Escape the everyday with a unique foodie adventure in White Cliffs Country this summer. Go green and enjoy discovering fabulous local produce in Deal, Dover and Sandwich on a glamping trip, in this stunning UK staycation destination where coast meets countryside and relaxation meets adventure. Feel reassured, through making choices to support sustainable tourism, that you’re helping to make the joy of visiting this amazing destination a viable and exciting option for generations to come.
With a prime spot in the growers’ paradise that is the Garden of England, and blessed with one of the best climates in the UK, White Cliffs Country is bursting with fantastic local produce and tasty fayre - from land and sea. Discover the foodie delights of our coastal waters and wonderful farmland as you reduce your carbon footprint by exploring on foot and by bicycle, sampling delicious food that's travelled minimal distance to get to your plate.
Try locally caught fresh fish in White Cliffs Country (©Jenkins and Son)
Some Suggestions For Your Glamping Adventure
DAY ONE
White Cliffs Country offers you great camping and glamping sites, so which will you choose as your oasis of calm?
Lilyroos in Deal provides fully-equipped natural cotton bell tents in secluded, beautiful surroundings on an acre of field; breakfast, with all produce from local suppliers; and a barn and bar area where you can relax in front of the log burner, watch a movie or have a drink from the bar. Camp amongst the cherry trees, apple trees and pear trees on a fruit farm at Fallow Fields Camping, Eastry near Sandwich - they have fully furnished 5m x 5m bell tents, unfurnished bell tents and pitches for the more seasoned camper. Or relax in the tranquil haven of Dover’s Alkham Valley: Greenhill Glamping has two quirky and luxuriously restored shepherds’ huts, with stunning views and overlooking fields of sheep & horses. Each hut accommodates two adults and is pet friendly, equipped to a high standard with ensuite shower & toilet, woodstove, outside fire-pit & barbeque.
Admire the rural landscapes and picturesque villages of White Cliffs Country as you travel to the quaint coastal town of Deal (accessible by bicycle or via bus routes from Dover and Sandwich). Discover the edible coastal flora of White Cliffs Country on a unique coastal foraging experience with The Wild Kitchen. If you visit Deal on a Saturday, don’t miss out on browsing the stalls of Deal Town Market. Pick up a delicacy for a late, lazy breakfast – perhaps with local cheese, freshly baked bread or even a Kentish Knocker - ! Jill Martin’s award-winning pasties have earned quite a reputation. Kentish Knockers celebrate the coalmining history of White Cliffs Country and take their eccentric name from a mysterious legend of the coal mines. Stroll down Deal High Street (previously named High Street of the Year by The Telegraph) and enjoy its independent boutiques, wonderful food suppliers and delicatessens, sure to tantalise your taste buds.
Look out for the large Cycling And Walking map displays in Deal town centre, which show the routes you can follow along with places to visit, conservation areas, bus stops, public toilets, cycle parking, green spaces, footpaths and of course cycle paths. The map displays also illustrate the Cycle Quietway Network, which uses traffic-free cycle paths and low-traffic roads to connect quickly and easily with the places you might like to visit while you're here in White Cliffs Country.
If you haven’t brought a bike with you, you can hire one from Mike’s Bikes on Deal seafront. Not cycled for a while? If you'd like a bit of motorised assistance for your cycling adventure, try a Deal E-bike, available to hire from Tide's Leisure Centre in Deal. Take in the sea views as you cycle along the promenade and perhaps pause to soak up some of Deal’s maritime history: you’ll pass the quirky Timeball Tower, and the Tudor artillery fortress of Deal Castle, commissioned by Henry VIII.
Pause for refreshment at White Cliffs Country's traditional country pubs (©The Lantern Inn)
Travel from Deal to Kingsdown on National Cycle Route 1. Park your wheels and walk the clifftop path for its spectacular, panoramic views out over the English Channel. After reaching the idyllic village of St Margaret’s at Cliffe, visit the Pines Garden and tearoom and enjoy organically grown produce from the gardens themselves – or maybe treat yourself to homemade cake and freshly-brewed coffee. Alternatively, have lunch at The Coastguard, Britain’s closest pub to France, nestled in the cove of St Margaret’s Bay. Don’t be deceived if your phone jumps forward an hour – you might just be on French time! Visit the Pines Garden Gallery in St Margaret’s and view the collection of artwork from local artists. Once back in Kingsdown, you might like to stop for refreshment at the Zetland Arms – a charismatic pub that sits right on the beach itself – then go for a paddle or skim some stones.
Now you’ve explored a taster of White Cliffs Country’s fabulous coastline, you might be thinking seafood for an evening meal – so perhaps choose from the latest catch at Jenkins and Son in Deal. This family-run fishmongers and poulterers sell locally sourced fresh fish and seasonal game. They also have an in-house chef who creates homecooked delicious ‘heat and eat’ meals and famous lobster baguettes, with seafood platters available to order for a special occasion or as a weekend treat. Why not enjoy a barbecue back at your glampsite? Or let the team at The Marquis of Granby look after you, as you enjoy their gastro fayre from land and sea, with plenty of veggie options.
DAY TWO
Delve deeper into White Cliffs Country and its wonderful food and drink. Sip on quality wine from White Cliffs Country’s vineyards and cool off with an ice cream, home made on the farm,
Enjoy a leisurely morning stroll exploring the beautiful footpaths of the Alkham Valley. Then cycle to the village of Ripple near Deal and head to Solleys Farm, a family-run farm with four generations of farming experience and the home of Solley’s Ice Cream. Follow the cycle path or walking trail around the farm, then visit the ice cream parlour for a superb sweet treat. Create your own sundae with more than fifteen flavours of fresh, homemade-on-the-farm dairy ice cream – from rhubarb & ginger to raspberry Eton mess; chocolate brownie to coconut to lemon meringue pie and more. If it’s time to take the weight off your feet, jump on board a tractor ride around the farm and enjoy the views of arable farmland in the heart of White Cliffs Country’s pretty countryside.
Greenhill Glamping in the Alkham Valley offers accommodation in beautifully restored shepherds' huts
If you fancy a spot of lunch at a traditional country pub, visit The Plough Inn, Ripple and then work off some calories with a cycle ride to Barnsole Vineyard. These artisan winemakers produce quality wines of red, white and sparking variety. Take in a vineyard tour and winetasting before heading back to Alkham via Martin Mill and refreshment at The Lantern Inn.
On your way you’ll pass the recently restored Kearsney Parks. Russell Gardens is Grade ll listed in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. There is a magnificent 170m long canal pond and Palladian-style pergola bridges and boathouse pavilion. There are also tennis courts and a children's play area. Kearsney Abbey, which once formed part of a country house estate, now offers peaceful informal parkland where you can pause for a break and enjoy a coffee, stroll around the gardens and watch the swans on the lake, before arriving back at your destination.
Of course, these are but a few suggestions - you'll find plenty of ideas for fantastic places to stay in Deal, Dover and Sandwich together with great places to eat and drink (including our new foodie itineraries) as you browse our webpages. Come adventuring with a new experience in White Cliffs Country this year and enjoy a UK staycation to remember.