LEEDING THE WAY

WHEN telling friends and family I was off to Leeds Castle to try out its new accommodation, they instantly thought I was off to Yorkshire.

- MARK LUNDRIGAN has

My destination was actually in the heart of Kent, close to the lesser-known village of, well, Leeds, and the accommodation in question was the new Knights' Retreat lodges.

I had been on a similar trip 10 years ago with my wife and two daughters when we stayed in Leeds Castle's glamping tents.

On our return, what were once tents are now whimsical wooden structures, eight in fact, with mythical titles such as Minotaur and Hippogriff - ours was called Unicorn.

And this was a step up - a kind of luxury summerhouse. Sure, knights staying in the grounds over the Middle Ages may not have had smart TVs, wi-fi and a bathroom suite with shower, but who would want to swap authenticity for comfort?