If you've ever been for a walk or cycle ride on Kent's Romney Marsh, you'll know it as a starkly beautiful spot, where the winter wind might be cold, but the pubs are always warm.

But now its position as a good place to buy a house is looking up, with a 38-minute train time from nearby Ashford to London St Pancras.

With abundant birdlife, acre after acre of grazing sheep and historic churches, Romney Marsh covers 100 square miles, stretching from a few miles to the south of Ashford towards the coast, east towards Hythe and west to the East Sussex borders.

The landscape encompasses a coastline of sand dunes and shingle banks, vast skies, distant church towers and some of the most peaceful and traffic-free areas in the region.

Local independent estate agents, Hobbs Parker, has seen a marked increase recently in the numbers of inquiries for Romney Marsh and has just completed a sale of a sizeable Georgian-style house set in five acres with a guide of £975,000.

It currently has several other unusual and historically interesting properties for sale in the area, such as Gun House at New Romney, a handsome Georgian house with six bedrooms on the market at £650,000.

Alex Davies, head of Hobbs Parker Country Houses, says, "People are drawn to the romance and seeming remoteness of the place, but alongside all the extraordinary history and tales from around the marsh, there are exceptionally attractive period properties.

"It's an appealing package - not only do you have the proximity of the coast and being surrounded by a vast landscape, but you can tap into a strong village life and be less than an hour away from London.

"Ashford is around 10 miles away, giving you access to excellent schools, shopping and fast, direct transport links to London.

"You can be bird-watching from your window and yet be just minutes away from civilization."

Alongside New Romney other popular communities include Fairfield and Appledore.

In Ivychurch, Hobbs Parker is currently offering a 16th-century moated period farmhouse, on the market for £795,000.

If staring out of the window at all that open space is not for you, then there are lots of more bracing activities in which to get involved.

Littlestone is home to a noted links golf course. National cycle route 2 runs through Romney Marsh, offering great family cycling. Or you could try walking the 163-mile Saxon Shore Way. And for the brave, how about sand yachting on the stretches of Camber Sands?

Foodies in the area are in heaven. Romney Marsh is famous for its lamb and the nearby coast provides excellent fresh fish, particularly Rye Bay scallops, as well as locally picked samphire when in season.

There are also notable eateries, such as The Royal Oak, Brookland, and the popular Gallivant Hotel and bar at Camber Sands.

So, if you fancy getting away from choking traffic and yearn for clean, open spaces, a trip to Romney Marsh could ensure you claim your own stake in one of Englan'™s last quiet wildernesses.