Updown Farmhouse

A Rural Farmstead in Coastal Kent

A beautiful farmhouse in the rolling hills of Kent, this gracious farmhouse comes with all the charms of the countryside. Grab some wellies and ramble on the extensive, seven-acre estate's grounds. Mix your own drinks from the honesty bar and take them in the drawing room, overlooking the terrace. Or retreat to the elegant, gem-toned library to browse the collected works and games.

Four king bedroom suites fill the main house, two with super kings, and the Gardener’s Cottage and Gatehouse are ideal for couples, set away from the main house and independent. The abundant kitchen garden is open for guests to stroll.

Restaurant

A conservatory restaurant is also located on the estate, and is open to the public on select days during the week (usually Wednesday evening to Monday morning). It is located at the opposite end of the property to where the house and cottages are, and guests are welcome to dine there. It has its own woodfired grill, as well as the farmhouse's original bread oven.

Around

Located just outside of the coastal village of Deal, Kent, at the meeting point of the North Sea and English Channel, the farmstead allows for both coastal and classic countryside living. The 250-acre Betteshanger Park is the closest area attraction, a protected parkland with miles of traffic-free cycling, mountain biking, and walking trails plus more original local recreation options such as archery, geo caching, fossil hunting and a forest school zone with military fitness and den building areas.

The town of Deal has a pier that’s largely unchanged in the last century, and the traditional coastal village presents as a maze of narrow streets and alleyways that were once home to smugglers and pirates. Tales of a raucous past and a range of maritime history exhibits can be found at the town’s Deal Museum or the Timeball Tower Museum, and there’s also a pair of castles in the area. Colorful buildings line Deal’s waterfront, the town’s beach is wide and pebbled, and it offers abundant outdoor cafes and pubs, as well as scenic views of the English Channel towards the Goodwin Sands.

Deal Castle was built in the 1500s as a coastal fortress and is one of England’s finest Tudor-styled artillery castles. Architecturally, Deal’s colorful fishermen’s cottages mix with Georgian townhouses in the Conservation Area, and grand Victorian villas line the town’s streets, too. Deal’s High Street has won awards for its variety of independent shops and galleries, and there are multiple cultural venues, ranging from Astor Theater to the Landmark Bar, plus a Music & Arts Festival in July and a giant street fair in September. Deal’s farmer’s market is held every Saturday and is packed with produce, fish, meats and locally prepared products. And when the mood strikes to wander out of town, footpaths, including England’s Coast Path, and cycling routes along the White Ciffs are abundant.

Location

Betteshanger, Deal, Kent, UK. Nearest airports: Southend (40 miles); London Airports (68 to 85 miles)

Best time to visit

March to September