Wish you were here...?

Hawthorn Farm offers you all the peace and beauty of the surrounding Kentish countryside, within easy reach of the following popular destinations:

● Wingham (4 miles) - an attractive village and home to Wingham Wildlife Park where you'll find tigers, crocodiles, lemurs, penguins meerkats and many more...
● Sandwich (5 miles) - said to be the best preserved medieval town in the country and home to the famous Royal St. George's and Prince's Golf Clubs
● Deal (8 miles) - a charming historic town, with a pebble beach where you can regularly see fishing boats, a pier with a café at the end - and of course the magnificent Tudor castle
● Canterbury (9 miles) - a popular tourist destination and UNESCO World Heritage site, with its awe inspiring Cathedral, cobbled streets and historical buildings
● Walmer (10 miles) - home to the stunning Walmer Castle, and the infamous original Wellington boots!
● Ramsgate (11 miles) - known best for its yacht-packed marina and England's only Royal Harbour, and packed with continental charm
● Broadstairs (13 miles) - with its award winning Blue Flag sandy beaches, delightful independent shops, pubs, bistros and contemporary art galleries
● Margate (14 miles) - another of Kent's traditional seaside towns, home to the Turner Contemporary and to Dreamland - The UK's original pleasure park
● Whitstable (20 miles) - a charming seaside town, famous for its oysters, strong arts culture and rich maritime history
● Herne Bay (20 miles) - another traditional, friendly seaside town on the north Kent coast, perfect for families and fun days out
● Eurotunnel UK Terminal (22 miles) - get from Folkestone to Calais in just 35 minutes with up to 4 departures an hour.

When you choose to make Hawthorn Farm Cottages the base for your holiday in Kent, you'll be spoilt for choice with things to do, days out and places to explore! 

To help you find what you're looking for, simply CLICK on the links below:

Days out and Attractions

Whether you're interested in visiting important Roman sites, taking in some breathtaking scenery, visiting nature reserves and wildlife parks, wandering round beautiful gardens and parklands, discovering lighthouses or castles, touring award-winning vineyards, messing about on the rivers, paddling or swimming in the sea, mooching round darling little shops and cafes, or taking part in thrilling outdoor activities... you definitely won't be in danger of running out of things to do in our corner of the world! There are lots more ideas to be found on the Visit Kent website.

If you're looking for some interactive fun while you're out exploring the local area, you might enjoy following one or more Quiz Trails, which are 1-2 hour guided walks with adult and junior clues to solve and a souvenir booklet full of fascinating historical stories to take home. You can order one free quiz trail when you book your stay at Hawthorn Farm (if you book directly via the Hawthorn Farm website), and you can purchase up to 2 more titles from us at the discounted price of £4 each. You can choose from Sandwich, Canterbury, Deal & Walmer. There are lots of other titles available at the RRP of £5.99 each, or 4 for £19 from the Quiz Trail online shop including Whitstable, Broadstairs, Margate, Faversham, Herne Bay, Ramsgatre, Folkestone, Kent Coalfield Cycling Quiz Trail - and many others in Kent, Surrey and East Sussex!

Walking

We're conveniently close to the stunning Saxon Shore Way and Stour Valley Walks, as well as a number of well planned circular walks for people of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you like to challenge yourself to covering long distances, or to simply take your time and soak up the beauty of the countryside or coast, there's definitely a walk near Hawthorn Farm for you!

Cycling

Not only does National Cycle Route 1 (linking Canterbury and Sandwich) run right past our front door, but there are numerous cycle routes in this area which are suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. Fancy a quick cycle out with the family? or a more challenging ride along the beautiful Kent coast? The choice as they say is yours!

Golfing

There are a staggering eleven golf courses within 10 miles of Hawthorn Farm! They're mainly private clubs that accept guests (including the world renowned Royal St Georges and Princes Golf Clubs in neaby Sandwich) but there are also a couple of 'Pay and Play' courses: Stonelees Golf Centre and Manston Golf Centre, both of which come highly recommended. There's a full list of neaby golf courses for players of all ages and abilities on our Golfing Holidays at Hawthorn Farm web page.

Sports Centres and Facilities

You'll find a number of sports centres within easy driving distance of Hawthorn Farm. The nearest is Whitemills Wake and Aqua Park (3.6 miles) which offers a wide range of water based activities for all ages, including wakeboarding, a floating playground/obstacle course and open water swimming. Sandwich Leisure Centre (5.6 miles) has a state of the art gym, sports hall available for badminton, football, cricket nets and basketball. The air-conditioned studio offers a range of exercise classes, and the squash court can be booked by non-members on the day. Bay Point Club (6.5 miles) owned by the company responsible for the prestigious Prince’s Golf Club, boasts an exceptional range of gym/fitness and sports activities which you can use on a Pay as you Go basis. Canoe Wild on the beautiful River Stour at Fordwich (7.5 miles) offers canoe, kayak and SUP hire, taster sessions, courses, private lessons, guided tours and multi-activity days.

Fishing

Whether you enjoy coarse fishing, river fishing or sea fishing, East Kent has lots of fantastic locations to choose from. Sandwich Coarse Fishery is situated in a quiet, peaceful countryside setting with far-reaching views, and is just 2.6 miles from Hawthorn Farm. 

Eating Out

You can be sure of a warm welcome at the following in our nearest village, Ash
● Juliet's Farm Shop and Café (1.9 miles) A well established farm shop and very popular cafe. The shop stocks a large selection of locally sourced fruits & vegetables and the cafe serves great breakfasts and home cooked lunches using fresh ingredients and eggs from their own hens.
● The Chequer Inn (2.2 miles) A recently refurbished community village pub/beer garden with great character, serving excellent food and drink in a warm and relaxing atmosphere. 
● The Volunteer Inn (2.6 miles) A friendly village pub with cheap beer and smiley faces behind the bar! Beer garden and plenty of parking, pool table and live music events.

And slightly further afield, there are plenty of lovely eateries in and around:
● Wingham
● Sandwich
● Canterbury Whitstable and Herne Bay
● Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate

Some of our favourites include:
The Dog at Wingham Restaurant
The Duke William, Ickham
Salma, Wingham
Gibsons Farm Shop Cafe, Wingham
Coppers Bistro at Preston Garden Centre
Whitemills Kitchen, Sandwich
The Corner House Canterbury
The Pig at Bridge Place
Ossie's Fish & Chips, Sandwich

   Local farm shops and grocery stores

● Goldstone Butchers (1.5 miles)
● Juliet's Farm Shop and café (1.9 miles)
● Wingham Country Market Farm Shop and Garden Centre (3.7 miles)
● White Mill Farm shop, Sandwich (4 miles)
● Gibson's Farm shop, Wingham (6 miles)
● Algar Lodge Farm Shop & Café, Deal (7.3 miles)
● Broad Oak Farm Shop, Canterbury (9.7 miles)
● The Goods Shed Farmers Market, Foodhall and Restaurant, Canterbury (9.7 miles)
● The Old Kent Market, Margate (13.4 miles)
● Whitstable Produce Store (16 miles)