Jane Austen’s Temple

It's a small stone folly tucked into the grounds near Faversham, and the connection to Jane Austen is the real draw here. The temple itself is modest - nothing elaborate or vast - but it's the kind of thing that stops you mid-walk and makes you think about what life was actually like in Regency England. Austen would have known this area, and standing in front of something she may have seen does give you that little frisson of literary history, however faint.

You're looking at a proper period structure, the sort of thing Georgian landowners put in their estates because they could. It's not a house museum crammed with displays, so don't come expecting to spend hours. Twenty minutes takes in the temple itself and a decent gander round. The real value is for anyone serious about Austen - family history researchers, keen readers, that sort - rather than casual tourists after a quick photo stop.

The site sits well within striking distance of Faversham's High Street, which is worth a poke around if you're in the mood for antique shops and proper pubs. If you're camping in the area, Dunn Street Farm Campsite is just five miles off, or Mount Ephraim's glamping pods if you want something with a bit more comfort. Pair it with a walk through the wider countryside and you've got a solid morning's outing. Bring decent shoes - the ground can be muddy depending on weather. No facilities on site, so sort yourself out in town first.