KENTSTAYCATION
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
48 Hours in SWALE CONT .
MINSTER BEACH , ISLE OF SHEPPEY
THE PLOUGH INN , STALISFIELD
SITTINGBOURNE AND KEMSLEY LIGHT RAILWAY
AFTERNOON Continue your exploration of this region of the Garden of England with a visit to Mount Ephraim , which has been owned by the Dawes family for 300 years . An 800-acre estate with a Victorian manor house sitting at its highest point , Mount Ephraim has 10-acres of stunning terraced Edwardian gardens open to visitors . There ’ s a Japanese rock garden , romantic and peaceful water garden , a lake and an arboretum , as well as elaborate and unusual yew topiary . Refreshments are available in The West Wing Tea Room , including afternoon tea that can be enjoyed in the late Victorian manor house .
More glorious greenery is yours to discover this afternoon at Belmont House and Gardens . The oldest estate you ’ ll visit during your exploration of Swale , Belmont was designed by the architect Samuel Wyatt and built in neo-classical style in 1769 . The gardens are open year-round and feature a pinetum , an extensive kitchen garden , a walled garden , and a Victorian greenhouse . The house , usually open for guided tours between April and September , features an impressive collection of artefacts collected by six generations of the Harris family including one of the largest collections of clocks in Europe .
DINNER As dinner calls so too does the warming welcome at The Plough Inn , Stalisfield . This friendly , independent , family-run country pub restaurant , offers a host of local beers , wines and ciders alongside a choice of unique homemade dishes from the changing menu .
Tucked away in an area of outstanding natural beauty between the historical towns of Maidstone , Ashford and Faversham , The Plough is set amongst Kent ’ s rolling hills and lush farmland . The unspoilt surroundings create the perfect setting for enjoying the fresh , locally-sourced meals served here to a background of rolling views .
Day 2
MORNING Step aboard one of the original historic trains of the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway which was built in 1905 to serve the then-flourishing paper industry . Once the railway transported the raw materials and workers for the largest paper mill in Europe , but now it is operated by volunteers as a tourist attraction . Your journey will take you from urban Sittingbourne across a mile-long viaduct and the marshes of a country park to see the still-working paper mill , museum and gardens at Kemsley Down .
Cross the bridge and discover the varied island on a Sheppey Tour . Perhaps visit the traditional seaside resort of Leysdown en route to Minster Abbey . Standing at the highest point of the island , the abbey has been a place of worship for more than 1,400 years . Neighbouring the abbey is Minster Gatehouse , a grade I listed building , and museum . Discover a timeline of Sheppey history as you climb to the top for stunning views and don ’ t miss the Blue Town Heritage Centre at Sheerness where you ’ ll find out about the fascinating history of the dockyard which dominated the area for almost 300 years .
LUNCH The Ferry House Inn , Harty Combining fine views of the Swale Estuary with an AA Rosette awarded menu of home grown and locally sourced à la carte dishes , The Ferry House Inn , in the peaceful hamlet of Harty is not to be missed . Described as ‘ the nearest faraway place to London ’, the 16th-century country pub is friendly , welcoming and fortunate enough to be surrounded by nothing but farmland and water . As well as its acclaimed Kentish menus , hospitality extends to 4 * en-suite accommodation and even professional clay shooting !
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