Joe's Bows

Joe's Bows is a working bow-making workshop tucked into the countryside near Faversham, where you can watch a proper craftsman creating traditional wooden bows by hand. It's the sort of place that doesn't advertise itself much - you'll find it through word of mouth or sheer luck - but if you're into traditional crafts or just want to see something genuinely different, it's worth the detour.

The workshop itself is small and intimate. Joe takes you through the process of how a bow is made, from selecting the wood to the final stringing, and he's clearly passionate about the work. You'll see bows at various stages of completion, and if you're lucky, you might catch him mid-craft. It's not a glossy attraction with gift shops and queues - it's a working space, so your visit depends entirely on whether Joe's in and has time for visitors.

This suits walkers and people interested in traditional skills far more than families after a day's entertainment. Children might find it interesting for twenty minutes, but they won't be entertained in the way they would at a proper visitor attraction. The real value here is for adults who appreciate handmade things and want to understand how traditional crafts actually work.

If you're staying at Painters Farm Camping Site nearby, it's close enough for a morning visit before heading elsewhere. Check ahead before driving out - call or pop in to confirm Joe's available. Opening times aren't fixed, which is part of its charm, really.