Yalding Church (St Peter and St Paul)

The Church of St Peter and St Paul stands at the top of the High Street in Yalding, one of the prettiest villages in the Medway Valley. Largely 13th and 14th century, the ragstone church has a tall west tower topped by a slim shingled spire that acts as a landmark for miles across the surrounding fruit-growing countryside and river meadows.

Inside you'll find a spacious nave and chancel with medieval arcades, a Perpendicular font, and monuments to local families. The churchyard slopes gently down towards the village, giving good views of Yalding's tile-hung and weatherboarded cottages. The poet Edmund Blunden, who spent much of his life in the village, is buried here, and there are memorials linking the church to the surrounding hop gardens and orchards that shaped Yalding's history.

The church is a short walk from Yalding Bridge and the confluence of the rivers Medway, Beult and Teise. It's an easy stop on the 23 bus route from Maidstone towards Goudhurst, and pairs well with a stroll along the riverside and a visit to one of the village pubs.