A chance to reconnect, relax and indulge
- Emily Coles
- Oct 7, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 10
Spending a long weekend away from the demands of everyday life is a necessity, but it isn't always that easy to find the perfect retreat, until now. I spent two nights in a cosy Shepard's hut just a short drive from Canterbury city center and experienced a few days of tranquility like no other.
Nestled between Canterbury and the quaint village of Wingham, The Carpenters farm is home away from home, with ducks for neighbor's and nature for company. Residing on a pond, we woke each morning to a crisp blue sky and spent our evenings under fairy lights watching the moon. Designed with its guests in mind, we were offered a double shower and one of the comfiest beds I have ever slept on, an outdoor living area and private garden big enough for the whole family.
Welcomed with fresh home-made bread and a cheeky bottle of wine our stay was of to a win from the get go, but the small details that came with our hut truly pushed it over the line. Egg cups filled and mini jars of jam and marmalade cooling, leaving to drink and eat felt like a chore! But of course we still had to visit the surrounding areas to make the most of it, starting with Wingham and making our way to Sandwich.
Enjoying a pint of Moretti at The Anchor in Wingham first, it didn't take long to realise we were sat in a community pub, one of those where everyone knows everyone from the area and we were quite clearly the 'tourists'. Non the less, the atmosphere was jolly and we were able to enjoy the last of the summer sun outside whilst the others prepared for a wedding reception the following day. Polly and Tom, whoever you are, we hope your special day was amazing! It was one and done as we head straight for Sandwich to find somewhere for dinner. The journey was simple, just a 15-minute drive and we were able to park easily at the bottom of the town in the Co-op carpark,
Sandwich has so much to offer for such a compact town, cobble streets and quaint cafes, local pubs and trendy bars and at the top of the town ... a Chinese takeaway, just where it belongs! At the top!
We strolled around for a while contemplating whether we could stomach another portion of fish and chips after our trip to Weymouth last week or whether taking a takeaway back to the hut was a better shout. Persuaded by the temptation of sticky BBQ ribs and chicken balls, Chinese was the only way forward. We ordered from Shanghai and then had around 20 minutes to kill, what to do what to do. Another drink it was.
Old Pharmacy Bar is a locally owned bar offering the perfect retreat to keep cozy whilst the chow mien is heating... and didn't they know it. Welcomed with wide arms we were seated and offered a bowl of cheese ball crisps and salted peanuts, and not that much later a tall pint of beer and a fruity cocktail were no more... so I ordered another. For us this bar was a testament to the vibe and atmosphere in the villages surrounding Canterbury, the men that owned it were talkative and vibrant with their customers whilst offering a cozy and welcoming environment, the type of establishment you don't often come across anymore. One drink later for Ry and maybe more than one for me, we collected our food and drove back to our haven on the pond.
Greeted by a hut draped in golden fairy lights, we tucked into our dinner and enjoyed the peaceful ambiance of being in what felt like the middle of no where. Now, I was quick to type 'and so we got cosied up on the outdoor sofas, electric candles on, movie in full swing', but in complete honesty I did no such thing. With nature comes insects, moths, fly's and spiders which for some is no worries and for me most of the time it isn't either. But, there was not a chance I was going to cuddle up next to one of the UKs rapidly growing giant fake Australian tarantulas (not to be dramatic) so I left Ryan to enjoy the tranquility whilst I cocooned myself in bed and binged a few episodes of superstore.
Nine hours of perfectly uninterrupted sleep later and it was time to explore Canterbury City Centre itself. Parking in the West Station Car Park we made our way down past an array of cafes and pubs before stopping at the Cricketers for a quick drink. As the sun beamed down like it was its last chance, the sound of bells and whistles filled the air, soon there were flute players lining the streets and crowds gathering to cheer on morris dancers across the city. A traditional dance like no other seeing ages of all kinds come together to put on a show. We stopped to enjoy the performance for a while before continuing to look around the area, a pit stop in Zara and another break to watch a busker, it was time to choose somewhere for a snack.
Based on a friends recommendation, we stopped at El Sol tapas bar and wow am I glad we did. Offering an array of authentic Spanish dishes the menu was to die for, dining on stuffed calamari and herby meatballs, spicy chorizo, potato bravas galore and empanadas, truly delicious. If you do get the chance to visit Canterbury it is certainly somewhere I would recommend too. Other places we have heard to be worth dining/drinking are The Pound, Falstaff and Cafe des amis, or of course you can take trip advisors judgement too!
Our afternoon was spent strolling the river walk and watching small boats pass by, some romantic some hysteric and soaking in the afternoons warmth. Swayed by the sounds others clinking their glasses we stopped over for one last drink before going back to the car. Although completely stuffed, we popped into Sainsburys to grab a little snack and some drinks, which did turn into steak, chips and biscuits because we're tempted to easily by everything. Shopping bag full we drove back to the hut and sat out on the deck chairs to watch the ducks settle. I made us a 'small' miller and carter fake away to munch on as the day came to a close and before we knew it it was time to unwind and put superstore back on the telly.
Check out was 10am so we rose with the sun and packed our bags ready to head straight home, but on a whim our morning went much differently. As we left the driveway we decided to head back into Sandwich for a greasy fry up but on the way we took a spontaneous turn towards Deal. Deal is small coastal town along the coast from the White Cliffs of Dover and offers un-spoilt views of the French coast (British weather permitting)
This small seaside town radiates community, with a street market bringing everybody together and a real sense of friendliness offered towards us. We chose a seafront cafe for breakfast but for the life of me I can not find what it was called and I didn't make note of it when we were there, but I opted for an eggs benedicts and Ry chose a breakfast bap. The food was meh but eating besides the beach was an unexpected treat so we didn't mind too much. The seafront offered a long stretch of stone and sea to walk along, accompanied by independent cafes and filled with the wagging tales of happy dogs. On a whole, though Deal might not be the type of place you plan your summer holiday to, it is the perfect seaside retreat to escape the liveliness Canterbury city center has to offer and a contrast many UK cities can't offer.
This post may have gone off track a little and taken my common storytelling form, but the point still stands. We do not have to travel far to reconnect with ourselves and feel contentment, nor do we have to stay in luxury hotels in the Cotswold's or kitted out lodges in the Lakes, the alternatives you'll find when you're ready to escape can be truly magical.
If you want to experience a weekend away from the demands of every day life you know where to visit!
If you do happen to book a night or two in this beautiful retreat, I'd love to hear about your experience!
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