Fleets Paddock Glamping & Camping

Between the historic city of Canterbury and the seaside town of Whitstable are seven miles of countryside and woodland. Amongst it you’ll find Fleets Paddock Glamping & Camping. It’s an idyllic but fairly simple place to stay in the Kent countryside, not far off the Crab and Winkle Way, a handy walking and cycling route which joins the city and the sea. It offers campers and glampers a way to get to either without getting in the car. And once you’re done exploring your choice of city sights, countryside, or coast, this welcoming little campsite is the perfect spot for kicking back by the campfire.

Campers are offered free rein in the field, allowed to camp pretty much wherever they please. Pitches are flat, grassy, and off grid. There’s no electricity but the basics are covered: There's drinking water taps, somewhere to wash up, compost loo cubicles, and a couple of curtained hot showers. It’s all very outdoorsy. And in the middle of it all is the communal campfire pit; a sociable place to toast marshmallows, cook, and share stories of your adventures. If you like the sound of all that, but aren't quite self-sufficient, then book a bell tent or the bow top gypsy caravan. The site’s four glamping options offer an easier way to stay—think beds made, towels ready, and cooking kit included.

Off site, the Crab and Winkle Way is the best option for active types. You can join it less than a mile away from the campsite, then cycle five miles to the sea or two into the city where the World Heritage-listed Canterbury Cathedral is the obvious draw. At its other end, Whitstable is famous for its oysters and there are plenty of places to try them. It’s a cool town with great independent shops and a lovely shingley shore. And don’t forget that in between there’s all that countryside and woodland to explore.