As the landing point for European invaders, Kent is home to heaps of castles, a handful of which are within easy reach of Rankins Farm. One of the best kept is Leeds Castle , a mere 7 miles away. Dating back almost 900 years, the castle has undergone a series of makeovers, from a Norman stronghold to a Tudor palace, to a privately owned home during the Jacobean era. It also served as a place of detention for Dutch prisoners of war in the 17th century and a hospital in World War II. Today, the 500-acre estate greets over 200,000 visitors a year, with activities during school holidays. Moated Bodiam Castle, built during the hundred years’ war, is a half-hour drive and still retains such features as wooden portcullis and a look-out tower that you can climb, with guided walks available. Hever Castle , childhood residence of Anne Boleyn, is also 45 minutes away, while the 460-acre Sissinghurst Estate (18 minutes drive) is more renowned for its gardens than the building itself. For further culture, it's a 15-minute drive from Rankins Farm to Maidstone, home of the Maidstone Museum , where highlights include a Solomon Island canoe and an excellently preserved Egyptian mummy, and the Tyrwhitt-Drake Museum of Carriages from horse-drawn sleighs to the original ice cream cart. Maidstone's town park, Mote Park, is also great for families, with two children’s play areas, a free BMX track and a host of walking and cycling trails. For a real breath of fresh air, though, drive the 25 minutes to Bedgebury Pinetum, home to one of the world’s largest conifer collections and a fantastic place for family picnics or to Bewl Water, an 800-acre site that's a boon for wildlife lovers (be sure to bring your binoculars). The Kent Downs AONB is also on the doorstep, with the Pilgrim’s Way the best known of the local walking routes through the area.