Holiday cottage in Kent: discover coastal paths, castles and culture

Culture and history

An important cultural starting point is Canterbury Cathedral: St Augustine founded it in AD 597, and it remains an important pilgrimage destination to this day. At the same time, the cathedral forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Chatham, Historic Dockyard Chatham takes visitors to three historic ships and interactive museum galleries. The site comprises more than 100 buildings and structures, including 47 legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monuments. In the Ropewalk, visitors can watch master ropemakers applying centuries-old techniques and then explore the Ropery gallery.

Dover Castle brings the most dramatic moments of its 2,000-year history to life through its attractions. During the Second World War, tunnels beneath the castle housed the command centre for naval operations in the English Channel. These tunnels were also used to direct the evacuation from Dunkirk in May and June 1940. Hever Castle is a 14th-century castle surrounded by a double moat and was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn; the visitor gardens occupy a 125-acre estate.

Rochester Castle features a Norman keep built around 1127 that still stands 113 feet high. The castle is regarded as one of the best-preserved and most significant examples of Norman architecture in England and withstood a long siege by King John in 1215. Turner Contemporary provides a more modern cultural note: a gallery designed by David Chipperfield in the centre of Margate, overlooking the main beach. It is inspired by the life and work of J. M. W. Turner; the skies and light of Margate had a major influence on his art.

Paths through Kent

For cycling trips, the Crab and Winkle Way connects Canterbury and Whitstable along a 7.6-mile route. Wide views and ancient woodland accompany the route, which is suitable for cycling. The North Downs Way is a 153-mile long-distance walking trail running from Farnham to Dover. It also includes a southern route through the Kent Downs towards Folkestone, before the paths converge again in Dover.

The King Charles III England Coast Path runs through the gentle hills and chalk cliffs of Kent, including the White Cliffs of Dover. There are no livestock gates on around 105 kilometres of this route in Kent. Another historic connection to the coast is provided by the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway: it runs for 13½ miles from Hythe to Dungeness, and four intermediate stations are within walking distance of a beach.

Castles, gardens and nature

Leeds Castle combines gardens and 500 acres of parkland with self-guided walks and opportunities for wildlife watching. The maze consists of 2,400 yew trees; viewed from the centre, its layout partly resembles a crown. There are also free-flying birds of prey displays featuring hawks, falcons and owls. National Cycle Routes 17 and 177 provide cycling access to Leeds Castle.

At the RSPB Dungeness nature reserve, a flat, circular Discovery Trail is suitable for a nature walk with a pushchair. Ducks and geese can be observed at the ponds. Bus routes 511, 511A and 511B run from Ashford via Lydd and stop on request at the entrance to the RSPB Dungeness nature reserve; from there, it is one mile on foot to the visitor centre.

The Kent Downs National Landscape extends from the border with Surrey to the cliffs of Dover. Its chalk ridge is highly significant for wildlife because of its nutrient-poor chalk grassland, scrub communities and deciduous woodlands.

Other places in Kent

Ashford, Bethersden, Birchington, Charing, Elmsted, Goudhurst, Hythe, Lamberhurst, Lenham, Littlestone-On-Sea, Maidstone, Otham, Sandwich, Staplehurst, Tenterden, Warehorne, Whitstable, Woodnesborough, Deal, New Romney, Sittingbourne, Sevenoaks, Broadstairs, Smarden, Cranbrook, Woodchurch, Lydd-On-Sea, Hawkinge, Benenden, Newenden, Egerton, Romney Marsh, Broad Oak Brede, Biddenden, Camber, Wittersham, Wye, Wrotham, Wingham, Willesborough, Westerham, Tonbridge, Saint Margaretʼs At Cliffe, Tunbridge Wells, Ramsgate, Pluckley, Littlebourne, Ivychurch, Headcorn, Harrietsham, Hadlow, Gravesend, Folkestone, Edenbridge, Dover, Dartford, Boughton Aulph, Bapchild, Alkham, Frittenden, Sandhurst, Elham, Chilham, Paddock Wood, Sturry, Speldhurst, Five Oak Green, Worth, Chevening, Ringwould, Hunton, Stone, Dymchurch, Womenswold, Minster, Hawkhurst, Brenchley, Bilsington, Ulcombe, West Farleigh, Brookland, Wootton, Lower Halstow, Southborough, Halstead, Waltham, Ash, Whitfield, Marden, Mersham, Lympne, Hoath, Smeeth, West Peckham, Rolvenden, Sheerness, Aylesford, Sevenoaks Weald, Greatstone, Kingsdown, Staple, Stelling Minnis, High Halden, Horsmonden, Tudeley, Sissinghurst, Hartley, Westgate-On-Sea, Herne Bay, Broad Street, New Ash Green, Waldershare, Crockenhill, Kingsnorth, Bearsted, Chestfield, Lyminge, Kings Hill, Snodland, Newington, Cliffs End, Upchurch, West Kingsdown, Langley, Swanley, Farningham, Eynsford, Hempstead, Bredgar, Shadoxhurst, Walmer, Shepherdswell, Seasalter, Eastry, Doddington, Chartham, Bridge, Aldington, Barham, Yalding, Queenborough, Saint Michaels, Swingfield, West Malling, Petham, Sutton Valence, Hamstreet, Kennington, Aylesham, Eythorne, Lydd, Sandgate, Throwley Forstal, Plaxtol, Shoreham, Northfleet, Longfield, Penshurst, Wateringbury, Teynham, Ide Hill, Greenhithe, East Brabourne, Vigo Village, Romney Marsh, Matfield, Blean, Coldred, Tilmanstone, Leaveland, East Farleigh, Boughton Monchelsea, Stone in Oxney, Linton, Newchurch, Coxheath, Wickhambreaux, Nonington.

To the overarching travel overview: South East England.