Brogdale Farm

The Brogdale orchards near Faversham are Britain's national collection of fruit trees, and it's genuinely unusual to walk through. Hundreds of apple, pear, plum and cherry varieties grow here - some you'll recognise, many you won't. The whole setup feels more like a working research station than a tourist attraction, which is precisely why it works.

You're free to wander the grounds and see what's fruiting that season. Spring brings blossom thick enough to stop you in your tracks. Autumn, obviously, is when the picking happens and the place comes alive with activity. There's a small shop selling what's been harvested, and occasionally they run tasting sessions if you time it right. It's the sort of place where you actually learn something without it feeling forced - staff know their stuff and will chat about why certain varieties nearly died out, or why one particular pear tastes nothing like supermarket pears.

Coming with kids works well if they're old enough to be genuinely curious about where food comes from. Younger ones might get bored after twenty minutes unless you've got snacks and are prepared to make it an extended picnic. Walkers treating Faversham as a base should factor this in - it's not exhausting but it's worth a couple of hours. The nearby camping sites like Painters Farm and Seasalter Holiday Park put you within easy striking distance.

Check ahead before visiting though - opening times and admission charges aren't always clear. It's worth the effort to confirm.