KENTSTAYCATION
Elemental Escapes cont...
ELMLEY RESERVE
With its shifting coastlines, ancient woodland and open skies, our county lends itself naturally to elemental travel. These are stays shaped by earth, air, fire and water, where mood leads the way and the landscape does the talking. Whether you are craving stillness, perspective, warmth or flow, Kent offers escapes that reconnect you to the elements.
EARTH
Earth-centred escapes are about being immersed in the landscape, with natural textures underfoot and the comfort of feeling grounded. Kent’ s woodland, farmland and vinethreaded hills offer a natural antidote to noise and pace, inviting you to slow down.
As the desire for space and peace continues to grow, woodland cabins, huts and farmstays have become increasingly popular across the county. You wake to birdsong instead of alarms, light filters through leaves and the day begins without urgency. Also, coffee always tastes better outdoors.
At Feather Down’ s Sunninglye Farm, life takes on a slower pace. Set among the rolling hills of the High Weald on the Kent and Sussex border, five canvas hideaways are tucked into a shady spot on the hilltop, with views across surrounding fields and woodland. Mornings unfold to the sound of chickens nearby, sheep grazing and the occasional glimpse of fallow deer at the field edges. Dogs, cats, goats, pigs, a horse and a donkey soon become part of everyday life.
Days are spent outdoors, wandering through woodland, collecting firewood or drifting across the pond by boat or kayak. Accommodation includes a kitchen, a wood burning stove and a private campfire space, where evenings draw in around simple food, glowing embers and s’ mores before bed.
For those seeking complete immersion in the natural world, Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey delivers a rare sense of calm. Covering 3,300 acres of restored wetland, this family-run landscape feels expansive and quietly dramatic, shaped by vast skies and changing light. Places to stay range from shepherd’ s huts and cabins to an elegant 18thcentury farmhouse, each positioned to make the most of the surrounding wilderness.
Vineyard stays add another layer of grounded pleasure. At a Balfour Winery‘ Wine Escape’, guests stay in nearby historic inns while weekends centre around exceptional food, expansive views and time spent among the vines. Evenings are unhurried, the pace set by the landscape rather than the clock, with the light fading gently over the vines and, of course, a glass in hand.
AIR
Air driven escapes are about space and perspective. They suit moments when you want to breathe more deeply, think more clearly and feel invigorated by openness and height. Where earth holds you close, air lifts you up.
Kent’ s coastline delivers this feeling effortlessly. Along the White Cliffs and the Thanet coast, clifftop apartments and penthouse stays trade cosiness for clarity. Interiors are shaped around light and horizon, with wide windows that pull the outside in. The sea stretches endlessly below,
50 • www. insidekent. co. uk