More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Throughout this strange and difficult year one thing is left unchanged - how stunning our county can be.
In 2020 you have been tagging KentOnline on Instagram with your snaps of some of the most picturesque locations to be found in Kent - so we thought we'd show you some of the absolute best.
January
Bringing in 2020 was this shot of the iconic Reculver Towers and Roman fort, near Herne Bay.
Facing the North Sea, coastal erosion over the years has brought the towers closer to the water.
A popular spot for walkers and photographers throughout the year, but the use of a drone gave this landscape a new perspective.
February
The second month of the year brought a pair of intense storms to the Kent coast, resulting in some dramatic pictures.
This shot of a huge wave breaking over the Folkestone coastline captured the strength of Storm Ciara, whilst also looking like a painting.
It was followed a week later by Storm Dennis, which caused traffic chaos across the county.
March
St Thomas à Becket church, on the Romney Marsh, is one of the most photographed locations in Kent.
The church once served the village of Fairfield, which has long since disappeared.
The historic building goes back to sometime around AD 1200, when it is understood a temporary place of worship was built for those working on the local farmland.
A more permanent timber structure was built in the 13th century and survived until the 18th century, when it was encased in brick walls.
April
The arrival of spring brought countless photos of rolling fields and beautiful woodlands across Kent.
This picture of bluebells in a woodland in Penshurst was the most liked post of the month by our Instagram followers.
The iconic flowers are one of the most recognisable sights of spring, and prefer ancient woodland where little has changed in thousands of years.
You can only catch them from the beginning of April to the beginning of May, disappearing almost as quickly as they appear.
Although the delicate blooms can be found across Western Europe, but about half of the world’s population is right here in the UK.
May
Our county has some amazing vantage points for sunrises and sunsets, and this one looking across the River Thames is surely one of the best.
From the edge of Greenhithe you can look towards the impressive Queen Elizabeth II bridge, also known as the Dartford Crossing.
Standing 137 metres high with a main span of 450 metres, the structure turns up regularly on our Instagram feed as an unusually picturesque feature.
June
During the third hottest June on record, one photographer captured this fantastic sunset from Minnis Bay, Birchington.
Two people enjoy the beach with the imposing off-shore wind turbines in the background, this was one of the most liked photographs of the year on our Instagram feed.
This year marked a decade since swedish energy giant Vattenfall opened what was the largest offshore wind farm in the world.
The project, based 12km from Foreness Point, took more than two years to build and cost a staggering £780 million.
By comparison this one - the Kentish Flats Extension - is far smaller, but has been in operation since 2005.
July
This black and white photo was taken as fans flocked to see the Disney Magic cruise ship moored up in Dover.
First arriving in May, hundreds of locals came down to Marina Pier to see the 11-deck luxury ship in all its opulent glory.
Large silhouettes of Mickey Mouse are painted on the ship's red funnels and the vessel's horn blasts out the well-known Pinocchio tune, When You Wish Upon a Star.
It was the first cruise ship launched by the world famous company in the late 90s and made its inaugural visit to Dover in 2010.
August
The second hottest month on record also brought with it some intense thunderstorms.
This startling shot was captured over Dover as thunder rolled and lightning spread across the sky.
A yellow warning for thunderstorms was put in place as the long-awaited rainfall followed on from scorching temperatures.
Residents in West Kent experienced heavy rain and hail, with some motorists stranded on flooded roads in Sevenoaks.
September
We're always getting photos of gorgeous Kent skylines sent to us, but this surely must be one of the best.
Taken from Whitstable beach, this shot has nearly every colour imaginable, racking up hundreds of likes on Instagram.
But the skies around the Kent coast are famously some of the beautiful, garnering praise from the 18th century painter J.M.W. Turner.
October
Country parks gained more popularity in 2020 as people looked for socially-distanced activities.
This shows a deer in Sevenoaks' Knole Park, with the low autumnal sun blazing in the background.
The park and Knole House have a long history, with Henry VIII used the grounds for hunting - it also became the home of his daughter Mary whist he divorced her mother Catherine of Aragon.
In 1609 the 3rd Earl of Dorset, Richard Sackville, inherited Knole House and its surrounding land.
Years later, in 1839 Mary Sackville, whole inherited Knole, married William Pitt Amherst, who previously served as Governor General of India.
November
As the cold months began creeping in, happy snappers ventured out to capture the chilly countryside in all its glory.
This morning frost was captured on the Weald, a landscape that stretches from Kent all the way to Hampshire.
Although much of the Weald is vast rolling hills, its name is old English and means 'woodland.'
December
The last month of the year brought some much-needed festive cheer as people decorated their houses inside and out.
This photo of homes in Chilham is about as cosy as it gets, and a reminder that everything looks infinitely better covered in lights and wrapped in tinsel.
