Flower of Kent

We defy anybody not to fall completely head over heels for this cosy stone cottage nestled away in deepest Kent. Downstairs, you'll find a charming mix of vintage furnishings, shelves packed full of books and a log burner to gather around come nighttime. By contrast, the first floor is a more modern affair, with stark white walls, spotlights in the ceiling and sleek bathrooms each with a bathtub for a rejuvenating post-walk soak. There are patios with seating around the front and back of the address — compete with a barbecue ready for summer feasts — as well as a large garden. If this gives you the taste for the great outdoors, you're in luck as the Kent Downs AONB can be reached in a twenty-minute drive, while Hythe Beach takes just over twenty-five.

Home truths:
*No pets are allowed as there are free-roaming geese and chickens in the field next to the cottage
*There's a cockerel that crows at the break of dawn, although it's not excessively loud
*There's plenty of space to park by the cottage
*The host and his family live two minutes' walk away in case you have any issues