Royal Hounds Dog Park

The Royal Hounds Dog Park sits just outside Meopham and is exactly what it promises - a dedicated space where dogs can properly stretch their legs without the lead. If you're camping at one of the local spots like Badgells Wood or Thriftwood Country Park, this makes for a genuinely useful morning stop, especially if your dog's been cooped up in the car.

What you get is a fenced area where dogs can socialise and run about freely. It's not a tourist attraction in the traditional sense - there's no cafe, no gift shop, no heritage plaques. You're here purely for the dogs. They love it, and if you're the sort of person who needs their pet to burn off energy, you'll appreciate the straightforward practicality of the place.

The real value kicks in if you're doing a longer park holiday in Kent. Badgells Wood is barely three miles away, making this an easy detour. Allow an hour if your dog's sociable and enjoys play, less if they're the independent type who just wants a quick mooch.

Visit early morning or late afternoon to avoid the peak crowd times when temperaments can get a bit fraught. Weekdays are calmer than weekends. It's free as far as I can tell, though do check locally as these things can change. Not somewhere to bring the kids expecting entertainment - this is purely for the hounds. But if your dog needs a proper run alongside other animals, it does the job without any fuss.