点评:GOOD GRIEF. WHAT AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL PLACE!
If you’re looking for somewhere to escape the madness of everyday life, admire gorgeous scenery, enjoy a lovely café and potentially enter into delicate diplomatic negotiations with the local duck population, then Kearsney Abbey is absolutely the place for you.
And I LOVE IT!
Honestly, it’s one of those places where you arrive thinking, “I’ll just have a little wander.”
Three minutes later, you’re admiring the trees, staring at the water, taking photographs and wondering whether you could realistically abandon your responsibilities and become a permanent resident.
SPOILER ALERT: THE DUCKS HAVE ALREADY CLAIMED ALL THE BEST PROPERTY.
FIRST, THE SCENERY! 🌳
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!
Beautiful greenery, magnificent trees, peaceful water and wonderfully picturesque surroundings.
It’s the sort of place that makes you stop and appreciate just how beautiful Kent really is.
The park has that wonderful combination of natural beauty and historic character.
You can wander around, admire the landscape, enjoy the fresh air and temporarily forget that somewhere beyond the trees there are emails, bills, traffic and people who insist on having meetings that could have been a text message.
It’s practically therapy.
Only with ducks.
And considerably better scenery.
NOW, A LITTLE HISTORY! 🏛️
Despite the name, Kearsney Abbey wasn’t actually a medieval abbey full of monks wandering about chanting and producing suspiciously strong homemade wine.
I KNOW!
DISAPPOINTING!
The estate takes its name from a grand nineteenth-century house built for the wealthy industrialist John Minet Fector.
The mansion was eventually demolished in the twentieth century, but the beautiful grounds survived for everyone to enjoy.
So, technically, the grand house has disappeared, the original wealthy residents have long gone, and the ducks have taken over.
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL HOSTILE PROPERTY TAKEOVER IN DOVER’S HISTORY.
Imagine the original owner returning today.
“Good heavens! Where’s my mansion?”
“Demolished, sir.”
“My magnificent estate?”
“Public park.”
“And who is in charge now?”
“That mallard over there.”
“THE DUCK?”
“Yes, sir. Very influential locally.”
Honestly, you couldn’t make it up.
And yet the beautiful landscape remains, giving visitors a wonderful glimpse of the elegance of a historic country estate.
Without having to pay the nineteenth-century equivalent of a fortune to own it.
WHICH I THINK IS A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT.
AND THE LITTLE CAFÉ! ☕🍰
OH, WHAT A LOVELY ADDITION!
I ate in the little café during my visit, and it was such a pleasure.
There’s something genuinely wonderful about enjoying something to eat surrounded by beautiful parkland.
You can visit the most spectacular gardens in the world, but eventually your stomach will interrupt the cultural experience.
“Look at those magnificent trees!”
RUMBLE.
“Isn’t the water beautiful?”
RUMBLE.
“What an extraordinary landscape!”
“YES, YES, VERY NICE. WHERE’S THE FOOD?”
Fortunately, Kearsney Abbey has a lovely little café.
And what better way to enjoy a visit than combining gorgeous scenery with something to eat?
It’s the perfect excuse to sit down, relax and enjoy the surroundings.
I firmly believe that every beautiful park should have a café.
Preferably one within reasonable walking distance of wherever I’ve decided I’m suddenly starving.
HISTORY, NATURE AND LUNCH. THE HOLY TRINITY OF A SUCCESSFUL DAY OUT.
NOW, THE DUCKS. 🦆
Let’s discuss the real management team.
Because while humans may technically be responsible for maintaining Kearsney Abbey, I strongly suspect the ducks are running the entire operation.
They patrol the water.
They inspect the visitors.
They hold meetings on the grass.
And they appear to have absolutely no intention of contributing towards the council tax.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they had their own committee.
“Item one: increased human activity.”
“QUACK.”
“Item two: unacceptable bread distribution.”
“QUACK QUACK.”
“Item three: proposal to annex the café.”
“QUAAAAAAAAACK!”
Motion carried unanimously.
And you have to admire their confidence.
There’s something wonderfully entertaining about watching ducks go about their business as though they’re terribly important.
Which, in fairness, they probably are.
At least they turn up to meetings on time.
BUT HERE’S WHAT MAKES KEARSNEY ABBEY SPECIAL. ❤️
It’s peaceful.
It’s beautiful.
It’s welcoming.
And it’s somewhere you can simply enjoy being outdoors.
You don’t need an elaborate itinerary.
You don’t need to spend a fortune.
You don’t need to book six months in advance or dress as though you’re attending a royal garden party.
You can just turn up, enjoy the scenery, have a lovely wander and stop at the café.
And sometimes that’s exactly what makes a place wonderful.
Not everything needs flashing lights, enormous attractions or somebody trying to sell you a souvenir fridge magnet for £12.99.
Sometimes all you need is beautiful scenery, fresh air and a little time to yourself.
AND KEARSNEY ABBEY DELIVERS THAT BEAUTIFULLY.
SO, WOULD I RECOMMEND IT?
ABSOLUTELY BLOODY YES!
Whether you’re local to Dover, visiting Kent, looking for a lovely walk or simply fancy somewhere beautiful to spend a few hours, Kearsney Abbey is a wonderful choice.
The grounds are gorgeous.
The setting is delightful.
The little café is a lovely bonus.
And the ducks provide complimentary entertainment without even realising they’ve been hired.
FIVE MASSIVE, GLORIOUSLY FEATHERED STARS! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My only suggestion would be to install a small sign at the entrance:
“WELCOME TO KEARSNEY ABBEY. THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL, THE CAFÉ IS LOVELY, AND THE DUCKS ARE CURRENTLY REVIEWING YOUR APPLICATION TO ENTER THEIR ESTATE.”
And perhaps another beside the water:
“PLEASE NOTE: THE DUCKS ARE NOT EMPLOYEES. THEY ARE SENIOR MANAGEMENT.”
KEARSNEY ABBEY — WHERE THE MANSION HAS VANISHED, THE SCENERY IS STILL MAGNIFICENT, THE CAFÉ IS A DELIGHT AND THE DUCKS HAVE BEEN RUNNING THE PLACE FOR YEARS WITHOUT A SINGLE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL! 🦆🌳🤣
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. ABSOLUTELY RECOMMENDED. AND ABSOLUTELY WORTH VISITING!
翻译:天哪!这真是个美不胜收的好地方!
如果你想要逃离日常生活的喧嚣,欣赏绝美的风景,享用一家温馨的咖啡馆,甚至还能与当地的鸭子们展开一场微妙的“外交谈判”,那么基尔斯尼修道院绝对是你的理想之选。
我简直爱死这里了!
说真的,这里就是那种你刚到时心想:“我就随便逛逛吧”的地方。
结果三分钟后,你就开始欣赏起树木,出神地望着水面了。一边拍照,一边心想自己是否真的可以抛下责任、成为这里的永久居民呢。
剧透警告:那些鸭子早就把所有最好的地段都占走了。
首先,来看看这里的风景吧!🌳
简直美不胜收!
翠绿的植被、壮丽的树木、宁静的湖水,还有如画般迷人的环境。
这里绝对是能让你驻足欣赏、并深刻感受到肯特郡有多么美丽的地方。这座公园完美融合了自然美景与历史韵味。
你可以漫步其间,欣赏如画的景色,呼吸新鲜空气,暂时忘却树丛之外还有邮件、账单、拥堵的交通,以及那些非要开电话会议不可的人——其实这些事发条短信就能解决。
这简直就是一种疗愈方式啊。
只不过疗愈对象是鸭子罢了。
而且这里的景色要美得多。
好了,现在来聊聊历史吧!🏛️
虽然名字如此,其实……其实,科尔西修道院并非一座中世纪修道院——那里并没有四处走着诵经、还酿造出味道异常醇厚的自制葡萄酒的僧侣们。
我知道!
真令人失望!
这座庄园的名字来源于19世纪时为富有的实业家约翰·米内特·费克托尔所建造的宏伟宅邸。
那座豪宅最终在20世纪时被拆除了,但优美的园林却得以保留,供众人欣赏。
所以,严格来说,那座宏伟的宅邸已经不复存在了。当初那些富有的居民早已离开,现在则由鸭子们“接管”了这片地盘。
多佛历史上最成功的“敌对势力地产收购”案例。
试想一下:当初的业主如今回到了这里。
“天哪!我的豪宅去哪儿了?”
“被拆除了,先生。”
“那座宏伟的庄园呢?”
“现在是公共公园。”
“那现在谁在掌管这里?”
“就是那边那只绿头鸭。”
“那只鸭子?”
“没错,先生。它在当地可是很有影响力呢。”
说真的,这简直像编造出来的一样。
不过,这里的美丽景致依旧存在。让游客们得以一窥这座历史悠久的庄园之优雅风范。
而且无需花费19世纪时那样的天价就能拥有它。
我觉得这算是一项相当大的改进了。
还有那个小咖啡馆!☕🍰
哦,真是个极好的补充呢!
我参观时就在那个小咖啡馆里用餐,体验真是美妙至极。
能在美丽的公园环绕中享用美食,实在是一件极其惬意的事。
你可以参观世界上最壮观的花园。不过最终,你的胃还是会打断这场文化体验。
“快看那些漂亮的树!”
咕噜声。
“这水真美,对吧?”
咕噜声。
“这景色真是非凡啊!”
“没错,确实很美。不过食物在哪儿呢?”
幸运的是,基尔斯尼修道院里有个可爱的小咖啡馆。
还有什么比在欣赏绝美风景的同时享受美食更好的呢?
这可是一个坐下来、放松身心并尽情欣赏周遭景色的绝佳理由啊。我坚信,每个美丽的公园里都应该有一家咖啡馆。
最好是位于我突然感到饥肠辘辘时,步行就能到达的地方。
历史、自然与午餐——这就是一次愉快出游的三大要素。
好了,现在说说鸭子吧。🦆
让我们来聊聊真正的“管理团队”。
虽然从名义上来说,人类负责打理凯尔斯尼修道院,但我坚信其实是鸭子们在掌控一切。
它们在水面上巡逻,
还负责监视着每一位游客。他们在草地上开会。
而且看起来他们完全无意缴纳市政税。
如果他们有自己的委员会,我也不会感到惊讶。
“第一项议程:人类活动增多。”
“嘎!”
“第二项议程:面包分配方式不可接受。”
“嘎嘎!”
“第三项议程:提议将咖啡馆并入辖区。”
“嘎——————!!”
议案获得一致通过。
他们的自信实在令人钦佩。看着鸭子们忙忙碌碌、一副“自己可是大人物”的样子,真是有趣极了。
说实在的,它们或许也确实如此吧。
至少它们总能准时参加“会议”。
不过,正是这些特质让基尔斯尼修道院如此特别。❤️
这里宁静祥和。
这里美不胜收。
这里热情好客。
在这里,你可以尽情享受户外时光。
你无需制定复杂的行程计划。
也无需花费大笔金钱。你无需提前六个月预订,也无需穿得像要去参加皇家花园派对似的。
你只需直接前往,欣赏美景,悠闲地散散步,再在咖啡馆里小憩片刻。
有时候,这正是一个地方迷人的所在。
并非所有地方都需要闪闪发光的灯光、大型游乐设施,或者有人试图以12.99英镑的价格向你推销冰箱贴作为纪念品。
有时候,你所需要的仅仅是美丽的风景、清新的空气,以及属于自己的一点宁静时光罢了。而基尔斯尼修道院完美地做到了这一点。
那么,我会推荐这里吗?
绝对会!千真万确!
无论你是多佛的当地人、来肯特郡旅游的游客,还是只是想找个美丽的地方消磨几个小时,基尔斯尼修道院都是绝佳之选。
那里的庭院美不胜收。
周围环境也令人心旷神怡。
还有那家小咖啡馆,真是锦上添花啊。
至于那些鸭子嘛……它们自觉充当了免费的“娱乐节目”,自己却浑然不知呢。
五星满分,毫无保留的赞誉!⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
我唯一的建议就是在入口处竖一块小牌子:
“欢迎来到基尔斯尼庄园。这里的景色美不胜收,咖啡馆也相当不错;此刻,那些鸭子们正在审核您进入庄园的申请呢。”
或许还可以在水边再立一块牌子:
“请注意:这些鸭子并非普通员工,它们可是高层管理人员哦。”
基尔斯尼庄园——虽然大宅已不复存在,但这里的景致依旧迷人至极。这家咖啡馆真是棒极了!那些鸭子们多年来一直“掌管”着这里,却连一次绩效评估都没做过呢!🦆🌳🤣
绝对美丽,绝对值得推荐,也绝对值得一访!