Ashford

The M20 thunders past but step away from the motorway junction and this market town reveals surprising pockets of countryside right on its doorstep. Ashford sits at the crossroads of Kent, with the High Weald spreading south and Romney Marsh stretching towards the coast - making it a proper gateway to some of the county's best landscapes.

Priory Wood and Golden Wood offer excellent walking just minutes from the town centre, while Dicker's Wood provides a decent stretch of ancient woodland for those who fancy something more substantial. The surrounding area feels properly rural once you escape the main roads. Bilsington Monument marks a slice of local history, and the quirky Ruckinge Village Sign shows there's character in the smaller settlements nearby.

What makes Ashford work as a base is its position. You're twenty minutes from Canterbury, half an hour from the coast at Dymchurch, and the Eurostar puts you in London St Pancras in 37 minutes flat. The town itself won't win any beauty contests - it's been heavily developed around the international station - but the surrounding countryside more than compensates.

Staying at one of the camping spots around Ashford puts you within easy reach of Romney Marsh's wild expanses and the North Downs' rolling chalk hills. Port Lympne Safari Park offers a different kind of day out, while the coastal resorts are close enough for proper seaside trips. The motorway connections mean you can be in Dover or Canterbury without fuss, but return to peaceful woodland walks around places like Birchett Wood or Towns Wood when you want to slow the pace right down.