on the Historic Houses website is advisory, but please always check the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling.
We will reopen the Gardens to the public on 1 April and will be open every day to 30th June – 11am to 6pm.
From 1st July we will open from 11am on Wednesdays and Thursdays to end of October. During October we will open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
Historic Houses members visit for free. Members can pre-book a slot via the website or just turn up. In both circumstances, membership cards must be shown on arrival.
2024
Adult: £12 (Pre-booked £11)
Child: £2.50
Private group tours available for the garden by the owner and or Head Gardener to include limited access to the house if required for small groups on any date by appointment.
To arrange a private or group visit please contact events@holepark.com
Prior booking is essential.
Group entry rate of £11.00 applies
Contact us for more information on 01580 241344 or info@holepark.com.
The gardens are fully accessible to disabled, with most steps now removed or alternative diversions. Disabled WC.
Disability visitors can gain access to the Bluebells but may choose not to venture into the steeper parts of the garden and woodland.
Getting here
Rolvenden, Cranbrook, Kent, TN17 4JB
The main visitor entrance is at ///entrusted.gentle.bootleg. What does this mean?
Located mid way between the villages of Rolvenden and Benenden on the B2086.
Nearest Station Staplehurst, taxi 8 miles, approx £15.
Bus Route 295 & 297 Transweald. Tunbridge Wells to Ashford passes the entrance.
A very warm welcome to Hole Park, our family home since 1911. As the fourth generation to care for and cherish these beautiful gardens, both formal and wild, we are delighted to share them with you, your family and your friends – both two and four-legged. We hope they will bring you as much joy when you visit as they give us every day.
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