Broad Oak

If you enjoy walking you will be delighted with the location of Kaths Cottage. Within a few yards of the cottage a narrow country road leads into the Valley of a small stream known as the Sarre Penn. Public footpaths and old droveways lead off the lane, through apple orchards and into an area of ancient broadleaved woodland, part of an area known as The Blean. At 11 square miles The Blean is second only to the New Forest in southern England and over half of it is recognised internationally as being important for wildlife.

If your preference is for history, a 1 mile walk will take you to Forwich, the ancient port of Canterbury and, with around 350 inhabitants, now the smallest town in England. In Roman times through to the middle ages this was an important place - in the 12th and 13th centuries all the stone for building Canterbury Cathedral, brought from Caen in France, was unloaded at Fordwich. Since then river silting combined with the arrival of other means of transport have destroyed that importance and Fordwich is a small hamlet who's river is navigated purely by small pleasure craft.

Links with its illustrious past do remain however. Fordwich is a member, or 'limb', of the Cinque Port of Sandwich, and the Mayor Deputy of Fordwich still pays annual 'Ship Money' of 6s 8d to the Mayor of Sandwich at a ceremony held at Sandwich Town Hall. Fordwich also retains its Town status with a Town Council of 5 councillors elected every four years in the local council elections. Fordwich is therefore a town with a long history, and the centre of Fordwich has been designated a Conservation Area, with many listed buildings - and one or two good pubs.

And over 100 miles of public rights of way ensure that all of this is freely available to visitors