Reflection in the Kent Downs National Landscape
Try your hand at glass art during a relaxing course with Matt at Creative Retreats in Chilham then take a personal pilgrimage to St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church in Brabourne following the beautiful North Downs Way to see the most complete 12th century stained glass window in Britain.
- 2 days
- Food & drink available
- Brabourne
Itinerary details
Here's a taste of your next experience.
Reflection in the Kent Downs National Landscape
Try your hand at glass art during a relaxing course with Matt at Creative Retreats in Chilham then take a personal pilgrimage to St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church in Brabourne following the beautiful North Downs Way to see the most complete 12th century stained glass window in Britain.
Creative Glass Courses in Chilham
Arrive in the pretty village of Chilham by train or bus and walk to Matt’s Creative Retreats studio where you can spend a relaxing creative day or even a short break, learning how to create stain glass, glass fusing or glass applique.
Glass Fusing is great for 3D items such as dishes and stand-up glass panels as well as jewellery, coasters, suncatchers, bespoke wall tiles, splashbacks and more!
Glass appliqué is like mosaic, but it uses pieces of colourful glass on a plain glass background, so that the light and colour can shine through your finished piece.
Leaded Stained Glass involves fitting cut glass pieces into a leaded frame. If you’ve never cut glass before, don’t worry; we’ll start by getting you cutting with confidence before teaching you to create your own design.
Copper foiled stained glass lends itself to suncatchers, stained glass panels, decorated mirrors and 3D items such as trinket boxes or candle holders.
Creative Retreats and Holidays
Overnight Stay in Chilham or Brabourne
The Old Alma B&B (£) In Chilham
The Woolpack Inn (££) In Chilham
Five Bells Inn (££) In Brabourne. Stay in one of the four stunning rooms named after Kentish hops and grapes each with their own unique character.
The Old Alma, ChilhamThe Woolpack Inn, ChilhamThe Five Bells, Brabourne
The North Downs Way from Chilham to Brabourne
Either take a picnic from Chilham Farm Shop or your accommodation provider or stop off at one of the lovely country pubs along the route such as The Flying Horse (££) at Boughton Lees or The Tickled Trout (££) situated on the banks of the River Stour in Wye.
Head south along the well signposted North Downs Way towards Boughton Aluph, on through Wye enjoying stunning views across Kent and finally ending at Brabourne where you can visit St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church in Brabourne. A must for stained glass fans. Here you’ll not only find captivating architecture and magnificent memorials, you’ll find the only complete stained glass window in Britain complete with Norman glass in its original 12th Century setting. The church opens daily from dawn to dusk.
Chilham Farm ShopThe Flying Horse, Boughton LeesThe Tickled Trout, WyeSt Mary the Blessed Virgin Church, Brabourne
The Five Bells Inn, East Brabourne
The Five Bells at Brabourne is a quintessential English country pub located in the heart of the Kent Downs AONB with four gorgeous guest suites. They can boast to have been twice voted Kent Life Pub of the Year and winner of Kent Pub of the Year at the 2019 National Pub Awards.
Five Bells, East BrabourneTravel
Train station at Wye/Chilham/Ashford with a regular train service to London
Bus – The 652 bus service from Canterbury to Ashford provides bus transport along the A28
The 666 bus service from Faversham to Ashford
The 10X bus service runs along the A20 – Ashford – Maidstone
Cycle Hire – Cycles need to be booked in advance – good quality cycles available from £21.95 per day. Can be collected from Ashford or delivered.
Car Parking available at all suggested places.