Words by Val Chapman

A new opportunity to choose the beautiful county of Kent for your retirement, Monte Carlo Parks is currently creating 30 plots from which to pick at Five Furlongs Country Park.

Nowhere in Kent is far from the coast. Nowhere is far from gardens and vineyards and pretty villages. Kent is known as the Garden of England for its mild climate, giving rise to excellent growing conditions for fruit, especially cherries. Kent, thus, has a lot going for it as a location in which to live.

Add in the beautiful, historic cathedral city of Canterbury with the River Stour spectacularly running through it, Maidstone on the River Medway, a great place for shopping, eating and museums and galleries, and you're beginning to get the picture.

Then there's Royal Tunbridge Wells to consider; magnificent town of culture famous for its natural spring – the Chalybeate Spring, in the Pantiles walkway area of the town… This town was named The Tunbridge Wells 400 years ago when a natural spring welled up from the ground.

Gardens and castles

Days out? Take your pick. There's the stately home of Leeds Castle, a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous.

This castle ranks as one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain. Sissinghurst Castle Garden, one of the most famous gardens in England with 400 acres of estate to explore, a place to relax, unwind – and with 400 acres of estate to explore.

Country sports

The Tricklebrook Fishery, just a short drive from the park, has two well-stocked coarse fishing lakes.

West Kent Shooting School, set in 20 acres of wooded and landscaped grounds, offers a comprehensive English Sporting layout with over 100 different combinations of targets. The range provides a natural setting for extensive shooting for both novices and experts, all within.

Hop farm and gardens

The gardens of the Castle of Scotney is a great place in which to relax; here there's a massive 770 acres of woodland and parkland to explore. The estate is open all year, offering various walks through the beautiful Hop Farm.

Oysters and maritime history

Need any more convincing that Kent is a fabulous county in which to live?

Here are a few more locations which are great places to visit whenever you want a day away from your home.

The exquisite fishing port of Whitstable which built its name on oysters… The unique shingle lands of Dungeness. The historic dockyards of Chatham, the world's most complete dockyard from the 'age of sail', home to three ancient warships.

And here, once you've bought your ticket, you can return as many times as you like for a year. Take it from me, you will want to, for there is so much to fascinate and enthral you.

The Park

Five Furlongs Country Park is eight miles south-west of Maidstone, on the fringe of the town of Paddock Wood. This town has a good selection of restaurants and several supermarkets. The park is gated, for security; a place that will become a real community that's quite separate from the town.

Residential park homes and luxury holiday lodges are on offer here, all designed to give you elegant modern design, comfort and luxury. There's various luxury specification park homes; you can choose your own design, style and layout and have your home created specifically for you.

Part exchange

You can part-exchange your property for a residential home here; that way, you avoid estate agent fees and eliminate uncertainty and hassle. Once you have decided to buy a Five Furlongs Country Park home, you reserve your plot and the park obtains valuations on your existing property from two estate agents, from which a valuation is agreed; market value is given.

Showhome

Stately-Albion Woburn

A popular park home with a lounge that's separate from the kitchen and dining area. Every room is spacious.

Other Stately-Albion homes available at Five Furlongs include the Chatsworth Contemporary Platinum, Goodwood, Kensington, Raglan, Windsor, Balmoral, Wentwood, Badminton and Carmarthen; visit Stately-Albion's website, stately-albion.co.uk, for details of the individual homes.

Contact

Five Furlongs Country Park
Queen Street, Paddock Wood.
Kent TN12 6NX

Tel: 01892 629566
W: montecarloparks.co.uk