WALK REPORT Pics from Sunday’s trip to Bodiam. We were four this day – myself, Michelle, Jess, and Jonathan. In addition to visiting the castle, we watched a cricket match, saw some steam trains, had a picnic tea of vegan truffle chocolates (which melted in the hot sun but still were delicious thank you Jess), drank elderflower cordial on the terrace at the Salehurst Halt pub, and found some juicy wild plums to eat. But the discovery of the day was without doubt our encounter with the English Amish! 17 photos in this set – scroll down to see the larger images. [walk profile]
River Towns of Essex, July 14th
Date 17 Jul 2007
WALK REPORT Here are some random photos from our walk near Colchester on Saturday. A big thank you to Russell and Tim for coming along! 21 images in this set. [walk profile]
Fortress of the Black Swans, July 8th
Date 9 Jul 2007
WALK REPORT Did a solo trip to Leeds Castle yesterday (I wasn’t kidding when I posted on Saturday that there was still “space available”) and boy, was it nice out. Three weeks of rain have finally broken and given way to summer.
I used the time on my own to research an alternative route out of Harrietsham following unmarked footpaths that tunnel beneath the London-Paris Eurostar line and meet up with the original path near Fairbourne Mill.
Apologies for the lack of people in these pictures. I know it’s more fun when are faces to look at. Maybe next time! [walk profile]
Lunch at The Curlew
Date 2 Jul 2007
WALK REPORT Seven of us braved the elements on Saturday to visit Bodiam Castle (aka the legendary “Swamp Castle” of Monty Python and the Holy Grail fame). We had lunch at The Curlew, a most excellent pub halfway along the route, and shot some pool at The Ostrich pub in Robertsbridge. [walk profile]
Lucie’s Crew Takes Leeds Castle
Date 25 Jun 2007
WALK REPORT Here are some photos from our Leeds Castle walk yesterday. I was joined by my friend Lucie, who brought nine others with her: Jonny, Stephen, Julia, Rosie, Jim, Chris, Gareth, Paul, and David. Scroll down to see the big pictures.
(To visitors arriving from elsewhere on the web, welcome! There’s a lot to see on this site – check “Recent entries” on the right after viewing this post. Cheers, DW) [walk profile]
Seven Sisters Sunday, June 17th
Date 18 Jun 2007
WALK REPORT These pictures were taken yesterday on our walk to see the Seven Sisters cliffs near Seaford (aka the White Cliffs Walk). Route was Seaford – Cuckmere Haven – Exceat – Westdean – Friston Forest – East Dean – Crowlink – Seven Sisters – Exceat. A fine day, an amazing picnic lunch, and a lesson in hill-rolling from Rupert. [walk profile]
I’m going to put a montage of the day’s photos first. Scroll down to see the bigger images (22 in all).
These were some of the day’s better pictures!
Fortress of the Black Swans, June 3rd
Date 16 Jun 2007
WALK REPORT Here at last is the photo stream from our Leeds Castle walk on the 3rd of June, in Kent. We were five: myself, my brother Ben, my friend Dorry, and her friends Valerie and Allister. [walk profile]
Dorry spotted this old painted wall advertisment on the side of house in Harrietsham village. Kind Hearts and Coronets, a classic Ealing comedy, was filmed in this village and down the road at Leeds Castle. Now I want to watch the movie closely and see if this sign (which dates to the right period) features in any of the Harrietsham scenes.
Just past Harrietsham the path follows a road bridge across the busy M20 motorway and a railway line. That’s a Eurostar train whizzing by on the right, doing about 180mph on its way into London from Paris.
Here we are passing a converted oast house at Polhill. Oast houses, a common sight in the Kent countryside, are often resurrected as family homes. From left to right, that’s Allister, Valerie, and Dorry. Photo by Ben Wenk.
River Towns of Essex, June 2nd
Date 13 Jun 2007
WALK REPORT This is a photo set (18 pics) from a walk I did back at the beginning of the month with my flatmate Caroline and her friend Ryan. It was one of those clear, perfect spring weekends with barely a cloud in the sky. Along the way we visited four different country pubs: the Donkey & Buskins in Layer-de-la-Haye, the Lion in Abberton, the Whalebone in Fingringhoe, and the Anchor in Rowhedge, on the banks of the River Colne.
As on the previous two occasions I’ve done this walk, we begin in the heart of historic Colchester …
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These are the remains of St Botolph’s Priory, about 3 minutes’ walk from Colchester Town railway station. It dates to the 12th Century and is the first Augustinian church in England.
St Botolph’s Priory was a victim of Henry VIII’s campaign to wrest power from the Church. During the 1530s, hundreds of monasteries throughout Britain were systematically destroyed, St Botolph’s included. Some of the red bricks you see in this ruined arch likely date to the Roman era.
Ryan and Caroline on the grassy track that leads down to the Roman River from Olivers farm, on the outskirts of Colchester.
First pub of the day. This is the sign out front at the Donkey & Buskins in Layer-de-la-Haye village. Why a donkey would need buskins (the brown leather booties in the picture), I have no idea!
White Cliffs, May 21st
Date 26 May 2007
WALK REPORT Here are a few photos from the walk I did last Monday near the Seven Sisters – a line of white chalk cliffs on the south coast of England, where the hills of the South Downs meet the English Channel. It was a dreary day, not a great one for photography – hope to have some better shots next time around!
Route: Exceat – Westdean – Friston Forest – East Dean (Tiger Inn) – Crowlink – Seven Sisters – Cuckmere Haven – Exceat [walk profile]
The flintstone facing on this cottage in Westdean village is characteristic of this region of Southeast England.
All Saints chapel in Westdean, completely deserted on a wet Monday afternoon.
Inside All Saints chapel. What is the proper name of the cloth hanging behind the carved wooden eagle lectern?
Leeds Castle, May 20th
Date 25 May 2007
WALK REPORT Here at last are some pictures from our Leeds Castle walk. Along with me this time were my friends Guy and Guy (which made for some confusion). Guy brought his specially modified 16mm film camera. Unfortunately, it jammed irreparably just before we made it to the castle.
Route: Harrietsham – Fairbourne Heath – The Pepperbox – Kings Wood – Broomfield – Leeds Castle – Eyhorne Street – Hollingbourne station [walk profile]
Old petrol pumps in Harrietsham village.
Playful dogs in a back garden near Fairbourne Manor Farm.
Stopped for lunch at The Pepperbox. This is Guy’s special camera.