Saturday
Wake up and lounge around, making the most of your holiday cottage. Stretch your legs with a stroll to Hope & Lane, a charming coffee shop on the high street that serves delicious, fresh-baked pastries. Choose to stay put and peoplewatch as the streets hum with activity, or head out in search of fabulous independent shops – some of our favourites include Barkened and Mileage Vintage.
Spend the afternoon at the beach, swimming, sunbathing, reading a book or playing with your four-legged friend. There’s nothing better than spending time by the sea. Deal beach is a popular spot, while not getting as crowded as Margate or Broadstairs. On a hot day, you can see people sailing, paddleboarding and kayaking on the glistening waves. If you’re more inclined to enjoy land pursuits, take a walk along the waterfront in either direction.
When evening settles in, thoughts turn to dinner. The Frog and Scot is a laid-back French bistro serving seriously good food, while The Blue Pelican is a certified foodie haven. For something seriously special, head slightly inland to the Updown Farmhouse at Betteshanger.
Sunday
Your final morning in Deal should be marked with a leisurely lie-in, but once you’re up and about, we’d suggest pulling on your comfiest walking clobber and turning right when you meet the sea. From here, you can follow the coastline past Walmer and all the way to Kingsdown – there’s something magical about a beach walk on a Sunday morning in any season. Stop at Hut 55 for the essentials, such as coffee and sweet treats, before continuing all the way along to The Zetland Arms, a beachfront pub at Kingsdown. Reward your efforts with a bite to eat before making your way back to your holiday cottage and pondering a return trip.
Phoebe Shipton
