Bear Grylls, Steven Backshall, Sir Edmund Hillary, adventures, explorers, record breakers. Don’t waste your summer on the ordinary! Have you ever wanted to try something but put it off, saying you’d do it tomorrow or next week? Well, today is the day to get your heart pumping, to try something new, to expand your horizons. From the perfect bike trail, the wayward hike, a sublime surfing wave, to the best places to tickle those taste buds and sample something new, it's all here waiting in Kent. When you're ready, we're ready.
Remember to Respect, Protect, Enjoy and Know Before You Go. Follow government guidance, protect the Kent landscape, and respect our businesses and those around you so that everyone can enjoy the Secret Garden of England safely. This summer, embrace your inner pioneer and discover new thrills and discover your ultimate Kent adventure.
Isle of Harty Trail
Just like Queen, we want to ride our bicycles, we want to ride our bikes, and the Isle of Harty Trail is the place to do it. A flat, circular route which is perfect for families, It will spark active imaginations, as the Isle of Harty was once an Island separated by up to a mile of water! At a moderate speed, the trail can be completed comfortably in under an hour, but with young children, it will take longer. Any kids will be cheering the whole way. Seize the day.
© The Wild Kitchen
The Wild Kitchen
The Greatest classroom is the great outdoors! To all those that want to get their hearts pumping and their tastebuds tingling then the Wild Kitchen has to be on your to-do list, offering the ultimate foraging experience. Starting with a cycle ride to the Kent Coast where you will gather wild mussels, fresh shellfish, edible seaweed and lots of other delicious food in secret places, then learn how best to cook them and enjoy a wild gourmet feast. You won’t take a fresher bite!
Please remember to book in advance and follow new guidelines.
Sustrans Route 1
What do Dover, Walmer and Deal have in common? Yes, they’re all in Kent, Yes, they’re all on the Kent coast, Ok, we admit there are many things they have in common, but they’re also connected by the National Cycle Network Route 1. Take in the beautiful sights and get your daily adrenaline supply by taking a fantastic well-signed cycling route that takes in the three famous castles of Dover, Walmer and Deal and the Roman Fort at Richborough.
The Camino to Rome or Via Francigena
This is the ultimate walkers’ trail that takes pilgrims on an epic journey from Canterbury, England; across the channel to France and through Switzerland before crossing Italy on their way to Rome. The whole route can be divided into 16 main walking stages where you can walk for one week at a time; this is not a challenge to be taken lightly! See some of the most stunning regions in Europe, such as the White Cliffs, the Great War battlefields of Northern France, the Champagne region, Lake Geneva, the mighty Alps, and the picturesque hills of Tuscany.
The Foundry
The definition of adventure is ‘an exciting or unusual experience’. So if you genuinely want to be adventurous, you must try new exciting things. Taste the adventure in every sip from the Foundry. With award-winning drinks and over 16 Ales, Lagers and Ciders all available and handcrafted in front of you on-site. You will discover something new and unusual to set those tastebuds alight.
The Foundry is Good to Go, please book your slot in advance.
© Explore Kent
Viking Coastal Trail
Friends, Romans, Countrymen, lend me your ears. Do you want to walk in the footsteps of Romans, saints and Vikings? Starting at Reculver Towers, Herne Bay, on a 32-mile (51.4km) multi-user circular route, you’ll see a wealth of wildlife, gorgeous clifftop views and a saltwater lagoon, and various sites in the Isle of Thanet too. If you don’t fancy tackling the route in one go, divide the trail up into manageable sections, and you’ll find a variety of fantastic days out!
Scotney Castle
Not all adventures are about swashbuckling pirates or vicious Vikings; there is an adventure in white knights and ancient castles. With a ruined castle and a moat covered in lily pads, Scotney Castle is straight out of a children’s story. Around the grounds, you will find ancient parklands and woodlands, with crisscrossed waymarked routes and fantastic views. Satisfy those tastebuds and spark the imagination; this is the perfect place for picnics, scenic walks and mini-adventures.
Please book ahead before visiting.
Macknade Fine Foods
Looking for a foodie escape? But also conscious of your health and wellbeing? Macknade Fine Food should be your first pitstop. Macknade Fine Foods is an experience so great that your tastebuds will thank you. From fresh bread for your barbecue breakfast, to locally produced cheese, meat and veg, you can cook up a storm. Pair it with a locally sourced wine, and you’ll wonder how you lived before you knew about Macknade.
Canterbury Ghost Tour
Do you like Scary Movies? It's never too early to celebrate Halloween or to embrace the scarier adventures in life. Find your inner ghostbuster, and explore the darker side and the haunting charm of the historic medieval city of Canterbury. With evening tours running every Friday and Saturday, it’s a sure way to keep you on your toes for the weekend. If you think you see something, remember that we all go a little mad sometimes.
Please book your tour in advance.
Squerryes Wine Estate
Adventure into the vines of Squerryes private vineyard in Sevenoaks to experience a journey for the palate and the chance to fully explore Kent terroir’s wine reputation. Amble around the sprawling vineyard and indulge in a tutored tasting of 3 exclusive wines, especially lovely on their Friday Sundowner tour…
The Camping and Caravanning Club Canterbury
If you want to run barefoot on golden beaches, roll in grass banks, or stargaze for hours, make memories that will last a lifetime and discover the adventure in nature, look no further. If you’re going to gallivant across the Kent County, you’ll need somewhere to rest your head, the Camping and Caravanning Club in Canterbury is the staycation spot for you! Are you ready to make your own adventure?
Good to go, please pre-book a spot before arrival.
The Cyclopark
There are many different types of cycling, there’s the leisurely a family day outpace, there’s the explorer pace where you take insights, and then there’s the sporty. Get ready to have a family Tour de France at Kent’s own Cyclopark! Set in over 100 acres of parkland, they have something for everyone including a safe traffic-free road circuit and 6km of mountain biking tracks, Mountain Bike Trails, Skate Park and Play Area. This is where fitness and fun collide!
Canoe Wild
Want to learn something new this summer, something a bit more active then knitting or bread making? Canoe wild is the adventure for you! Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddleboard from qualified Instructors, all you need to do is pre-book online. With lessons for beginners and for the confident rider, this is the perfect summer activity for those looking for a thrill. Learn to have fun and be safe on the water!
Please pre-book a lesson before arrival.
Fenn Bell Inn, Hoo
Do you want to give back, save animals and taste adventure? Look no further as the Fenn Bell Inn is no ordinary pub, The Fenn Bell is home to the Fenn Bell Conservation Project for rescued animals, and for all train lovers, there’s also has a miniature railway running around its three-acre garden. The zoo includes animals such as monkeys, parrots, pigs, racoon dogs, genets, ponies, owls, birds of prey, lemurs and meerkats. Located in St Mary Hoo, Rochester on the Isle of Grain, the pub also offers a delicious home-cooked food menu and a great selection of beers, premium wines and spirits. Bone a-pet-treat!
Zetland Arms
Filling over 70% of the earth, the sea is vast, beautiful and an explores paradise. Boasting a stunning location on the beach at Kingsdown near Deal, The Zetland Arms is a special little gem of a pub, popular with sea users all year round. Inside, it has a homely, traditional feel with nautically-themed décor, while outside, customers can dine alfresco on the beach between the pub and the sea. The menu offers an amazing choice, with something for everyone from salads and sandwiches to daily restaurant specials, including of course a variety of locally caught fresh fish and seafood dishes. This is the place to truly taste the ocean!
Click2Cycle
Sun, Sea, and cycling! Click2Cyle is a new and innovative way to enjoy the Kent coastline for residents and visitors alike. The click2cycle is a network linking Hythe, Sandgate and Folkestone, with a fleet of stylish and robust bikes which can be unlocked from one station and returned to any of the other stations along the route giving users the option to cycle in one direction and return by other means. The perfect transport for your adventures? We think so!
Sup Hub
You say Tomato, we say tomato, you say Paddle, we say boarding, you say, we point you to Folkestone and Hythe. Whether you’re a beginner, an expert, or a returning thrill-seeker, the Sup Hub is the home of paddleboarding, so if you’re looking for some fun, and wanting to taste the sea salt, then this is the adventure for you! Take a leap of faith and experience the historic Hythe coastline in a new way,
Port Lympne Wildlife Reserve
A journey into the wild at Port Lympne is just what you need to satisfy every adventurer! Over 900 animals roam across their 600-acre site, where you can prowl through the park and see a real-life jungle cat, spot some cheeky monkeys in The Palace of the Apes or journey back in time to the prehistoric age in Dinosaur Forest. A worldly expedition - all in one afternoon!
Please be aware safaris at Port Lympne are not currently running for day visitors, and all tickets must be booked in advance.
Red2Red Speed Boat Tours
If you feel the need, the need for speed, the Red2Red speed boat tour operators will have you zipping down the River Medway with the wind in your hair as you tour some of Medway on water! Choose from heading out to the eerie military forts out in the Thames Estuary, the fascinating historical tours or indulge in the spooky season with A Ghost Fright Night tour.
