insideKENT Issue 171 - JULY 2026 | Page 75

KENTSTAYCATION

Nature First cont...

Winery( balfourwinery. com), where you can embark on tasting tours and winemaker experiences, bringing you closer to the process from vine to glass.

Making your way across the countryside, you’ ll find the rural retreat of Fig Cottage, part of the Brabourne Vineyard( brabournewine. com) estate, near Ashford. This luxury holiday cottage has far-reaching views across the vineyard, all soaking up the summer sun with ripened grapes and luscious rows of vines to explore. Ideal for small families or couples, the cottage has a private entrance and two spacious bedrooms accompanied by a beautiful garden with outdoor seating and native wildflowers growing across the lawn.

You will find direct access to explore the estate, where you can follow the trails that guide you past the vine rows and discover where the estate’ s premium English sparkling and still wines are created from scratch. Spend the evening at The Five Bells Inn( fivebellsbrabourne. co. uk), an awardwinning 16th-century pub with Wednesday steak nights and a menu that brings together the best of local Kentish produce.

NATURE ON YOUR DOORSTEP

Travelling south of London to escape bustling city life will lead you straight into Kent’ s rural landscape. Offering a rapid antidote to the capital’ s fast pace, the county’ s nature-led staycations are only an hour away from manic city life, providing an unplug button if only for a few days.

Heading out from the city, you can find The Snuggery( thesnuggerykent. com) nestled in Upper Bush, near Rochester. The perfect bolthole, discover a well-curated interior with an open-plan layout and vaulted ceilings. Every aspect has been thoughtfully curated, with the outside garden having two raised vegetable and herb beds for seasonal pick-your-own veggies that sit right outside your door; perfect for a homemade evening meal.

For walking enthusiasts, from The Snuggery, you can walk straight into the surrounding woodland with a number of walking trails across the North Downs Way offering views across the rolling hillsides and coastal shoreline. Alternatively, spend a day trip in the historic town of Rochester and its cobblestone streets, with the Medway estuary offering the chance to see a number of wading birds and wildfowl foraging during low tide.

Another bolthole to discover only an hour’ s drive from central London in the quaint village of Shoreham, near Sevenoaks is White Hill Lodge( whitehillwoods. co. uk). A lovingly restored log cabin, ideal for families or two couples looking for a weekend adventure in the Darenth Valley, the lodge is fully fitted with a self-catering kitchen and two bedrooms. On arrival, enjoy Castle Farm apple juice, tea, coffee and biscuits, while taking in views of the North Downs.

Situated within a wild meadow, the lodge has access to a number of local walking and cycling routes, with White Hill Wood( woodlandtrust. org. uk) only a short distance away. The woodland supports a rich variety of wildlife, with large populations of butterflies and birds- from the famous Chalkhill Blue, a small butterfly with milky blue wings, to the occasional red kite circling high overhead, this is a mustvisit location on your nature-led stay.