DAYSOUT
Doorstep Days Out cont ...
Viking Bay
With the long summer holidays stretching out before you , it can be tempting to plan a jam-packed itinerary taking you miles away from home . But , what if instead of leaving the county or jetting off abroad , you discovered some doorstep delights instead ?
Rather than packing the whole family into the car for a long drive , consider seeking fun right where you live instead . You might be amazed by the number of beautiful places and exciting activities just a stone ’ s throw from the place you call home .
No matter where in Kent you ’ re based , there ’ s sure to be something to keep the whole family entertained close to home this summer . Here ’ s Charlie Bond ’ s selection of doorstep days out for you to discover …
Bodiam Boating Station , Newenden www . bodiamboatingstation . co . uk
If you ’ re located in the Cranbrook / Tenterden area of the Weald , you don ’ t have to go far at all to find a place where you can hire boats and kayaks , enjoy a sun-soaked brunch , take in a live DJ set or even camp under the stars .
Bodiam Boating Station sits right on the Kent and Sussex border in the village of Newenden , and despite its quaint location , it offers everything you ’ d expect from a much bigger tourist attraction . Hire a stand-up paddleboard and take to the river , or just relax in a deckchair and enjoy lunch with the family .
Mote Park , Maidstone www . visitmaidstone . com / things-to-do
While Maidstone ’ s town centre might be bustling , just five minutes away you ’ ll find Mote Park - 450 acres of greenery , including natural features such as grassland , woodland , rivers and a 30-acre lake .
There ’ s plenty to see and do in the park too , from Dino Golf and a climbing wall to segwaying and water sports .
Parking for up to six hours costs just £ 2 , so it ’ s a great way to enjoy some family time in the countryside without having to venture too far from home .
Elwick Place , Ashford www . elwickplace . com
Located in the heart of Ashford is Elwick Place - a leisure and restaurant complex with a cinema , eateries , a virtual reality studio and more . Elwick ’ s Piazza is often buzzing with local events from food festivals to markets , and with plenty of indoor options including The Ashford Cinema ’ s outdoor roof terrace and fabulous lounge area , it ’ s a great place to escape come rain or shine .
National Garden Scheme Open Gardens , Various Locations www . findagarden . ngs . org . uk
If you ’ re looking for something different to do with the family this summer , it ’ s worth checking out which gardens local to you are opening their doors ( or gates ) as part of the National Garden Scheme ’ s Open Gardens initiative . During the summer months across England , Wales , Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands , over 3,500 privately owned gardens open up to the public to raise funds for nursing and health charities .
Seeing as Kent is The Garden of England , it perhaps comes as no surprise that the county is full of gardens taking part in the event . From Rochester to Faversham and West Malling to Ashford , there ’ s lots of beautiful outdoor spaces to be discovered for a limited time only .
46 • www . insidekent . co . uk