Really, the only way to describe Challock is ‘stunning’, so it’s no wonder you’re thinking of moving to the area! Situated at the highest point of the Downs, the village of Challock offers some of the very best views in Kent, surrounded by breathtaking beauty in every direction.
Challock is a cross-road village, nestled between Ashford and Faversham on the A251, and Maidstone and Canterbury on the A252, making it easily accessible and offering many commuting options thanks to the Ashford International Station and easy motorway access. For those who are looking for the best of both worlds – easy access to bustling towns, combined with an idyllic village lifestyle – a move to Challock is going to give you just that. This picturesque village is surrounded by undulating hilly terrain and woodland, with neighbouring villages that include Charing, Molash and Boughton Aluph, all of which can be found on the same bus route.
At the centre of Challock village you’ll find Challock Green, an area popular with residents for picnics and dog walks. If you’re moving to the area with small children you won’t find a better place to teach them how to ride that first bike, or fly a kite…and on warm sunny days it’s the perfect spot to relax with a book or do a spot of sunbathing.
Traditionally, the green has also been home to the historically-steeped annual Goose Fair, although the village has gone without its much-loved fair for a number of years – until now! Planned for September 2022, and to be held at Challock Cricket Club, the return of the fair is highly anticipated by residents and will include entertainment, stalls and refreshments, in addition to an indoor and outdoor market.
Despite not being the site for the new village fair this year, the Green still remains firmly at the heart of community events. Having staged celebrations for the local residents when the Olympic Torch passed through the village, the Green, along with the village hall and Challock’s two churches (St. Cosmas and St. Damian’s), continues to play a huge part in village life.
When considering a move to a new area, particularly rural, the local community is a huge factor – and Challock’s could not be more active or flourishing. The village offers events and activities to appeal to everyone, more often than not courtesy of The Friends Of Challock, who have a plethora of societies and clubs to join. From gardening societies to youth clubs, folk dancing groups, dog clubs, and the Kingswood Players who organise the village pantomime every year, you’ll be hard-pushed not to find something you’d love to get involved in.
Sports enthusiasts will be delighted to discover that a move to the village of Challock means the opportunity to take part in a variety of indoor and outdoor sporting activities. Challock is home to the aforementioned Challock Cricket Club, as well as a badminton and table tennis club. Football fans will be pleased to know that the village has its own football club – Pilgrims FC, which has teams in both the children’s and adult’s divisions.
But it’s not just the ‘everyday’ sports that Challock has covered. Thanks to the village’s high position on the Downs, Kent Gliding Club has based itself in Challock, and the Downs itself also offers a wide variety of tracks and trails for walkers and ramblers to explore. It’s also here that you’ll find King’s Wood, a 2 square mile wooded area that has its own committee for organising walks and events, and offers up the perfect terrain for cross-country running and mountain-biking. The area is truly beautiful all year round and is home to deer and other wildlife, as well as conifers and mixed broadleaves, and is carpeted in bluebells in the spring.
But Challock isn’t just a good-looking, well-located place to live, buzzing with activities and community spirit..it also has plenty of amenities to boot, including a local shop, a post office and The Barn Shop, which sells fresh, local produce. On the 1st and 3rd Friday of every month the village holds its famous farmer’s market, where you’ll be able to choose from an array of locally produced groceries including meat, cheese veg and cakes. Just imagine how wonderful it would be to take a bracing Sunday morning walk along the Downs, before picking up all the goodies you’ll need for an afternoon roast with the family – without having to leave the area!
After dinner, why not head down to the local pub, The Halfway House; a traditional village inn serving delicious homemade fare in a warm, family-friendly environment. The pub features live music during the winter months, as well as hosting occasional food and arts craft markets.
If you’re thinking of moving the family to Challock, and you have kids of primary school age, you’ll be pleased to know that the village’s Challock Primary School has been awarded as ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, and offers children a nurturing and caring environment in which to learn. The school prides itself on being a family, and working closely with parents and the wider community to ensure that not only do pupils thrive academically, but that they also develop into individuals who will make positive contributions to society in the future.
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