TINWOOD ESTATE

 Just north of Chichester is the Tinwood estate, which produces sparkling wines. It looked to be doable, in timing terms, to fit in before the predicted rain, so I headed off. The A3 is full of roadworks and therefore delays. The A283 would be more fun if resurfaced - it has some nice twisties and it’s varied, but so is the road surface - a kind of patchwork of tar bands and potholes. 

The A285, however, is FUN. It has twists and hills and some good fast bits and goes through scenic villages. I was enjoying it so much, I missed the turn into Tinwood, and had to do a somewhat awkward U-turn on adverse camber. 

Tinwood has deep gravel parking, resulting in negative grip for both tyres and boots. It is, however, flattish. This is the downside. 

It has a lovely cafe area and very tasty food to suit all dietary restrictions. When I was there, they were out of plant milk, but as the coffee is good enough not to need milk, this was just a minor inconvenience. 

The predicted rain decided not to happen until well after I was home, roadwork delays and all. 

WISTON

I went to Wiston for breakfast (which they only serve on weekends). It’s just off the A24, down by Worthing. Now the A24 has its boring sections, I grant you, but it also has a number of pretty bits and fairly twisty bits, and - being an A road - is in reasonably good condition, surface-wise. I happen to like it, and use its boring straight sections to open up the throttle and blow some dust off my spark plugs. 

Wiston’s restaurant is called Chalk, and while they recommend you book, they are perfectly happy to take the kind of walk-in who won’t take up much space. 

It was a very good breakfast and I especially cite the cinnamon bun, which didn’t look as I expected but was quite possibly the most delicious cinnamon bun I’ve had. 

The downside of Wiston is the parking. Not only is it gravel (although the roads and approaches are paved), it’s also on a slope. Two wheels, gravel, side-stand and incline are not the world’s most stable combination. That is the only thing I’d change, were I Wiston. 

SQUERREY'S

 Just across the county border, barely into Kent, is Westerham. Just east of Westerham - and technically still in it - is the Squerrey Estate. This estate has both a winery and a brewery on site, as well as a deli, a restaurant, a bar and a cafe. One might say it’s well-equipped. 

Paved parking!

It’s off Beggar’s Lane (A233), which as an A-road,  is pretty wide and smooth, and the access is paved. The parking is largely gravel but - and this is an important but - there is a paved section, on which, if you are lucky, there will be space to park. 

My timing was off - I was too late for tasting plates at the deli or continental breakfast at the cafe and I was too early for lunch at the restaurant. The menu looks good for omnivores and carnivores. 

The coffee I did have at the cafe wasn’t the best, but the grounds are lovely on a clear summer’s day, and coffee by itself is not a dealbreaker.

I went back at actual lunchtime, but the restaurant was - it eventually admitted - not taking walk-ins. Luckily the winery shares its grounds with the Westerham Brewery, which has a friendly taproom and a rotating cast of food trucks, so I had lunch there instead.

BOLNEY

 Bolney is off the A272 to the east of the A24. It’s not particularly well signposted in spring and summer, because the leafy trees and hedges tend to obscure the sign - which is right on top of the turn up Foxhole Lane. This is an appropriate name - it’s tiny and not particularly well-maintained. And also hilly.

Like Kinsbrook, one must negotiate a gravel driveway and parking, which is about hte same quality as Kinsbrook’s - not terrible as these things go.  Bolney also has a shop/deli attached to its cafe, but the emphasis there is more on cafe than shop, which is the reverse of Kinsbrook. 

Bolney does a much better breakfast, and has a more varied menu than Kinsbrook. The coffee is excellent, the food is great, and while the service can be slow when they’re busy, the lovely view encourages relaxed lingering.

View from the cafe

Breakfast

Not the worst gravel, as gravel goes

KINSBROOK

 

At Kinsbrook, they appreciate a bike

I started with Kinsbrook. It’s off the A272m to the west of where it crosses the A24. When I say off the A272, I mean by a B road or two - which are in good repair and quite fun to ride on a fine spring day. Not overly twisty, but highly hedged, which adds to the jeopardy. 

Kinsbrook is pretty well signposted, up until you get to the entrance, which is less well marked. Also, gravel. Gravel and two wheeled vehicles do not get along, especially when said vehicles have tyres designed for road use. However, it’s not the worst gravelly road I’ve had to ride. 

They have a deli and shop on the ground floor and a cafe above, overlooking the vines. I had an excellent coffee and a reasonable pastry, and got compliments from the staff on the bike, which is always a good way to get me to return. 

I recommend.

View from the cafe