The Hay Hut is a beautiful Shepherd's Hut surrounded by ten acres of peaceful countryside which is all yours to enjoy during your stay. As well as acres of outside space the hut has it's own bathroom, well-equipped kitchen, large patio area and private off-road parking.
The hut is comfortably furnished to make your stay a real treat. There's a double bed with the softest of sheets and under-bed storage. The bathroom has a WC, sink, shower, hot water, fluffy towels and complimentary toiletries. Your own well-equipped kitchen means you can make everything from a morning coffee to drink in bed to a delicious supper to eat on the patio on a warm evening. During colder months the wood burning stove keeps you cosy. The aim is to have all the fun of a shepherd's hut with the comfort of a boutique hotel room.
There's private off-road parking with a short clear path leading down to the hut, meaning you can access rural seclusion without a long muddy trek!
There is secure bike storage if you need it.
The hut is perched on a gentle slope leading down to a stream which borders mixed woodland, and the uninterrupted views are outstanding. Whilst the top of the field is cut for hay in the summer, the slope leading down to the stream and woodland is left wild, and as a consequence is a haven for nature, particularly birds and butterflies.
Relax in total rural seclusion and drink in the views and fresh air or use the hut as a base to explore the local area as Kent and East Sussex are on your doorstep. This area is incredibly special and has so many places of interest and things to do it can be hard to decide how to spend your time. A footpath runs through the hayfield, so you can literally step out of your front door and begin your adventure.
Aldington sits just above Romney Marsh, one of the most exceptional areas in England. Miles of flat country lanes make it a haven for cyclists, and the coastline bordering it boasts everything from Derek Jarman's famous cottage in the shadow of Dungeness, via the traditional seaside amusements of Dymchurch, to the gourmet and artistic delights of Folkestone.
The border with East Sussex is nearby, so you can take in the fantastic shops, cafes and cobbled streets of the historic old town of Rye before enjoying the miles of white sand at the famous Camber Sands beach. Port Lympne Safari Park is a stone's throw away, so if you've tired of the abundance of British wildlife on your doorstep you could always go spend the day with a giraffe.
Neighbouring Tenterden and Appledore provide you with countless antique shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants, and there are many National Trust and English Heritage sites nearby, as well as The Rare Breeds Centre. The Royal Military Canal meanders through the neighbouring village of Bonnington, with miles of walking, canoeing, and paddle boarding opportunities leading to historic churches and places of interest. The Saxon Shore Way radiates out from Aldington, and The Hay Hut is therefore the perfect base for walkers.
Although the hut provides you with all the facilities you need to self-cater there are numerous cafes, pubs and restaurants in surrounding villages and towns, so you could enjoy a scallop and bacon baguette on the seafront at Hythe for breakfast, have a different world cuisine from every stall on Folkestone's Harbour Arm for lunch, and a slap-up traditional dinner at a village pub for dinner. The fish and chip van visits the village on a Tuesday.
Standing on the coast on a clear day you can see France, and with Dover an easy drive away why not hop over for a day trip? Or visit the recently expanded Ashford Designer Outlet for shopping and dining, stopping off at The Curious Brewery on the way.
Aldington itself has it's own general store and Post Office, pub, butcher and fishmonger, as well as the fantastic egg vending machine, which has to be seen to be believed! And it doesn't just sell eggs. You can snap up some brownies, bacon, milk, veg and whatever the farmer happens to have put in it that day, and it's just a short walk away across the fields.
As hosts we are only two minutes away, so we can be at hand to help with anything should you need us, but you have the hut and land around it to yourself.
Aldington is just outside Ashford, meaning it is easily accessible by car from the M20, and is served by Ashford International train station which is a mere 36 minute journey from central London. The Hay Hut is a 20 minute drive from the station.
It is 30 minutes to the Eurotunnel and 34 minutes from Dover Ferry terminal, making it an ideal stopover on your way to or from the continent.
Cyclists could explore the local area with ease, with miles of flat lanes crossing the marsh.
We can't wait to welcome you to this magical place, and we hope you enjoy it and the wonderful area as much as we do.
