BENGRAVE NATURE RESERVERainhamMedway is home to acres of beautiful country parks which are a favourite with families, but few visit the hideaway Berengrave Nature Reserve, where you can walk among the tree tops. Children will love clambering up the wooden steps to reach the boardwalks that span between the branches, while parents will enjoy the peace and quiet as the sun filters through the trees. The reserve in Rainham has developed from a busy chalk quarry, so you can see remains of the pit, the washmill ponds and learn something about Medway’s past. The park is a Site of Nature Conservation Interest and is home to wild flowers, chiffchaffs, blue tits, woodpeckers and other wildlife. There are information boards around the site, as well as a small picnic area. Visit www.medway.gov.uk

BIG CAT SANCTUARYSmardenKent enjoys many popular wildlife attractions, but among the best is a lesser-known animal centre which can only usually be visited for a hefty fee unless you’re tipped off to its open days. The Big Cat Sanctuary, near Ashford, is home to the Wildlife Heritage Foundation. It has six cat breeding units at the 38-acre site, three with open-topped enclosures for large carnivores such as tigers and lions, and three roofed enclosures for smaller climbing cats such as leopards and jaguars. While not routinely open to the public, you can pay to attend photographic workshops, experience days where you can feed a big cat by hand, and even overnight stays in luxury lodges for those on a big budget. But for a more humble fee, save the date of its 2014 open days from Thursday, July 17 to Sunday, July 20 for priceless face-to-face encounters with these stunning creatures. Entry then is a more realistic £10 each and under-fives go free. Call 01233 771915.

DUCK INNPett Bottom
This country boozer near Bridge is best known as the pub frequented by James Bond creator Ian Fleming (he got the idea for the hero’s 007 name from the number of the bus from Dover to London, which passed the Duck Inn every day) when it should rightly now be famed for its glorious food. It is run by Jim Shave, who worked previously at the highly-regarded Sportsman at Seasalter, near Whitstable, and took over in October. Oozing tasteful rustic charm, the customer is greeted by low ceilings and a traditional pub bar next to which sits a roaring open fire. But the food is the real draw: high-end cuisine at a reasonable price. Fish, beef, pork dishes hit the palate with thumping flavours, while Jim’s hot Scotch egg with runny yolk has fast become something of a local legend. And with rolling farmland as far as the eye can see, the Duck Inn is truly one of Kent’s hidden treasures. Call 01227 830354.

JoJo'sTankertonWhitstable’s no undiscovered gem (half of the UK can be found trawling its boutiques, bars and beach on any given weekend), but Tankerton is a different matter. Just a 25-minute walk from the town centre, the seafront suburb boasts JoJo’scorr coffee shop at its furthest end, which is so far only frequented by locals, in-the-know foodies who’ve read praise for JoJo’s in the Guardian and the Telegraph, and celebrity regular Janet Street-Porter. She said: “The food’s excellent and you can get everything from lovely Greek salads to grilled sardines. The coffee and cakes are delicious.” Word of warning, though - don’t forget your cash as they don’t accept card payments. JoJo’s restaurant and coffee shop is overlooking the beach on Herne Bay Road, Tankerton. Call 01227 274591.

KINGSDOWN BEACHDeal
Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside! When the county’s beaches come up for discussion it’s usually Thanet, Sandgate and Whitstable that get the most air time. Yet there’s a charming rural beach, which has barely changed through the ages, located just outside Deal. Kingsdown is an idyllic village which dates back to the Middle Ages and sits below a chalk cliff at the northern end of the White Cliffs of Dover. A general store, post office and three pubs is about all that you’ll find in the way of entertainment, but if it’s the kind of old-fashioned country-living vibe beloved of fans of Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater that you’re after, then Kingsdown is your ready-made backdrop for a pretty-as-a-picture traditional seaside jaunt.

NEW FORT TAVERNGravesend
New Tavern Fort is the remains of an 18th century fort built in the 1780s to defend the Thames against the threat of a naval attack from France. Despite this epic history, its name is barely recognised outside Gravesham, except among war and history enthusiasts. Situated within the Fort Gardens, it was extensively rebuilt by General Charles Gordon between 1865 and 1879 and was rearmed in 1904. Guns representing that period of development are on display. Visitors can hear how the fort would have defended the maritime route to London against an enemy fleet, venture into the mysterious underground world of the Victorian artilleryman, and see reconstructions of scenes from Gravesend during the Second World War. Look out for special event highlights like the annual Fort in the Forties fancy dress weekend, this year planned on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28. Usual entry is £2.50 for adults. Call 01474 337600.

LITTLE POTTERSSittingbouneDisguised within the otherwise decidedly unattractive surroundings of Sittingbourne’s dog racing stadium is a tots’ paradise called Little Potters. This ceramics cafe-cum-indoor play centre is not only a clean, colourful and great value craft centre for little ones, but it’s also the ideal place for busy parents to pick up personalised gifts for doting grandparents. The pottery painting studio provides everything from plain baubles, which you can enjoy adorning with your little cherubs’ handprints, to mugs and plates, which can be embellished with their oh-so-cute paintings. These are then glazed to preserve their handiwork forever. The Little Potters’ staff are always friendly and warm, which might be expected since the owners are also parents who were inspired to start up after the arrival of their daughter. Entry costs £1 per child over one year, and all ceramics are individually priced but very reasonable, as is the cafe. Call 01795 424444.

RAMSGATE MUSIC HALL
“Striking a blow for quality over capacity” is how NME music magazine reviewed Ramsgate Music Hall. Since it opened only a year ago, the fact that NME even knew the venue existed, and that it has already attracted artists including BBC DJ Marc Riley and Cate Le Bon, who sung on the Manic Street Preachers track 4 Lonely Roads, is testament to its quality. With a capacity of 125, the venue is the baby of four friends. They took on the derelict building at the heart of Ramsgate in Turner Street, rebuilt it from top to bottom and installed one of the best sound systems in Kent. One of these, Julian Biggs, said: “Only die-hard music fanatics have found out about us so far. We are bringing great touring names to east Kent every week, and the feedback has been great.”

On Saturday, April 26, the club hosts its resident RPM Funky Vintage night from 7pm. Tickets cost £3. Call 01843 591815.

ST MARTINS
CanterburyAlong with the Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey, St Martin’s Church is one of Canterbury’s three world heritage sites and yet many locals have never darkened its doorway. Tucked off North Holmes Road and near the Christ Church University campus, St Martin’s is the oldest church in continuous use in the English-speaking world. It was here that St Augustine set up his mission when he arrived in England in 597. More than 130 years later the Venerable Bede wrote his Ecclesiastical History of the English People. Of St Martin’s, Bede wrote: “Here they first began to assemble, to sing the psalms, to pray, to celebrate mass, to preach and to baptize, until the king was converted to the faith and gave them greater freedom to preach and to build and restore churches everywhere.” The building of St Martin’s was extended in the 12th and 13th centuries with the church tower added in the 14th century. It has three bells, the largest of which was made in 1393.

TEAPOT ISLAND
YaldingTucked away on the outskirts of Yalding is a haven for teapots. More than 7,000 of them can be seen on display at Teapot Island, based in Hampstead Lane and near to the Twyford Bridge Marina. Husband and wife Keith and Sue Blazyecorr set the attraction up in April 2003 and have seen its fame grow quietly since. In March this year Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, made a flying visit and other celebrity guests include actor Timothy Spall. The site began life as a cafe in the 1950s and used to sell bait to fishermen. A lot has changed since. A cafe specialising in cream teas remains on site, but it is now more famous for its teapots that come in an array of shapes and sizes - from camels to Darth Vader. Entry costs £2.50 for adults. Teapot Island is open from 9am until 5pm on weekends and bank holidays, and from 10am untio 4pm from Monday to Friday until Thursday, October 30. Call 01622 814541.