Stay on our beautifully restored Dutch barge moored in the medieval town of Sandwich, Kent! The perfect holiday home for a romantic couples break, but it sleeps four guests comfortably. Pets are welcome. The barge is 110 years old and has been fully renovated: 1,000 sqf (93 sq metres) of living space (65 ft long and 15 feet wide); redecorated in cool Farrow and Ball naval colours; cosy central heating; a fully equipped kitchen with a new oven, cooking hob, extractor fan, microwave, plus WiFi, TV... The master bedroom has a king-size bed, its own en-suite and cute "round curtain inserts" for the portholes! There is a proper double sofa bed in the large living area, and a separate family bathroom. It is the only Dutch barge holiday home floating on the tidal river in Sandwich. Guests have access to private use of the barge inside and on deck, with an egg-chair and plentiful seating and cushions on deck. Access to the barge is via a gangplank - the Stour is a tidal river which means it goes up and down 2 metres (6 feet) twice a day! This may be difficult if you have poor mobility. There is a step up to the gangplank which has hand rails on both sides. The idyllic medieval town of Sandwich is a great place to simply walk around, soak up the history, the architecture, quirky roads (No Name Street - Holy Ghost Alley!...) - make sure to see the town at night too - it is incredibly atmospheric. There are also so many things to do within a 1-2 minute walk or a short drive...pubs, restaurants, Fish&Chips, takeaways, nature reserve, Whitemills Aqua Park, world-class golfing, the sea and Sandwich Bay, the pirate seaside resort of Deal, the historic castles of the cinque ports, including the majestic Dover castle, the magical Roman fort at Richborough (just outside Sandwich)...!! NB. If you are coming with a pet, please note that a pet fee applies.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” We are Pinky and Samir and we tow our seven children along with us in our adventures. They are getting a bit older now and exploring the world themselves but remain very close to us. We bought Salmestone Barge and Waterman’s Cottage in 2021 in the idyllic medieval town of Sandwich, not just a holiday rental, we also use the space as a retreat to support individuals whose lives have been touched by cancer. Together we walk with them and help them navigate the path ahead. We believe that their diagnosis need not be a fight for survival but the revival of one’s life. Pinky is an Occupational Therapist and Samir is a Blood Cancer Doctor. We love living in the area and have lived here for over 20 years. Our first home in Kent was by the wharf where the barge is now moored! Amazingly, the lady who cleaned for us then still looks after the barge and the cottage for us now.

Sandwich contains the highest number of listed buildings per head of population in the whole of the U.K. Bursting with tourist attractions, all year round festivals, concerts and events with plenty of town trails, walks, cycle rides with a plethora of friendly eateries specialising in local produce. Please ask for tips on the hidden gems for food both in and around Sandwich. The area has played a key role in the history of the UK, with the "Cinque Port" towns (one being Sandwich) being the connection with the outside world - including, roman invasion, castles (most notably Dover castle, nearly 1000 years old), a smugglers delight, secret tunnels, buried military fortresses...Of course, for golfers, Sandwich has the outstanding course of Royal St George's and Princes.