Enjoy your very own rural retreat in the heart of the ‘Garden of England’

 

COVID-19:-   I hope you will be  reassured  to know that  I am following stringent cleaning  & sanitising procedures and there will be a gap of 24 hours between reservations. For guests who book direct with me I have a no-quibble cancellations and full refund policy should you wish to cancel or change your booking;  please be aware that if you book through third parties such as holiday cottages companies and AirB&B  their own terms  will apply.

I  offer two Grade II listed 15C cottages in  part of a 15th century Kentish Hall house with oak beams, inglenook fireplaces and  many historic features set in nearly four acres of private grounds.  In an idyllic location on a quiet country lane in the beautiful countryside of the  ‘Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’  overlooking Chilham Castle parkland surrounded by chalk down-lands, orchards of apple and hops, lakes and water meadows. Superb countryside walks direct from your front door onto the North Downs Way National  Trail and many other footpaths.  Fresh local produce from fantastic local farm shops. Canterbury 6 miles, close to Channel ports and airports; London  c 36 mins by train, many other attractions nearby.  The cottages have been  part of  my family home for the past thirty five years and your stay will be managed by me personally. Guests have been coming  for over thirty years; many return time and time again to their ‘home from home’.

This quiet country lane (North Downs Way and Pilgrims way to Canterbury) leads to the cottages- at this point they are about 400 metres/0.2 miles away.
A glimpse of a small part of Heron Manor in which your cottages are situated seen from the edge of the lane. 
Heron Manor in which the cottages are situated.
The North Downs Way into Kings’ Wood about ⅓ mile /0.5Km from your own cottage front door. From here you can walk ‘off road’ for literally miles on the rights of way tracks in c. 2000 acres  (900 ha.) of woodland. Here, King Henry VIII hunted deer, and it is carpeted in bluebells in spring. This photo was taken at a point which is about  a 15 mins walk up the lane from the cottages.
Here is Heron Manor in which your cottages are situated, nestling in the chalk downland so typical of this part of Kent.Another walk direct from your cottage takes you on the public right of way AE23 across the Stour valley to the Julieberry Downs and Down Wood.
Another walk direct from your front door across the Stour valley
to the Jullieberrie downs and Down Wood on right of way No.  AE23.
this picture was taken at a point about  ten minutes walk away from 
the cottages, after you follow the track in the next picture, below.
The right of way No. AE23; this picture was taken at a point  about 
eight minutes walk away from the cottages!
Again  on the right of way No. AE23 looking back towards Chilham village with Chilham Castle visible in the distance.
A nearby field of hops in on the back lane between Chilham and Faversham.
Another hop field opposite the one above, with linseed flowers; local farmers are diversifying into growing medicinal herbs and seeds.
Feverfew; on a warm evening.
Black currant bushes in the evening sun, growing nearby
Poppies and former oast kilns in the distance once used for drying hops. These magnificent poppies were seen on the back road from your cottages to Faversham (June 2020)
There are many other  beautiful walks direct from the cottages take you  Godmersham Park (often visited by Jane Austen) about 40 mins walk 

The world famous Chilham village is about  ⅓  of a mile  (10 mins walk) away.  Often  used as a film set, surrounded by 15C timber framed houses, it has one of the finest  Medieval squares in England and there is a  fine church and Jacobean mansion (Chilham Castle) at  each end. The village has two pubs, bus stop and Post Office. A train station and  award-winning farm shop are about 20 mins walk away. 

Ideally located for visits to many of Kent’s attractions: picturesque historic villages, famous castles and gardens, sea coast and  nature reserves.  Canterbury 6 miles, Dover Port, 25 miles, Channel Tunnel Terminal 20 miles, Gatwick Airport c 60 miles and Heathrow c. 80 miles away.

The cottages are  in immaculate condition, tastefully modernised and very well equipped.   Precise details and pictures can be found on this website