Mulberry Cottages

Hi all, well I thought I might introduce myself. My name is Jane and I am a brand new member of the amazing team at Mulberry. Although my immediate experience is in the hospitality industry I feel that there are many similarities to the tourist industry as they are both extremely customer focussed, which is where I have excelled!
My role here will be to advise and take on exciting new properties to the Mulberry portfolio and I will also be travelling round Kent meeting existing and new landlords and helping to develop and expand the business. I’d like to think that I am approachable, friendly and always highly professional.
So if you’d like to ring for a chat about letting your property to see what Mulberry can offer, or if you know of anyone who might be interested in holidaying with us then drop me a line, I’d love to hear from you.
My first few days have been a whirlwind; it’s lovely to be part of such a friendly, dedicated and knowledgeable team, so watch this space for more news….
Jane

We sponsored the British Eventing horse trials at Chilham in Kent at the weekend.  Chilham is a stunning medieval village on a hill with a private castle at its heart.  The village is often used as a film location as its main square in front of the castle is so unspoilt, Miss Marple and several Jane Austen dramas have been filmed there including the recent adaptation of ‘Emma’.

The horse trials were hosted at this beautiful medieval Kent castle with the course running through the stunning parkland and around the lake. A great way to enjoy our lovely Kent countryside where you can bring a picnic and enjoy the grounds and views – and pop in and see us for a glass or two!  The weather was warm and sunny just adding to the lovely setting and our pimms tent was very busy with people enjoying a relaxing moment watching the show jumping which was opposite our tent, before they ventured off again to walk the glorious castle grounds – altogether a wonderful day out.

We have two lovely Kent holiday cottages in the square at Chilham, both steeped in history with lots of character, fireplaces and olde worlde charm you would expect from such ancient buildings – why not come and rent one for a short break or longer vacation and experience living in a truly meideival square!  I have attached the links for you:

http://www.mulberrycottages.com/cottage/holiday-cottages-in-kent/13813-orions-cottage/

http://www.mulberrycottages.com/cottage/holiday-cottages-in-kent/13865-the-smithy/

Now that you have made the decision to visit Kent, have you ever thought of all the different ways you can get there.  Of course the obvious is to drive, Kent is blessed with two motorways the M20 and the M2 both very convenient and linked to the M25 for easy access from throughout Britain.  If you want to take the more leisurely routes there are plenty of well signposted country roads which will meander you to your destination.

Regular train services run to all major towns in Kent.  We now have the new high speed rail link (London to Ashford in 37 minutes), and this fast train also goes to Canterbury and Ramsgate. 

If neither of these methods of travel suit why not use the National Express Coach network which runs from London’s Victoria Coach Station to many parts of the Garden of England.

If you are travelling to Kent from Europe we have the worlds busiest ferry port at Dover which both Sea France and P&O ferries operate with regular sailings to Calais.  Norfolkline also operate from Dunkerque to Calais.

Finally there is the Euro Tunnel which operates from Folkestone to Calais in 35 minutes.  For passengers without cars there is the EuroStar which runs from London, Ebbsfleet and Ashford International to Lille, Paris and Brussels. 

There are so many different options to consider, but rest assured for your travel there will be an option to suit all who wish to visit Kent and Sussex.

The Garden of England which we all know as Kent has one of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in Britain.  Many people associate Kent with the White Cliffs of Dover, this iconic landscape is stunning and in fact the whole of the Kent Coastline is just waiting to be discovered.  With sandy beaches, rock pools, cliffs and dunes it has something for everyone.  There are harbours, fishing boats, water sports and sailing – the Kent Coastline is so varied.

Inland there is fertile farmland, marshes, undulating downs and ancient woodlands.  There are plenty of orchards, hop farms, vineyards and grazing for both sheep and cattle.  An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is the North Downs and is full of rare flowers, orchids and butterflies.  With more ancient woodland than almost anywhere else in the country Kent gives the visitor an insight into how land looked when forest covered most of Britain. 

With so much to offer Kent has been attracting tourists for many centuries and is popular with so many returning time and time again.   Glorious Gardens making use of the climate and landscape have evolved over the years and now are popular with both tourists and locals alike.  With Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, Goodnestone and Hole Park to name but a few it is not surprising that many visitors love coming to Kent.  Mulberry Cottages can provide the ideal cottage for your requirements in both Kent and Sussex ideally situated in glorious countryside.

Kent is known as the Garden of England – with its fertile farmland and wonderful coastline it is natural that some of the most wonderful restaurants have evolved.  There are no less than five Michelin starred restaurants, plenty to keep you busy during your gourmet vacation.  For glorious pubs Kent can again be proud with fine ales and dining often on the menu.  Kent is home to Shepherd Neame Brewery which is the oldest in Britain and there are many local Cider producers and vineyards.

There is so much to offer tourists from the Michelin starred restaurants to the gastronomic pubs and hotels.  Your self catering holiday need not involve any catering at all if you so desire, just a bed to sleep in and recover before finding the perfect place for your next meal out!

Here at Mulberry we can suggest cottages close to pubs and restaurants, and even some we have been to ourselves.

We are spoilt in Kent with the vast amount of Heritage just on our doorstep.  For this reason Kent is such a popular tourist destination and in our opinion we can understand why.  Canterbury Cathedral has had a tradition of welcoming visitors right back to the days of medieval pilgrimage.  With the Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and the ancient St Martin’s Church it is not surprising that this is a rare World Heritage Site. 

Kent has more castles and historic houses than in any other county in England.  For fairy tale castles we have many of the best, Leeds, Dover and Hever Castles will do more than inspire your imagination of how life used to be.  For such a historic County it is not surprising that Kent has been the home to many famous people over the centuries including Churchill, Charles Darwin, Vita Sackville West and the military hero James Wolfe.

So if it’s a holiday filled with heritage and history Kent has so much to offer.  Mulberry Cottages can recommend the ideal cottage, some even with their own history just waiting to be discovered.

Easter holidays are looming and the question most parents begin to ask is what are we going to do with the teenagers.  Have you thought about a self catering holiday in Kent – “oh no” I can hear you say they will hate it – no internet, no playstation, X Box or Wii.  Well I have done some research for you and have come up with some really fun activities for your teenagers; I have even tested them out on my own with great success.

Firstly you must book them into the Go Ape Adventure activity at either Bedgebury Forest or Leeds Castle.  This high wire forest adventure will take them out of their comfort zone and get their adrenalin pumping – if your game on why not do it with them or just be the camera man below!  

Bedgebury Forest also has the most amazing cycle tracks through the forest, some with jumps and action and some more gentle.  You can hire bikes and get going, wear them out and let them push themselves without the worry of roads, at the same time give everyone a good work out!

After this there is Buckmore Park which is a 1,200m outdoor karting circuit, the very same one where Lewis Hamilton began his career.  The carts are sized according to age so that the older ones get the more powerful machines.  This is a real winner and you can even arrange parties with an awards ceremony on the podium.  For my teenage children this has never failed to impress them.

More ideas include Planet Lazer in Canterbury, paintballing at Great Chart Golf Club and surfing lessons on the coast at the Joss Bay Surf School and Kent Surf School in Broadstairs. 

These ideas are not the usual stately homes and castle visits but if your teenagers are like mine they would much rather have some action.  Perhaps a holiday with compromise is best, each day another persons chooses the days activities.  We did this once on holiday and it was a resounding success.  So all you need to do is choose your perfect Mulberry Cottage and then get together to plan the action.

It is always a challenge going on holiday with young children and any help is always an advantage.  Not to have to take travels cots and high chairs in the car would certainly be useful.  Many of the cottages we let have these provided as standard and we also state if the cottage is going to be unsuitable for young children.  For instance you don’t want to arrive and find an open pond right next to the cottage and spend the whole holiday on high alert when the children are playing.   A dedicated team which know the cottages well can suggest perfect cottages just for you.  For babies you need to be able to have good access for the pushchair, is there a bath rather than just a shower and in the ideal world are there local babysitters which are reliable.  Mulberry Cottages want to ensure that your holiday with a baby is a real holiday and not one problem after another.  Camber Cottage near Rye in East Sussex would be ideal, close to a lovely sandy beach, cot, highchair and plenty of space for all the baby equipment.

Have you been following Lambing live on television over the last week?  Have the children been wishing they lived on a farm like the Bevan children?  I know that this would be an impossible dream but what if you decided to take a holiday in the country and be part of the lifestyle that looks so idyllic.  A self catering country cottage would be perfect, surrounded by fields which are filled with lambs at this time of year.  Some cottages are on working farms, some larger estates and others just in real rural communities.  For a taste of the country Mulberry Cottages can give your family a lifestyle adventure.  Start by looking at Apple Tree Cottage, a picturesque property on a working  Kent Farm.

The Easter holidays are nearly upon us, the prospect of warmer days and spring bulbs is very appealing. We could all do with a break from our normal day to day routine so a picturesque cottage in the country for a week away could be the answer. The Easter holidays are often the perfect time to plan a break away, imagine fields of spring lambs, daffodils flowering and plenty of Easter Bunnies! After the winter we have all been having it is perhaps just what is required to lift the spirit. We have many lovely properties not just in the countryside, some in gorgeous villages and others in the City of Canterbury. Imagine spending Easter in Canterbury, with the historic Cathedral at this important time in the Christian year. Whatever the reason you chose for your Easter break, remember to book early to find the perfect cottage for you.