Monday, November 23, 2015

Travel Talk: A Weekend Escape to the Kentish Countryside


Happy Monday. How was your weekend? We had a relaxing one: we visited friends in Tunbridge Wells and took an impromptu trip to the Kentish countryside for a short stay at a B&B.

We stayed at the beautifully restored Woodpecker Barn in Lamberhurst, a former barn owned by retired professional violinist Martin and his Icelandic wife, Halla. It had the most incredible garden and two pretty suites upstairs for guests to stay in, each with its own living room and bathroom.

In the morning, we'd have these delicious breakfasts, accompanied by fresh pear and apple juice from the pear and apple trees in Martin's garden, plus herbs also freshly plucked from the garden.


I loved the fig jam that Martin and Halla made from the figs found just outside their house. Everything tasted so fresh and delicious and every so often, Halla would pop her head around the door to ask if we'd like another round of toast (the answer was always a resounding, "yes, please!").

On Saturday morning, we decided to take a walk through the neighboring fields to the closest pub (despite Martin warning us that it might be a bit "squelchy squelchy" and neither of us had brought wellies).


Sure enough, about half an hour into the walk, while I tried to navigate sinkholes of sticky mud, I made an error and my foot sank ankle-deep into a puddle of mud! I panicked and shrieked, stepping into other mud-holes in the process while John laughed at me some distance ahead. The advantage of sinking your feet ankle-deep into mud, I discovered, is that you don't quite care where you step next, so I just trekked on - mud and all.

I joked about getting trench foot, but after an hour or so, we found our destination: a friendly pub with a roaring fire.


I squeezed next to John near the fire and devoured a bowl of French onion soup and a thick-cut BLT sandwich while locals trickled in and sought shelter from the blustery cold (it had snowed a few hours before!). It felt so cozy and wintery!

Back at Woodpecker Barn, we took our muddy, wet shoes off outside the door while Halla rushed to put them by the Aga to dry. After a hot shower, we were ready to see our friends Joe and Jodi (plus their sweet babies!) and spent a wonderful afternoon and evening catching up.

It was so nice to take a short break; sometimes, I forget how important it is to have a change of scenery.


Have you taken a weekend break recently or are you planning one anytime soon? I'd love to know!

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18 comments

  1. That looks so beautiful. I love to escape London at the weekends, even if it's just going back to my parents house (and they don't live anywhere particularly spectacular). I had a weekend in Liverpool this week and it was so nice to just discover new places.
    Cx
    charliedistracted.com

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    1. It must be so nice to have parents near enough to travel to visit once in a while, Charlie! I often wish my parents were a train ride away. Alas! Your trip to Liverpool sounded fun, though! I've never been, and it's definitely on my list of places to visit. x

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  2. This is so lovely and I absolutely agree - a short break (even if it's not far from home) is so needed sometimes!

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    1. Thank you for reading, Polly! I'm definitely starting this week off feeling much more refreshed and less stressed!

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  3. Sometimes a staycation close to a roaring fire is just what the soul needs!

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    1. I'm all about those pub fires, Emma! Slightly obsessed. :)

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  4. What a lovely break, I could so do with one of these right now! Such a beautiful part of the world too- I can just picture you rocking up to that pub with the roaring fire :-) one of the best feelings, sitting there with a glass of something nice! x

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    1. YES. There are few things that feel better than stumbling into a pub after a long country walk with pink noses and cheeks, and eating some hearty for lunch! It's one of the things I love about winter in the UK. :) x

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  5. As much as I love London and love travelling to other cities, you can't beat the peacefulness of a countryside break.

    I've been feeling pretty envious of your weekend break via Instagram because it looks and sounds so idyllic (and the perfect break before the mayhem of Christmas too!), but it has got me excited about the weekend I've booked to Rye early next year!

    xxx

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    1. I LOVE RYE!!! OMG, that is the perfect place for a weekend break. I remember going there with my husband a few years ago for a similar type of break and we just had the best time. It reminds me that we have to go back for another visit soon! xxx

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  6. Looks so lovely and cosy, I love the idea of eating comfort food in front of the fire.
    Lots of love,
    Angie
    SilverSpoon London

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    1. It's definitely that time of the year now, Angie! I am looking forward to many more cozy fires! :) x

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  7. The Kentish countryside looks so gorgeous! Sounds like the perfect weekend getaway!

    http://thecourtneydiaries.com

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    1. It was, Courtney! Thanks so much for stopping by to have a read!

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  8. Oh wow, this place looks absolutely beautiful. I loved seeing your little snapshots on Instagram - although it gave me serious mini-break envy!

    I spent part of my weekend in Edinburgh - definitely a lot more blustery by the sounds of it, but beautiful nonetheless (especially when we coincidently caught the fireworks display to mark the city Christmas lights being switched on).

    Oh and it made me smile how quintessentially English your weekend sounded - with the brisk walks, roaring pub fire and fresh, home-made jam, it sounds like something from an idyllic storybook!

    x

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    1. Thank you, Charlene! Edinburgh must be SO pretty at this time of year - especially with those Christmas lights and fireworks! How lucky were you to catch those?!

      Haha - I know, it was definitely a very English weekend! x

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  9. The ultimate British countryside experience. :)
    What a lovely escape you had!

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    1. So English, right?! I'm missing that weekend already!

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