Out and About in Kent

Family holidays in recent years have taken me almost the length and breadth of England, from Cumbria to Cornwall via Lincolnshire and beyond. One area I've never visited though is Kent, the county sometimes referred to as the 'Garden of England' being a notable gap on the wider WME map. Our getaway for 2016 would change all that, so here I bring you news from Faversham of a seven day stay...

- Faversham Creek -

Day One: Saturday 30th July involves a steady journey down from the West Midlands followed by the chance to get to know our new base a little better. The M1 and the M25 pose few problems with even the notorious Dartford Crossing moving freely, meaning we reach Faversham just after 10 o'clock. The town is home to the Shepherd Neame Brewery and features several pubs from their tied estate, such as the Sun Inn, the Albion Tavern and the Railway Hotel. We enjoy a stroll along Faversham Creek, an ancient waterway link from the Swale that helped the area become prosperous through trade with London.

- Broadstairs Brass -

Day Two: Sunday 31st July offers considerable contrasts between neighbouring seaside resorts. A morning in Margate reveals faded glory and an especially offputting grotty block of flats, although Old Town and the Harbour Arm definitely have their merits. Broadstairs meanwhile looks beautifully presented as the sun shines down on a brass band performance par excellence, traditional English entertainment perfect for a sleepy Sunday afternoon. Adding to the magic are a couple of micropubs whereby I indulge in rhubarb cider at the Thirty Nine Steps and Old Slug Porter at Mind the Gap - superb!

- Canterbury Cathedral -

Day Three: Monday 1st August and the new month gets off to a spectacular start among Canterbury's cerebral streets. The city is served by two railway stations - Canterbury East and Canterbury West - and I survey both along with the Kings Mile and various stretches of old wall fortifications. The majestic Canterbury Cathedral can be tantalisingly spotted on the skyline although it costs £12 to enter the precincts for a closer view; I get my history fix among the ruins of Canterbury Castle instead.

- Deal Castle -

Day Four: Tuesday 2nd August brought with it the only adverse weather of the entire week. A drenching in Deal is therefore in store, but not before plenty of pictures have already been harvested, notably of the pier, promenade and distinctively-rounded castle (a Tudor artillery fortress built at the command of King Henry VIII). The Just Reproach is my micropub moment here, savouring Lacons' Affinity ale before the rain sets in.

- Cricket at Canterbury -

Day Five: Wednesday 3rd August combining three of my favourite things- railways, cricket and beer. The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence is home to Kent County Cricket Club who are playing Worcestershire during Canterbury Festival week. £5.50 covers my day return between Faversham and Canterbury East, then I can settle in at the ground enjoying views of the famous lime tree on the boundary's edge. Worcestershire are batting but making hard work of it, eventually crawling along to 211 all out while I raid the CAMRA marquee for a couple of Kentish brews, Goody Ales' Good Health followed by Goacher's Mild. The carnival atmosphere here is a joy to match the lovely weather - a few days later Kent would go on to complete a comprehensive victory.

- Whitstable Harbour -

Day Six: Thursday 4th August for another seaside special plucking prime pictures from refined Herne Bay and wonderful Whitstable. Lunch is that highly memorable Cockney classic, pie mash and liquour (a green parsley-flecked sauce) in the shadow of Herne Bay's clock tower, while the subsequent constitutional pier stroll features a cute 'yarnbombing' array of knitted characters. As for Whitstable, the working harbour has seagulls on sentry duty eyeing up the oysters and crabs. The Ship Centurion on Oxford Street is my watering hole of choice, admiring the vibrant hanging baskets while supping some Tonbridge Old Chestnut. A ride on a Southeastern Javelin train (named after swimmer Rebecca Adlington) rounds things off - a GroupSave ticket means the return fare from Faversham was a bargain £2.50 each, now that can't be bad!

- Rochester High Street -

Day Seven: Friday 5th August sees us on the trail of Charles Dickens with some Rochester roaming by the side of the mighty Medway. I cross the river awhile to investigate Strood on the opposite bank, finding an unsightly railway station in the process, then return to Rochester for a Dickens-themed dalliance picking out buildings that inspired the author's celebrated works. A final Faversham flourish involves a couple of pints in the Elephant, a popular free house with a stunning beer garden, and then on Saturday morning we make our way home to the West Midlands at the end of a cracking Kent week!