“We are in Provender Lane. Now, where’s our accommodation?” I instantly relaxed knowing Mr Word Loft and I were almost at our destination after a seven-hour trip from Cornwall to Kent. It should have only taken five hours, and the air conditioning failure in our car hadn’t helped when we were held up in traffic. The searing heat was exhausting.

Faversham’s countryside is beautiful. I was soon caught up in its magic, looking for Provender House, our base for a couple of nights, as we had an anniversary celebration to go to a mile down the road the following afternoon.

As the sun dipped, I was attracted by the twinkling lattice windows of a grand fairytale house behind a wall bedecked with spindly pink flowers. It was a pleasant surprise when the sat-nav instructed us to turn left onto the drive, and even more so when our host showed us where we were staying – a quaint cottage abutting the principal house.

Parts of the site as a whole date back to the 13th and 14th centuries, and the bedroom we were in includes a broad, ornate beam at one end of the ceiling, with oak rafters across the rest. The galley kitchen is intriguing, with an amazing feature. A historical extension built against what was originally an external wall, and in this case, a timber-framed Tudor edifice with a jutting upper storey is now inside. Two square apertures through to the dining/lounge area must have originally been windows.

All in all, a magnificent start to our party weekend. Our companions for the two days arrived later. The traffic was still horrendous in what was meant to be a quieter part of the day. They were also delighted with the surroundings, which I discovered when researching the enthralling house’s history is owned by Princess Olga Andreevna Romanoff.

Late to rise the next morning, we had a brief walk in the grounds before going to Norton village to find The Plough Inn for lunch after hearing about its excellent fare. We chose the footpath route, which was quite overgrown, but more picturesque than the road. It widened to a grassy meadow of wildflowers. The colours electric against a grey sky; poppies, horse parsley, and yellow ragwort create the perfect butterfly haven on the approach to the medieval Church of St Mary.

I found out some locals refer to it as the ‘Church in the Orchard’, and I could see why, as it looks over rows of apple and pear trees, whose fruits were shimmering like gems in the misty rain.

The Plough Inn, Lewson Street’s charming and welcoming exterior came into view, and we were soon tucking into tasty, wholesome meat pies, mashed potatoes, and vegetables with lashings of rich gravy.

We heard that the renowned Pilgrims’ Way is nearby, and the section from Faversham to Canterbury concludes the 138-mile trail, which begins in Winchester. It is believed to have been in existence since the Stone Age and became popular in the 12th century.

There wasn’t time to explore further as there were only a few hours until meeting dear friends for a wonderful evening. In their country garden, under strings of Chinese lanterns, we danced the night away, enjoyed spicy margheritas and tempting topped pizzas. Most of all, the company was marvellous.

Best wishes,
Sue. X