Appledore
Appledore is a lovely old Kentish village with some picturesque medieval houses, an ancient church and a wealth of scenic Wealden countryside to explore. Thought to take its name from the Saxon word for apple tree, it's situated high above Romney Marsh where the river Rother once reached the sea. Appledore was originally a bustling port, but after years of silt deposition and violent storms that changed the course of the river in the 13th Century, it's now some miles inland. The Saxon Shore Way leads walkers along the former coastline, while the Royal Military Canal, built in 1809 to deter Napolean's forces, offers more than 20 miles of splendid bankside walks as well as fishing and canoeing. The eastward journey to Woodchurch is a National Trust attraction. Regional cycle routes stretch across the marshes to the coast or, to the north, towards Tunbridge Wells. The church of St Peter & St Paul, at the heart of the village, displays a tapestry illustrating the history of Appledore, invaded by the Danes in 892 and the French in 1380. Local men joined the Peasants' Revolt in 1381, which saw an attack on Horne's Place Chapel - still standing outside the village.
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