One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to explore Kent more. Who am I kidding? My New Year's resolutions every year is to explore Kent more. This year I've undertaken to visit twelve villages or towns that I have either never visited before or at least haven't been to for a decade. The promising news is that I've managed to interest both Stephen and my local friends in this endeavour.
Our first outing of the year was to the historic village of Appledore, which we discovered on Visit Kent's Most Instagrammable Villages. Tucked away in the countryside near Ashford, Appledore is a picturesque village that perfectly captures England’s rural charm.
The first thing we noticed when we stepped out of the car was how beautiful the fresh air smelled. It was crisp and clean, with faint traces of woodsmoke drifting through the breeze. No doubt, the fireplaces in the village were in full use - it was a bitterly cold day, with temperatures staying below 4°C throughout our visit.
The Black Lion pub, Appledore
It is no surprise that we opted to head straight to lunch in the Black Lion before exploring the village.
It was the Black Lion’s first weekend open after their January break, a time when many Appledore businesses pause to recharge after the festive rush. Despite being busier than expected, the lovely server found us a cozy table overlooking the patio.
Stephen ordered the seafood chowder for starters. I love fish soup but sadly this had salmon in, which I'm allergic to. I opted for a delicious plate of whitebait instead. For main course, I chose the chicken escalope, panko crumbed and pan fried with linguine, red pesto and leeks. Stephen chose the pie of the day which was lamb and mint. The crust was perfect!
Exploring Appledore
After our meal, it was time to take in some fresh air and explore The Street and beyond. Appledore's quiet, winding streets are lined with half-timbered houses and red-brick cottages, many of which date back to the 14th century.
At the top of The Street and next to the Black Lion is the St. Peter and St. Paul Church of England Church. It is a 13th-century building and the churchyard is home to several Commonwealth War Graves.
Located in the 300-year-old blacksmith's forge, The Old Forge Emporium is home to a collection of traders in antiques and curios.
A half-timbered house with distressed wood and moss on the roof.
Friends I made along the way.
Miss Mollett's High Class Tea Room. We will definitely stop here on our next visit.
The Wesleyan Chapel in Appledore has been controversially redeveloped into a holiday let, sparking debate over the balance between preservation and progress in the village. I loved the church’s quiet, timeless charm far more than the modern townhouses down the road, which felt out of place in such a quaint village.
We just missed the fair on the day we were there, so we decided to turn around and take a short countryside walk instead.
Walking Old Way, Appledore to the Royal Military Canal
This is the walk I would have liked to take if I wasn't wearing my inappropriate footwear. On this day, we headed down to the end of Old Way and took the public footpath to the Royal Military Canal. I still managed to ruin my shoes!
We followed the Royal Military Canal back to the village. The area is immaculately kept, though I hope they embrace No Mow May, which allows wildflowers to flourish, offering essential sustenance for pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Appledore once thrived as a bustling port in the medieval wool trade, where its riverside location made it a vital hub for exporting England’s prized wool to Europe. The river was later transformed into the Royal Military Canal, built to defend against Napoleon’s forces during the 19th century.
We returned to The Black Lion for one last drink before the long drive home. After the barman’s happy mistake earlier - serving us bitter shandies instead of lager - we decided we loved it and ordered two more Romney Best Bitter shandies from the nearby Romney Marsh Brewery.
Back outside in the bitter cold, we paused for one last look at this red brick house before heading home.
The Black Lion
15 The Street
Appledore
Ashford
TN26 2BU
