Off-Grid Cabin in the Kent Countryside nr Canterbury

BOOK YOUR ESCAPE

Two Narnian retreats in the Garden of England.  Chalk hills, ancient woodland, English vineyards 

Kent has a way of surprising people. You drive out of the city and the land opens - chalk hills rolling south through woodland and orchard and field, the air tasting different, the pace dropping almost without you noticing. Pett Bottom sits in the folds of the Kent Downs, a hamlet so quietly set that it barely announces itself. A lane, a few houses, a pub with a 400-year-old building and a James Bond connection the village wears lightly. Ian Fleming wrote here. Bond himself grew up here (at least in Fleming's imagination)


Our two cabins, Susan and Lucy, sit in their own ten-acre fields, separated enough that you won't see or hear another soul.


The large picture window faces south across open countryside - you'll want to set your coffee down and just look. On still mornings you'll hear nothing but birds. Red kite, green woodpecker, the occasional pheasant making its feelings known. 

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Lucy  faces south across open fields — wide, sunny, with the kind of views that make you stop halfway through making coffee and just stand there. Named for the one who found the wardrobe first, she suits the curious and the restless: people who want to walk from the door and not come back until their legs have earned dinner. The footpaths start almost immediately. Dogs go mad here in the best possible way.


Best for: Dogs, Solo travellers, Anyone who loves countryside walks

BOOK LUCY

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Susan is tucked into the valley, where the sun perfectly sets and valley views you don't get tired of. Named for the sister who paid attention, who noticed the beauty in things. Susan is for couples, for slow dinners, for sitting outside with a glass of something and watching the sky do what it does out here when there are no streetlights to compete with. The sunsets here are genuinely amazing.


Best for: couples, anniversaries, anyone who loves sunsets and outdoor fires

BOOK SUSAN

Book Your Escape

FAQs

All the questions you may have before your off-grid experience in Kent AONB with us! The first book, Lion, Witch & The Wardrobe was written in 1949 by C. S Lewis! But that is not what you are after is it...

  • How do I get to the cabins by car?

    Pett Bottom is approximately 1 to 1.5 hours from London, just 8 miles southwest of Canterbury. 


    We'll email you all the information including the what3words location for the parking spot nearest the cabin once you've booked.

  • How do I get to the cabins by train?

    Canterbury - Take a train from London Victoria to Canterbury (1 hours 30 minutes) which is 8 miles, 20 min taxi away


    Canterbury - Take a train from St Pancreas to Ashford Internation (34 mins) which is 15 miles, 30 mins taxi away

  • Is the Canterbury off-grid cabin dog-friendly?

    Yes - all Escape Off The Grid cabins are dog-friendly. The Pett Bottom location has large fields and direct access to footpaths through the Kent Downs.


    We have a cocker spaniel who considers herself the official greeter. The fields and local footpaths are ideal for dogs - open, quiet, and mostly well away from livestock.

  • How many people can sleep in the cabins?

    Perfect for couples break or two friends with a double bed.

  • Is there wi-fi?

    No Wi-Fi - that's the point. 


    There's a small amount of phone signal. There's also a lockbox if you want to go the whole way.

  • What time is check-in and check-out?

    Check-out is at 11am. Check-in is at 3 pm.

  • What do I need to bring?

    Food and wood is the main thing - there's a local farm shop nearby and Canterbury has great delis and a weekend market. 


    We provide coffee, basic cooking ingredients, and eco products for the bathroom. Bring waterproofs and proper shoes if you're planning to walk (you should be).

  • How solar-powered does "off-grid" actually mean?

    The cabins run on solar power -  hot water, lighting, charging points for phones. 


    Power is a genuine resource here, not an unlimited tap. We ask guests to use electricity and water thoughtfully. Most guests tell us this is one of their favourite things about the stay. 

  • What is there to do around the cabin?

    Before every stay we provide all guests with our curated recommendations for what to do and where to go around the cabin. 


    The Duck Inn - half a mile on foot across the fields. Amazing food, drinks and vibes.


    Simpsons' Wine Estate - a short drive towards Barham, one of the finest English wine estates in the South East. Tours and tastings available, and the wines have won at Decanter. Bring a bottle back for the cabin's outdoor table.


    Tadpole Tearooms, Bishopsbourne - a proper tearoom in a proper Kent village, reachable on foot as a natural turning point on a half-day walk. The kind of place that still does proper scones.


    Gilda Bakery - the most delicious bakery with freshly made breads and pastries. 


    The North Downs Way - the 153-mile national trail passes close by. You don't have to walk the whole thing - just pick a small section and enjoy.


    Canterbury - 8 miles away, 20 minutes by taxi. A medieval city with one of England's greatest cathedrals, a good independent food scene and enough to fill a half-day without feeling like you've broken your escape.


    Wye and Devil's Kneading Trough - drive 20 minutes west to the village of Wye, then walk up onto the chalk escarpment to a dramatic dry valley with views to Romney Marsh and, on clear days, France. One of Kent's best short walks. Orchids everywhere in May.

  • Whats included in the cabin?

    The cabin comes stocked with what you actually need and nothing you don't. A double bed with comfy bedding, a wood-burning stove, an outdoor fire pit with grill, a gas hob, stovetop espresso maker and cafetiere, eco-friendly soaps and bathroom products, and a hot solar-powered shower. 


    We provide coffee, salt, pepper, olive oil. 


    You bring the food, the wine, logs to keep cosy and whoever you most want to spend time with.

  • How far is the Canterbury cabin from London?

    The Canterbury escape at Pett Bottom is approximately 90 minutes from London by car or train. By train, take London Victoria to Canterbury (90 minutes) then a 20-minute taxi, or St Pancras to Ashford International (34 minutes) with a 30-minute taxi.

  • What is the Escape Off The Grid Canterbury cabin like?

    The Canterbury escape consists of two off-grid cabins — Susan and Lucy — set in separate ten-acre fields near the village of Pett Bottom in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 8 miles southwest of Canterbury. The cabins are solar-powered, wood-fired, and have no Wi-Fi. Each has a double bed, hot shower, gas hob, outdoor fire pit, and views across open Kent countryside.