Capri - New Romney, Kent, England

The ground floor of the house has a bright and airy feel, with a comfortably furnished sitting room and seating for nine. The sitting room has Sky TV, dvd, video and stereo system, and we provide a small library of videos and dvds for your enjoyment, suitable from small children to adults. Off the sitting room is a conservatory, which is a haven of warmth and sunshine, especially good for breakfasting in on sunny mornings.

The conservatory also has roof blinds for those very hot days, and doors out to the garden. The dining room has doors to it from the sitting room and the kitchen, and seats up to 10 people. The kitchen is well equipped for all your needs, and also has a utility room with washing machine and tumble drier.

Two of the house's five bedrooms are on the ground floor, making the house suitable for the less able-bodied. One of the ground floor bedrooms has a double bed, and one has two single beds. Both bedrooms have ample clothes storage space. There is also a bathroom on the ground floor, with WC, hand basin, and bath, with electric shower over.

The three other bedrooms are on the first floor. One has a large double bed, one has two single beds, and the third has one single bed and one small single bed suitable for a child. There is also a bathroom on the first floor, with WC, hand basin and a bath.

We have tried to make the house feel like a home for our visitors, and provide a selection of books, games, toys, dvds and videos for your enjoyment. Children are welcome, and to help make your packing easier we provide a travel cot (you will need to bring your own bedding for this), high chair with safety straps, stair gates for top and bottom of stairs, potty, changing mat, socket covers, plastic cups, plates and cutlery. In the kitchen you will find basic condiments and herbs, also tea, coffee and sugar. Please feel free to use these, but please also replace them if you use them up! Bed linen and towels are provided for use within the house.  You will need to bring your own beach towels.

We ask you to leave the house in a tidy and reasonable condition, but the cleaning is done for you at the end of your stay.

New Romney is one of the five oldest port towns in that part of Kent, and has a variety of shops, pubs and cafes. For rail enthusiasts, the Kent and East Sussex Railway is a short drive away, and of course the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is just a two minute walk from the house. The seafront is half a mile from the house, and a 10 minute drive will take you to Dymchurch, a traditional seaside town with sandy beaches and fun fair. Rye is a medieval town with picturesque cobbled streets and unusual shops selling antiques, artwork and collectibles. Port Lympne Zoo (of CBBC 'Roar' fame) is also nearby. Romney Marsh, with its 'big skies' and fascinating history of smugglers, is great for cycling, walking and bird watching. The RSPB centre at Dungeness is well worth a visit, as is the lighthouse. The Royal Military Canal runs through Romney Marsh, and you can go boating or fishing here. There are several golf courses nearby, the nearest being Littlestone Golf Club, with its links course.

Travel: Ashford Railway Station

Good places to visit: Dover, with its castle and secret wartime tunnels; Canterbury - so much to see, including the famous Cathedral; Hastings - castle, smugglers caves, the 1066 story and underwater world; National Trust houses and gardens, including Sissinghurst, with its lovely garden designed by Vita Sackville-West; McArthurGlen designer outlet at Ashford, described as one of Europe's most spectacular shopping destinations; France - easily accessible via 'Le Shuttle' from Folkestone to Calais, or by 30 minute plane ride from nearby Lydd, to the sophisticated Le Touquet. Alternatively, if you wish to 'get away from it all', days can happily be spent roaming Romney Marsh Nature Reserve, with little else but sheep, birds, and picturesque old churches for company!

Annual Events: Rye Arts Festival - the first two weeks of September, and Rye Bonfire Night - a parade, followed by bonfire and spectacular fireworks, on Saturday 10th November 2007. This year the Tour de France Cycle race Stage One is taking place in Kent, and the cyclists will pass through Tenterden on Saturday 8th July. The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, and is running a special timetable on the weekend of 14-15 July. 1-2 September features 'A Day Out with Thomas', and all through December there are 'Santa Specials' at the weekends. There are other special days and weekends throughout the year - look at their website for details. Canterbury Festival - an arts festival in October every year

Good places to eat: The cafe at New Romney station is handy for when you don't feel like cooking lunch - they serve soup, sandwiches, and a variety of hot meals during the day. The Pilot Inn at Dungeness is full of smuggling history, and has a good fish restaurant, as well as serving pizzas and children's meals. The Mermaid Inn at Rye dates from 1156, and is in a picturesque cobbled street. The award winning restaurant offers British and French cuisine, and there is a full bar menu in the lounge bar. For your self-catering needs, New Romney has a butcher, selling locally farmed organic meat, and a large Sainsbury. A permanent farmers market is due to open this summer, at nearby Burmarsh.

Local Sports: Golf, sailing, fishing, cycling, wind-surfing, horse riding

New Romney was one of the first of the five Ancient Cinque Ports which supplied ships to the King's Navy in the time of Edward the Confessor. 

Today the town has become the commercial centre for Romney Marsh and has a variety of shops, pubs and cafes to suit all tastes.  You can find a variety of locally grown produce in the butchers and greengrocers, and the delicatessen has plenty of treats in store!

There are two excellent Golf Courses, the Littlestone Golf Club and the Romney Warren, as well as good local beaches at Littlestone and Greatstone. 

New Romney is also the main station of the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, the world's smallest public railway.  Why not take the train to visit Dungeness and its lighthouse, or the beaches of Dymchurch.  The main station was built for a millionaire racing driver, and is also the home of the Romney Toy and Model Museum, with a good collection of old, and not so old, toys, games, dolls and other memorabilia.

Each year, at the end of July, the New Romney Country FAyre takes place on St Martin's Field, with many stalls and activities, and a colourful parade through the High Street. 

The present church of St Nicholas dates from 1066, and was one of five churches originally in the town. 

Romney Marsh has long been associated with smuggling, and the stories of 'Dr Syn' written by Russell Thorndike are set on The Marsh.  Several of the old buildings in New Romney are said to have underground tunnels connnecting to some of the pubs and St Nicholas Church.  The smugglers would take wool to France and import brandy, all this took place under the cover of darkness to avoid the Customs and Excise men.  The contraband was very often stored in Marsh churches or in the underground passages.

The Romney Marsh Visitor Centre is well worth a visit, with its exhibits about the natural and social history of Romney Mars, and nature trails through a site of special scientific interest.  The centre hosts regular family activities.

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