Lucy Caille | Tue, Feb 28th, 2017
As many of you know (or perhaps guessed from my surname) we have many French relatives and hence seem to spend an inordinate amount of our holiday time taking the Eurotunnel onto the continent. It was during a recent drive down to Folkestone that I realised I have probably visited Kent more times than any other county in the country, bar my own, yet have rarely stopped to visit. It is thus that February’s Trip of the Month is focusing on the ‘Garden of England’, the county of Kent.
As a family, we love finding areas for cycling when going off on a GlamperRV adventure and you will be pleased to hear that Kent has a rich network of cycle trails that are largely car-free, carefree two-wheeled adventures with mainly flat, big-sky landscapes, and tranquil country lanes.
The 5-mile Isle of Harty Trail is a family-friendly spin through the Isle of Sheppey past beaches, bird reserves, reed beds and the welcoming Ferry House Inn, that reveals the isle’s rich aviation history on the way. At Leysdown-on-Sea you can park motorhomes and RVs along the seawall (but not at the car parks), simply take the Shellness road out of Leysdown past the caravan site and on to the sea wall which runs for ½ mile or so with varying parking alongside. There are also plenty of camping spots to stay overnight such as the quiet and well located Leo Bay Campsite.
If you are after something more strenuous then the 27-mile Viking Coastal Trail around the Isle of Thanet is for you. Encounter spectacular seascapes and skies, re-charge on pristine beaches, cool off in the sparkling sea, then explore the historic sites. We have found a great looking pub nearby that welcomes GlamperRV for overnight stays, the Grove Ferry Inn.
A GlamperRV adventure is never complete without a few visits to some historic points of interest and our favourite in Kent is Hever Castle, the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. It is set in the South of the county near Tunbridge Wells and with its stunning lake and gardens makes for a superb day out.
We consulted Cool Camping for some off the beaten track campsites to stay nearby and would recommend Bedgebury Camping. It is billed as a spacious, chilled-out camping location with plenty of outdoor attractions nearby and certainly continues the cycling theme with testing mountain bike trails in Bedgebury Forest, including the infamous ‘Cardiac Hill’. If that sounds a bit too much like hard work, you might want to opt for one of the gentler family cycle routes through the 2000-acre forest, stopping off for a lakeside picnic half-way round.
For further information on what to do in Kent I would recommend the excellent Visit Kent website which is packed full of ideas.
As an aside to our Trip of the Month and for those who do not follow us on Facebook you may have missed the news that we are hosting an Open Day at our new home, Orchard View Farm, Little Meadle, Bucks HP17 9UG on Tuesday 21st March from 10am-3pm. Please do come and join us – a great opportunity to sneak a peek around GlamperRV, ask any questions and even book your next GlamperRV adventure! To follow us on Facebook, visit our page – www.Facebook.com/GlamperRV
