DAYSOUT The Six-Week Survival Guide cont...
BUDGET-FRIENDLY WINS
Fun days out for free!
© Visit kent
Not every day of the summer holidays can be theme parks and big-ticket events. But, low-cost doesn’ t need to be low key( unless you want it to, of course). Across Kent there’ s loads of days out that are totally free. Just pack up a picnic and go.
Nothing screams summer like a day at the beach and with 350 miles of coastline, Kent is the place to be for beautiful beaches all around the county.
Botany Bay Beach in Broadstairs offers dramatic white cliffs, sea caves and one of Kent’ s best photo spots, while Deal’ s charming pier and pebble beach aren’ t to be missed. For a quieter spot with great walks and views, opt for Folkestone Warren, a dramatic coastal nature reserve that’ s much less busy than Folkestone’ s seafront or harbour.
DEVIL’ S KNEADING TROUGH
If you’ re swerving the coast, then why not check out some of Kent’ s parks and prettiest nature spots instead? Shorne Woods Country Park is a large public park and nature reserve near Gravesend with ancient woodland, open glades, ponds and meadows. For an off-grid option, visit Hamstreet Woods. This nature reserve in the woods is tranquil with lovely walks and trails to explore. Often referred to as‘ one of Medway’ s finest green spaces’, Capstone Farm Country Park in Chatham is a great spot for families, while Tonbridge’ s Haysden Country Park is another family favourite.
If it’ s views you’ re after then you can’ t go far wrong with a trip to the Devil’ s Kneading Trough. Part of the Kent Downs National Landscape, this spot near Wye offers dramatic views, perfect picnic spots and plenty of options for countryside strolls.
FOLKESTONE WARREN
COOL DOWN DAYS
When there’ s a heatwave and you want to keep the family cool without being stuck inside, where should you head?
Kent’ s most popular lido is in Gillingham. The Strand Lido uses filtered salt water from the River Medway and has an outdoor pool, lazy river, sunbathing space, kids’ splash areas and lane swimming. Margate’ s another great place to head for outdoor swimming. The town’ s Walpole Bay Tidal Pool is an historic open-air seawater pool, which is also the biggest of its kind in Britain.
St Andrews Lakes in Medway offers exciting water activities for all ages, with paddleboarding, aqua parks and kayaking to name a few, while Bewl Water boasts a huge floating obstacle course on water as well as lots of other activities.
WALPOLE BAY TIDAL POOL
If it’ s outdoor swimming pools you’ re after then Faversham Pools and Tonbridge Swimming Pool both have outside options, perfect for cooling you down on a sizzling summer day. And then of course there’ s Leyborne Lakes in Snodland with a whole host of watersports to enjoy alongside walking and cycling trails, a children’ s play area and ample picnic spots.
56 • www. insidekent. co. uk