The 7 best ways to get lost (and have fun) with kids in Kent
Get out there and explore all the county has to offer by getting lost.
Here’s our run down of the best things to do and greatest places to go in Kent with the kids to get lost, have fun and discover something new about where you live.
1. Get lost. Literally
The maze continues to fascinate young and old alike. Navigating a mysterious path, getting from start to finish, all in the face of jeopardy is as thrilling as its always been. And Kent has some great places to get lost in.
At Leeds Castle, the circular maze of 2,400 yew trees encourages you to a finish line atop a central mound outlook post. From here you can sort of work out where you went right (and wrong), and an underworld grotto returns you to civilisation once more.
At Haguelands, the seasonal Mini Moo’s Maize Maze has been going for many years, each time with a tantalising new design ‘cut’ into the farmers field for you to navigate.
At Hever Castle there is not one, but two mazes to enjoy. Right next to the castle is the 8-foot hedge maze featuring almost a quarter of a mile of pathways to get lost in. Then, perfect for the summer months, the water maze is a series of stepping stone walkways sitting over water. Now and again, the stones tilt when stood on, the hidden water jets soaking the unsuspecting. Can you reach the stone grotto in the centre without getting wet?
Fun fact: The eagle-eyed among you will spot that the Leeds Castle maze mirrors a queen’s crown.
Note: Hever’s yew maze is so tough, they warn that you’ll need at least half an hour to find your way through it.
2. Become a spy detective for the day
Whether the kids want to explore a new local town – or find out some novel things about their home town – Treasure Trails are a great way to get out there, discover places afresh and get the grey matter working.
Treasure Trails provides self-guided and themed walking treasure hunts. The kids are set either a mission, a treasure hunt or a murder mystery. They must then follow a simple route around town, answering a series of clues connected to interesting, scenic and historical sites along the way to find the answers.
Each Treasure Trail (and there are loads covering towns across Kent, including Deal, Canterbury, Maidstone, Rochester, Broadstairs and Whitstable) varies in length, but most average two miles and take a couple of hours to complete.
Go online: There is a cost attached to each Trail, which are available to be printed off online.
In the know: If you get stuck on a clue, there’s a ‘Trail Trouble Textline’ to offer instant help.
3. Search for Churchill’s ginger cat at Chartwell
We’re lucky to have Chartwell in Kent. The family home of one of Britain’s greatest political leaders Winston Churchill is a treasure trove of history, filled with wonder and intrigue for anybody interested in his fascinating life and times.
This is the place he called home from the early 1920s until he passed away, and during what was to become the most turbulent period in our history. Today, you can roam the house and peek into the library, study, sitting room and dining room, presented as if the Churchill family had only just left the room.
Then there’s the cat. Ever since the National Trust started managing the property back in the 1960s, the Churchill family asked that there always be a marmalade cat named Jock, with a white bib and four white socks, living there.
The latest Jock is said to be a cheeky little chap and only the most eagle-eyed will spot him somewhere in the grounds of Chartwell. What are you waiting for?
Fun fact: Jock VI, or Malley as he was previously known, was a rescue cat adopted from Croydon Animal Samaritans.
Keep an eye out: Find Chartwell’s black swans which were first kept in the 1920s after they were gifted to Churchill. Do not feed them and remember to keep your distance as they can peck.
4. Run amok a great gardens
Exploring beautifully designed gardens is a great way to get some fresh air and wear out the little legs of the family.
Sitting on one of the highest points in the Weald, Emmetts Garden is full of winding paths, lily ponds, exotic trees and vibrant colours.
The view spied through the succession of brick-walled enclosures to the church tower at Goodnestone Park is said to be one of the best in any English garden. The Walled Garden is a perfect playground of raised beds and wisteria.
Elsewhere, Hever Castle has quite spectacular Edwardian gardens; Scotney Castle offers a bracing walk, navigating 14th century castle, moat and country house; and Sissinghurst Castle’s lovely gardens, developed around the surviving parts of the Elizabethan mansion, are begging to be explored.
Also check out Mount Ephraim Country House & Gardens and its stunning ten acres.
Go in Spring too: Emmetts is famous for its bluebells. The woodland walk is worth a saunter in the Spring.
5. Spot the Yeti
Dubbed the “most imaginative garden to visit in Kent,” the Riverhill Himalayan Gardens is stuffed with world-class sculptures, pops of exotic colour from unusual trees and plants, historical links to Charles Darwin, secret pathways, incredible views and den building.
But it’s also home to the ever-elusive Riverhill Yeti, lurking along the Den Building Trail. Keep your eyes peeled and don’t forget your camera in case you manage to seek out the notoriously shy creature.
While you’re at Riverhill you can also climb into the trees to explore the Plant Hunter’s Hideout, enjoy “one of the finest views in Kent” across the Weald, and lose yourself in the hedge maze.
And once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a snack at the Riverhill Café.
Insider knowledge: The venue says that the best time to spot the Yeti is between 2pm and 4pm at weekends and during school holidays.
Facts for grown-ups: Riverhill is home to some ancient trees, notably a Wellingtonia and a Cedar of Lebanon, both planted in 1860.
6. Go geocaching
Geocaching is probably the world’s greatest outdoors activity that you’ve never heard of. It’s time to change that, and quick.
Basically, it’s a global treasure hunt that uses GPS technology through your smart phone. You use it to find ‘caches’ that have been hidden by other geocache players. These might be hidden in bushes, up trees, behind lampposts, under rocks. And there’s hundreds of them. Everywhere. In your home town. Maybe even on your street.
Finding the treasure can sometimes be tricky. It might involve solving a riddle to get instructions to the exact whereabouts. Others may involve navigating a specific walk. Some are hard to reach, or in the middle of nowhere. And that’s the real beauty of geocaching – getting outdoors and discovering new parts of where you live.
As for what you’ll find on locating a cache, well that’s a mystery too. The best are Tupperware boxes filled with trinkets and toys (known as ‘geoswag’). These can be swapped, so make sure the kids bring a stash of small items along. Oh and don’t forget to sign the logbook once you’ve made your discovery.
Get the app: Download the geocache app and get started today.
Don’t forget: you can hide your own geocache. Just plot the GPS coordinates on the app and see how many people find your treasure.
Globetrot: You can go geocaching anywhere; treasure is hidden all over the world.
Hire away: If you’re reluctant to hand over your smart phone to the kids to play, at Betteshanger Country Park, they can hire GPS equipment to find caches all over the park.
7. Eat cake and get lost in the enormous gardens of Sissinghurst
Sissinghurst Castle Garden is a love letter to beauty: a poet’s retreat, architecturally resplendent, rich in history and culturally significant. It is here that the poet Vita Sackville-West and her author husband Harold Nicolson set up home in the 1930s, committing their energy to creating one of the most interesting, abundant and colourful gardens in the region.
Of course, the kids won’t care a jot about any of that. What they will love is the vast panoramic view from the top of the tower, one of several listed buildings that make up the 450-acre estate.
As we’ve come to expect from National Trust sites, there’s plenty to keep the kids entertained all year round, from family trails and nature bingo, to bird spotting and bug hotels (down by the vegetable garden).
Such energy-burning exploration demands a sumptuous snack. Here, the coffee shop doesn’t disappoint, with a range of great cakes and savoury treats made fresh every day by the in-house baker.
Grab a bite: If you want something hotter and more filling, the on-site restaurant serves food until 3pm.
Stay tuned: The castle and gardens play host to a range of events and activities throughout the year. Just check the website to stay up to date.
For more great ideas for spending better time with the kids in Kent, buy a copy of 237 Ideas for Stuff to Do and Places to Go in Kent with Kids.
