This tiny village is in great Kentish walking country and although it has no pub, there is the cosiest of pubs with fireside armchairs just one-and-a-half miles away. And while a picture perfect snowy landscape like the photo above can't be guaranteed, Postling is perfect to explore on a wintry weekend.
As one visitor said, there are "little cottages galore" in Postling and you'll see beautifully-kept homes, old finger post signs marking the way to other villages to explore, and as it's in a small valley in the Kent Downs area of outstanding natural beauty, there's breathtaking views.
This quaint and quirky village has an often photographed red telephone box, adding to the olde worlde feel, and a 12th century church surrounded by a churchyard, called St Mary and St Radegund.
If you go up on the hill, you will be treated to the most wonderful view of the village, which apart from cars, must be little changed for hundreds of years. It's surrounded by trees and hedgerows, with miles of countryside stretching to the horizon.
This is a quiet village, there isn't a shop or a pub, but there is "cosy and rustic" The Gatekeeper in Etchinghill, nearby along the Canterbury Road. The building dates to 1595 and once inside, you'll feel the warmth of a log burner set in a brick fireplace, and there's cushions and candles, and a warm welcome.
Christmas Day lunch is already sold out, but its typical Sunday menu shows there are six types of roast, which include two vegan options, along with sirloin beef; rolled shoulder of lamb; chicken supreme; and pork belly, with all the trimmings including red cabbage and cauliflower cheese, prices from £20 to £16.
The Gatekeeper has four out of five stars on Tripadvisor from 450 reviews. One said: "The Gatekeeper Pub offers an exceptional dining experience that combines fantastic food with outstanding service. From the moment I walked in, I was met with a warm, friendly atmosphere. The pub's rustic charm and cosy ambience made it a perfect spot for a relaxing meal."
"The pub itself has a welcoming vibe, making it suitable for both a quiet dinner and a more casual outing with friends or family. The combination of great food, attentive service, and a pleasant atmosphere makes The Gatekeeper a standout venue in Etchinghill. The six of us are going back again today for Sunday lunch."
Do visit the church, which is beautiful in its simplicity. St Mary and St Radegund Church, which has a Medieval wall painting, lovely old latched wooden gate, and a slope up to its doors.
John E Vigar' in his excellent Kent Churches website describes it thus: "An unknown gem that deserves more visitors, this is set in a tiny valley high above the M20 on the slopes of the Downs. At first sight a simple church of nave, chancel and west tower, but inside there are a wealth of treasures."
Walk along the North Downs Way and you'll be treated with a stunning view of the church, which still has Norman features from its origins. It has a stone plaque, used to dedicate a church for Christian worship, with a Latin inscription but sadly whoever carved it, didn't put the date.
Money was raised towards a project to renew curtains for the altar and other places, along with pew cushions, through a book called Recipes and Memories from Postling. There are fascinating old black and white photos inside of places and people, including little girls in frocks in a country lane, a cow looking over a hedge, and a long table full of men in suits for a harvest supper in 1925.
The village is 4.4 miles from Hythe, well worth a visit, and is the source of the East Stour river. The village was spelled Postlinges in the Domesday Book. It is near the Roman road Stone Street, a Roman road and is in the borough of Folkestone and Hythe.
The grand Postling Court is the old manor house and would have been used as the local court and magistrate. If you want to get in some walking while you are there, there is a great 3.8 mile walk described as an easy hike and for any fitness level, with easily-accessible paths.
It's estimated to take around 1 hr 46 mins and it starts from The Street in Postling, which is also close to the church mentioned above. During the walk you will take in Tolsford Hill and you're promised "great views" in many places.
The distinctive red phone box, the K6 model introduced in 1935, was designed to commemorate the silver jubilee of King George V. N Chadwick writes this below a photo he took of it.
"It was a smaller version of the K2, and went on to be installed prolifically around the country. It is the most recognised and iconic telephone box, that many people around the world are familiar with. The first K6 is still to be found outside the Royal Academy of Art in London."
Other versions of the red telephone box were designed and implemented but none were ever to survive the popularity of the K6. Over 240,000 red telephone boxes were built between the 1920s and 1980s.