THE BRIEF Every year we get together with the same four or five families and go camping at the end of August. It’s always the last hurrah of the summer holidays – and something that the kids (especially the big, husband ones) look forward to immensely. This year we wanted to find somewhere local with good eateries near by – oh and on the beach. THE LOCATION So we booked Fallow Fields Camping which came highly recommended by a friend who had visited their Selson Farm campsite before. We booked their new Lathe Barne site, which only just opened this year, sitting down on the coast just a stone’s ..read more

Free spirit Gorgeous local boutique, Odyl right in the heart of Cranbrook has this beautiful cashmere and wool mix jumper. Grey, in an oversized fit, voluptuous sleeves and buttons on the back, what’s not to love? £150 Buy now Leopard lover The much-loved favourite boutique, Kitch in Tunbridge Wells has this beautiful leopard cashmere crew, perfect for AW in khaki with navy and cream spots. Don’t forget to size up for more of an oversized, cosy fit. £269 Buy now She’s electric  For luxe loungewear, you can’t go wrong with hush for nailing that balance of style and comfort ..read more

Paddle Cabin, East Peckham We love this watersport venture, launched by friends and co-founders Hayley and Jo who are in love with the paddle boarding way of life and all the incredible benefits and experiences that come with it. They offer Super-friendly SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) sessions for all levels, from their cute cabin in East Peckham. The River Medway is a hidden gem, offering a tranquil and wide waterway, passing through meadows, woods and villages, offering a wide variety of birds and wildlife. They can accommodate group sizes from 6-12 people, minimum age is 8 years old and all u ..read more

PICK OF THE WEEK The Great British Bake Off, Channel 4, 13 September Will we ever tire of cake? Or at the very least watching people attempt to make it? Returning for its, gasp, 13th series, (how has it been running that long?) we’ll see once more how emotional a person can get over an eclair (though surely nothing will ever beat Iain’s baked Alaska melt-down?), and the wonder of what a bunch of amateurs can create in the pressure of ‘The Tent’. Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith return to be the salt and sweet of judging duos and comedian hosts Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas will be back with ..read more

Get more out of your next holiday than a tan by picking up some new skills while you’re there. Discover how to make wine in Italy, create ceramics in Portugal or salsa dance in Cuba, because trying something new (or revisiting a long lost skill) while you’re on a break is the ultimate ‘me time’. Coral planting, Borneo You could just lie in a hammock and soak up the bliss that is Gaya Island for a week but it would be a shame to miss out on the resort’s marine centre, which helps care for local reefs and endangered Hawksbill turtles. Spend a day with the resident marine biologist in the Tunku ..read more

Heathfields, Keston This super stylish café/bar sits in the heart of its community, an area of outstanding beauty, and offers tasty day time food and refreshments – or a glass of wine and nibbles in the evening. Let’s all head to Heathfields! Plus with interiors to drool over, it’s a truly relaxed, welcoming and quite frankly gorrrrgeous space.  The Little Bull, Brenchley Hop down to this rural café sitting pretty in the small village of Brenchley, just outside of Tunbridge Wells, they use products from suppliers that are less than 2 miles from the café so you can’t get much more local ..read more

WHAT? WHERE? Dulwich Prep Cranbrook (DPC) is a popular rural day and flexible boarding school located in (you guessed it) Cranbrook, pretty much smack bang in the middle of the Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Ashford triangle. Only an hour from Central London, the school sits in 50 acres of beautiful Kent countryside. BUILDING ON SUCCESS It’s a school with a strong reputation locally – enjoying a long-established academic and co-curricular history (read our full review here). Having previously welcomed boys and girls of traditional prep school age (between rising 3 to 13 years) the sch ..read more

eco pack Using natural materials, this backpack from Pangaia will, unbelievably, break down and decompose when it wears out. With a comfortable padded construction made from eucalyptus lyocell, blended with kapok and organic cotton, it is practical and oh-so environmentally friendly.  £200 Buy now logo mania  You will probably recognise the bright red logo of the Swedish brand Fjall Raven, and this Kanken rucksack is a badge of honour amongst the hipsters. This iconic brand has been around since 1978, and has become a household name all over the world. With rucksacks in a va ..read more

THE BRIEF Getting a group of seven 40-something girlfriends together was proving something of a mission – thanks to work, child and parent care commitments. We agreed on three key criteria – the destination had to be within one-hours drive (for ease) by the sea (for change of scene) and near at least one decent cocktail bar (for obvious reasons). So we hopped on the Bloom Stays website – the trusted go-to for local and luxurious self-catering in Kent. After sending out a couple of queries to the (very helpful team) and checking everyone’s availability again we booked Seagulls in Sandgate, whic ..read more

NEW OPENING: Leo & Sage Café, Ashford Oooh hello! Check out this gorgeous new independent café serving delicious dishes with local and seasonal ingredients, located at Elwick Place in Ashford. I mean look at those gorgeous interiors, do we need to say anything else? but seriously, whether it’s the early morning coffee run, brunching with loved ones or finding a slice of Italy with a scoop of gelato, this could be your next fave spot! FAMILY FUN: Putters!, Folkestone Harbour Arm Your next family day out sorted! Folkestone Harbour have just opened a brand new 12 hole Adventure Golf Course ..read more