Do come to Kent for a holiday sometime, the Kent Downs are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and there are so many historic places and good seaside resorts for days out. Awarded the prestigious title of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 50 years ago, Kent Downs boasts a diverse and vibrant landscape from the famous and dramatic white cliffs of Dover and Folkestone to the borders of Surrey and vibrant capital city London.
Beautiful holiday cottages on the Kent Downs
We all like to visit places during our holidays or weekend breaks in Kent; the huge fortress of Dover Castle overlooks the cliffs at the southern edge of the Kent Downs. It is a fascinating place to visit with tales to tell of World war II. There are walks along the chalky paths of the white cliffs and Downs with picnic benches along the route.
This stunning and completely unique part of the UK is home to one of the highest points in the area; the 300-metre-tall Leith Hill, located on the Greensand Ridge that passes West to East across three gorgeous South-East counties, Hampshire, Surrey and Kent. Popular with tourists since the Victorian era, the dominant Leith Hill Tower was built in 1765 as ‘a place for people to enjoy the glory of the English countryside’ and with its sweeping panoramic views of the English Channel and well-known London landmarks, it is well worth climbing the 74 steep spiral steps for.
Kent Downs are synonymous with the finest countryside walking routes and the Heathland trail at 2 miles long, not just takes you on a tour of the tower but also the high, sandy, open heath of Duke’s Warren, a popular mountain biking area for adrenaline junkies. Are you somebody who enjoys flower power? On this trail, there is an array of heather, bracken, bilberry, gorse, pine and birch dotted all around you.
The three rivers that flow through Kent Downs; the River Darent, Medway and Great Stour are firm fishing favourites. The River Darent for example has an abundance of ‘game’ fish like brown and rainbow trout and ‘coarse’ fish such as roaches, pikes and minnows. Interested in freshwater angling? There are several fishing lakes for you to throw your rod and bait into. Sumners Ponds for instance is a tranquil spot deep in the West Sussex countryside with 100 acres of superb fishing lakes, offering a wide selection of carp, bream and crucians for you to try to catch.
Away from fishing and to the far-reaching views of the idyllic French coast, the high chalk white cliffs of Dover are truly a national phenomenon. Famed for Vera Lynn’s sultry singing tones and etched in history due to its stern defence in both World War I and II, the cliffs are home to the South Foreland Lighthouse, incredibly the first one of its kind to use an electric light anywhere in the world. Not just based on this sensational coastline for its incredible views over the channel, the lush, green lawn around the lighthouse with its vast array of flora and fauna can contribute to the perfect family day out. At the visitor’s reception, you can borrow a collection of old school games from skittles to kites; ideal for flying in the South Easterly wind and for creating fantastic family memories. A selfie anyone? Afterwards, why not book on to one of the family friendly tours explaining about the interesting history of the lighthouse and then, how about visiting the 1950’s style Mrs Knott’s tearoom for a traditional Victoria Sponge. Alternatively, if the weather is picnic worthy, how about ordering a fresh baguette with local produce that you can take away and enjoy on the freshly mown grass?
Kent is traditionally known as ‘The Garden of England’ because of its plethora of orchards and deliverance of delicious fruits like apples, pears and cherries. The Torry Hill orchards in particular produce around 15 varieties of cherry like Bradbourne Black and have now started to produce juicy apricots from its recently planted 12 acres of fruit trees. Likewise, Dudda’s Tun cider produced from the abundance of apple and pear orchards on Pine Trees Farm in Doddington has won a multitude of awards like Taste of Kent Winner in 2013 and 2014 and Great Taste in 2016.
In the Kent Downs, you will be certainly spoilt for choice with the wealth of quaint and distinctive little villages located in the area. Chilham, one of the visited places in the whole of Kent consists of a fantastic collection of amazingly architectural buildings, such as the 16th century White Horse Inn with its excellent selection of wine and ales and Chilham Church, built for King Henry II in 1174. The church intriguingly was also the centre of a great historical mystery when in 1541, the shrine housing St Augustine disappeared from the church and was never found ever again. A toe curling tale that will excite all the family! Ightham Mote and Chartwell on the other hand are outstanding country houses that most definitely fit into the style and sophistication of its surroundings. Ightham Mote being a 14th century moated residence with a picturesque courtyard and peaceful gardens and described by legendary historian David Starkey as ‘one of the most beautiful and interesting of English country houses’, whereas Chartwell was the family home of the much-loved former Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill from 1922 until the end of his life in 1965.
With so much to see and do in an area spanning 878 square kilometres, Kent Downs is certainly one of the best kept secrets in the whole of the UK. So, pack your bags with the essentials, make your way down to the South West of England and discover this spectacular zone of truly English paradise today.