DAYSOUT
Sundowners and Summer Nights! cont...
SLOW SUNSET WALKS
The longer summer evenings allow for late-night walks that end with a welldeserved sundowner. Starting off with an afternoon in the quaint town of Tenterden, begin your day by exploring the historic high street, which showcases an eclectic range of independent boutiques and coffee shops.
While you are there, make your way to Ethel Loves Me, an independent shop stocking a number of local artists and makers, and selling everything from handpainted candles to pottery and fragrances( ethelloves. me). From there, you can begin a circular three-mile walk. Starting at The Old Railway in St Michaels, follow the old railway track and walk across rolling fields surrounded by stretching views of the Rother Valley.
Edging into the evening, while the sun begins to set you will arrive at your sundowner destination- the Old Dairy Taproom( olddairytaproom. com), a fatherdaughter run business based in a WWII
Nissan hut next to the Kent and East Sussex Railway.
Looking out over the rolling fields of the valley, the taproom offers a selection of locally crafted beer, including a bespoke range brewed by the Old Dairy Taproom themselves. Find a seat outside and take in a spectacular sunset setting over the valley, listening to live music and dancing the night away, with a variety of food trucks to choose from including fresh Thai food and artisan pizzas to accompany your sundowner of choice.
For those seeking a stroll through the countryside with spectacular views and a chance to enjoy a sundowner along the way, embark on an early evening walk to the Devil’ s Kneading Trough based in the North Downs near Ashford( kentdowns. org. uk).
There are several trails to explore, ranging from shorter three-mile trails to longer six-mile explorations, where you will experience one of the largest and most famous steep-sided dry valleys in the UK.
Named after its bowl-shaped appearance, the Devil’ s Kneading Trough was formed in the last Ice Age, when meltwater cascaded down the slopes and formed the steepsided valley we see today. According to legend, anyone who walks the Devil’ s Kneading Trough seven times before drinking water from the natural spring will see the devil in front of them, making the route the perfect place to indulge in something a little stronger, just for good measure.
Whether it is from the natural spring or from a drink of your choice, the location has a number of bench spots to stop off and enjoy an evening sundowner, all offering panoramic sunset views and a taste of the Kentish landscape at its finest, so you can experience a summer evening to remember.
OLD DAIRY TAPROOM
© Rother Valley Country Park
ROTHER VALLEY DEVIL’ S KNEADING TROUGH
62 • www. insidekent. co. uk