DAYSOUT
Orienteering , Junketeering and Volunteering cont ...
your breath away and make your heart race as you imagine the emotions of the pilots in ‘ the long hot summer ’ of 1940 .
Another brilliant way to see Kent ’ s countryside from above is by microlight . Into The Blue offers a 30- or 60-minute experience flying out of Rochester Airport and over the Isle of Sheppey looking towards the stunning coastal stretches of Whitstable and Herne Bay . Partakers will get to sit in tandem with the pilot and learn how to control the aircraft using the control bar . Then your instructor will take you up to a height of around 2,000 feet at speeds of 50-60 mph , before receiving your souvenir flight certificate at the end of your experience . Microlighting is not to be confused with gliding , which can be experienced at Kent Gliding Centre . The airfield at Challock , established in 1963 , is set in beautiful countryside on top of the North Downs . This location , which the club owns outright , gives the gliding club access to excellent ‘ thermal soaring ’ as well as ‘ ridge soaring ’ all the way to Rochester when the wind obliges .
For those looking for a longer experience in the air and wanting to take in as much of Kent ’ s scenery and iconic locations as possible , take a ride with Polar Helicopters . Taking off from Manston or Rochester airports , there are a range of different flights on offer showcasing the best of Kent ’ s countryside and coastline , castles , landmarks , towns and cities . Operating from March to September once a month , the helicopter sightseeing flight is done in a Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter and the group of four passengers can choose from a 10 , 20 , 30 or 40-minute flight duration .
Suggested tours include Brands Hatch , which gives you a birds eye view of the racing circuit , Rochester Castle , Rochester Cathedral , The Historic Dockyard Chatham , QE2 Bridge , Bluewater , Eynsford Castle and Lullingstone Castle . The Leeds Castle and Medway Coast tour is a northwest Kent tour taking in the major sights of the area including Cooling Castle , Chilston Park , the world renowned Leeds Castle and the county town of Maidstone .
If you were hoping for a gentler way to see Kent by air then look no further than taking a magical trip in a hot air balloon with Kent Ballooning . Established in 1990 , Kent Ballooning is the longest running balloon company in Kent . Chief pilot , Michael , who is also a UK Balloon Pilot Instructor , has been flying in Kent since 1998 and has excellent local knowledge having lived here since 1981 . Michael will be quick to point out various landmarks and places of historical interest . After an experience that needs little explanation in regards to its magnificence , enjoy glasses of Champagne while you browse your in-flight photos . Soft drinks are also available , and for ale lovers there is plenty of Spitfire courtesy of balloon sponsors , Shepherd Neame .
GO ON A WALKABOUT
Kent has a plethora of walking routes and places to explore on foot or on your bike . As well as the Kent Downs National Landscape , which includes hundreds of miles of natural beauty and walkways , the county has parks and areas designated for outdoor activities . Betteshanger Country Park is the most important cycling centre in East Kent , with a three-kilometre road cycling track providing safe , traffic-free road cycling facilities . The track is ideal for families with its safe environment for children to ride and also for serious cyclists where training conditions are ideal . There is a further 10 kilometres of mountain bike trails , all of varying difficulty , designed to challenge and excite all levels of cyclist . A range of bicycles and helmets are also available for hire . Although cycling is the park ’ s main focus , this former spoil heap provides many walking options both in the open and through woodland . A popular route takes in the picturesque blue lakeland from the top of the park , on which you ’ ll get panoramic views towards Sandwich and its world-renowned golf courses : Ramsgate and the Thanet Offshore Windfarm . This is a great spot for dog walkers , with ample parking and disability friendly routes .
A prime and perfect example of Kent ’ s Heritage Coast ’ s glorious landscape is Samphire Hoe , which also showcases the county ’ s commitment to the preservation of wildlife and biodiversity . Created by Eurotunnel and managed with The White Cliffs County Partnership in 1997 , the time of the construction of the Channel Tunnel , Samphire Hoe is now a vast and extraordinary nature reserve . Home to a myriad of flora and fauna , it is one of the few places for short , easy-going routes which allow walkers the opportunity to appreciate the dramatic scenes of the White Cliffs . Samphire Hoe is wheelchair and pushchair friendly , with a recommended ‘ access for all ’ way around the Hoe . The route follows the front path , signposted ‘ West shore via the Hoe ’ passing through the chicane . The full circuit is two kilometres long and the section through the Hoe is tarmac . Dogs are welcome but must be
46 • www . insidekent . co . uk