Look closer to home for a great escape
FOR many, going off on a great escape involves spending countless hours travelling by road, rail or air to reach a far-flung destination that will hopefully provide a perfect antidote to the daily routine.
However, we are lucky to live in an area where this is not always necessary, as these four great escapes demonstrate. Why not treat yourself to a weekend offering something a little different this spring?
Escape with big cats
The Wildlife Heritage Foundation, near Smarden, is one of the leading charities working on the conservation of endangered big cats. Animal welfare is the main aim, which means the site is carefully managed and visitor numbers are limited, but WHF is now running an overnight lodge experience where you will feed a big cat, meet the cheetahs, and even walk a puma among the UK’s largest collection of big cats.
The itinerary is as follows: Day 1
3pm - Arrival. Enjoy a glass of champagne and afternoon tea in the heritage lodge conservatory overlooking the tigers and lions. Guests are shown to their lodges to settle in. 4pm - Guided tour of the big cat sanctuary with a ranger. 7pm - Pre-dinner drinks. 7.30pm - Dinner in the heritage lodge conservatory, overlooking the lions. Last orders at 10.00pm. Retire at leisure for a relaxing night’s sleep, surrounded by some of the world’s most magnificent predators.
Day 2 Awake to the roar of the lions. 8.15am - Morning coffee and pastries will be served. 8.30am - Join the rangers for a ‘walk on the wild side’ with Yazhi the puma. Hand feed one of the cats. 10.00am - Enjoy brunch or a lighter continental offering in the heritage lodge conservatory. 11.00am - Check-out of your lodge and visit the gift shop. Headcorn Road, Smarden. 01233 771915.
Escape to a ‘glamp’ site
Leeds Castle offers families and couples the chance to escape to the countryside for a glamorous camping – glamping – holiday with a difference. Eight splendid striped pavilions based on a medieval design form a 'village' on the one-acre castle vineyard.
Enjoy the luxury of a four-poster bed, warming wood burning stove, crisp cotton bedding and snug furry throws. But the real luxury is not having to bring any special camping kit with you, just food for your evening feast.
For those wishing to experience lazy evenings outdoors and eat as medieval knights would have done before battle, use of
the cast iron griddlevover an open fire pit is included in your stay. A short stroll from the campsite, up the garden path to nearby Knight's Cottage, guests are provided with the use of new
shower and washing facilities. The facilities won a silver award in last year’s South East Tourism Experience of the Year awards, after its first season in business.
Guests will also get the chance to visit the 12th century Leeds Castle, set in 500 acres of beautiful parkland.
Over the centuries the castle has held sieges; hosted the medieval Royal Courts of Europe; been a prison for witches, Kings and prisoners of war, a munitions store and a hospital and welcomed some of the key figures in English history, from Henry VIII to Winston Churchill.
Off Penfold Hill, Leeds, Maidstone. 01622 765400. 14 Mid Kent Living
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