Morning Readers!!

We’ve been in Kent since Tuesday in search of Castles! On the list was:-

We’ve been staying at Channel View Apartments in Deal and checked out after breakfast today. It hasn’t been the best of accommodation, but it’s put us in the right location for what we had planned. Parking has been challenging and we didn’t need an alarm clock because the seagulls rise early around here (just before 4am!). Thanks, Gulls!

If you came here to read about our Castle Capers they’re all done for this visit and you can read about them below:-

Tuesday – Arrival
Wednesday – Deal Castle & Walmer Castle
Thursday – Dover Castle

For completists, here’s what we did today…

And so, with all the Castles conquered, we headed towards Maidstone for a one-night sleepover and to catch up with a work-mate of Ann’s (and a BBQ) before hitting the road early tomorrow heading home. But before Maidstone, I heard the word ‘sandwich’ which caught my attention!

Sandwich

I must have misheard as I saw the sat-nav was pointing to the town rather than the snack! Doh!

Sandwich lies on the River Stour and has a population of around 5000. It is one of the Cinque Ports and is probably most people’s idea of what a ‘olde English’ town looks and feels like!

Scenes around Sandwich

Well, the town certainly lived up to expectations. An immaculate location that appeared to be frozen in time – and looking all the better for it!

To complete the picture, it even has a Toll Bridge! (No tolls these days, though!)

The Guildhall Museum

If you want a potted history of Sandwich, then the Guildhall Museum (located in the 16th Century Guildhall) is the place to visit – and just a minute or so from the main car-park.

Admission is free and it’s a good use of an hour of your time. The staff were enthusiastic and knowledgeable – the perfect combo!

On the ground floor there is a comprehensive maritime history of the town that was once the second busiest Port after London! Who knew? . The photo above is of something that we didn’t know existed – a early sea mine dating back to the 18th century and designed by American inventor Robert Fulton.

On the next floor, the perfectly preserved Town Court (last used in 1987). David, one the staff gave us chapter and verse about the Court and how it operated. It was in great condition and these days it’s mostly used for Weddings!

Elevenses

Time for a pitstop at the appropriately named ‘The Sandwich Shop’!

A couple of coffees and a slice of Victoria Sponge later, we were ready for anything! (well, almost!). It was then back to the car as we headed west for the 50 mile journey from Sandwich to Maidstone.

Maidstone

First stop was the NEXT store on the lookout for some bargains. Even though this was an ‘out of town’ site, parking was nowhere near large enough and it soon became clear that some drivers had created their own parking spaces – just because… well… they could! For the rest of us, it made manouevering into the official spaces even more difficult. May your cars be full of seagulls on your return!!!

After bagging a few deals at NEXT (and encouraging the Gulls to stick around), we drove the short distance to the newish M&S in order to top up EVie. Yikes, the car-park was manic and although we got a space for charging pretty quickly, that area too, was full within minutes! Unlike NEXT, the drivers here seemed a lot more considerate!

We had a picnic lunch in the car before heading to M&S. In spite of its gleaming appearance, it had opened back in August 2020 but looked almost brand new.

Inside was massive! It included a Food Hall and one of the largest clothing areas I think I’ve ever seen. A Café and a Click and Collect point completed the picture. Not surprisingly, it was busy too! Whoever said that people are tightening their belts, obviously none of these customers had seen the memo!

It was another scorcher outside and we hurried back to the car and fired up the AC . Altough it began cooler this morning, it was now definitely hotter than yesterday. The car said 29℃ but it fell a lot, lot (lot) warmer. Next stop? The Premier Inn

We arrived at the Premier Inn about half an hour before official check-in of 3pm, but good ol’ Premier Inn allocated our room ahead of schedule and we were soon on our way to room 32 for the night.

Better still, they’d thoughtfully put the most important item in the room without asking – a rather high-tech fan!

Just time for a short siesta before getitng into ‘BBQ mode’.

It’s 5.45 and thankfully, it was a little cooler outside, as we took the short 15 minute drive to David and Anne-Marie’s BBQ. Tomorrow, we’re checking out early, hoping to be home by 10am (ish).

Thanks for reading this far, everyone! . See you on the other side!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post The Kent Castles Caper! – Day 4 appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Welcome to Day 3, loyal readers!

It’s our last full day here in Deal staying at Channel View Apartments where it’s been the perfect location for our ‘Castles Caper’ (even if the parking has been ‘challenging’!).

On our Castle Capers list is:-

With Deal Castle and Walmer Castle conquered yesterday, guess where we went today?

Yes, we’ve had Dover Castle in our sights today. It only took us about 10 minutes to get there, and weather-wise, what a great day for it! Our hats, sunglasses and suncream are certainly on overtime!

Compared with Deal and Walmer, Dover Castle is massive! There is more than just the Castle walls to see here, and we therefore both felt we’d saved the most impressive until last.

Dover Castle

Built by Henry II, and commanding the shortest sea crossing between England and the continent, Dover Castle has a long and immensely eventful history. Known as the ‘key to England’, this great fortress has played a crucial role in the defence of the realm for over nine centuries, a span equalled only by the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. Read a more detailed timeline here on the English Heritage website.

Impressive, ehh?!?! What makes this Castle extra special is that it also has secret tunnels put to various uses underneath (more about that later).

We arrived around 9.20am – 40 minutes before opening time (we’d seriously over-estimated the journey time!) – but there was soon a long queue behind us. Helpfully, a member of staff walked the queue and explained the admissions process. For EH Members, wait for the green traffic light (it’s a partial one-way system initially up to the car parks) and point the car ‘upwards’.

At the summit, there were three car parks to choose from, with the middle option getting us closest to the admission area, but the lower one would have been better for shade. The upper area would have helped with our step count!

The Castle

It’s an impressive structure that dwarfs its sister Castles at Deal and Walmer. What to cover first? Fortunately, the helpful staff must have been asked that question a million times before and quickly explained the best route (Lighthouse and Church first, then the Castle and finally the Tunnels and the Hospital).

10.05am:
Colton’s Gate

Colton’s Gate is the first construction you’ll see as you head for the Castle itself. It’s an impressive 13th-century octagonal gate-tower built on instructions of the ever-popular King John and historically grants access to and guards the approach to the Anglo-Saxon Church and Roman Lighthouse. Built in the early 1200s, the Gate was re-roofed by the War Office around 1900.

10.10am:
The Church and Lighthouse (yes, really!)

Amazingly, the Pharos (Lighthouse) was constructed in 2AD by the Romans, and most of it was still standing – in later years, it became the Church’s bell-tower! The inside of the Anglo-Saxon Church dating back early 600AD – St Mary in Castro – had been heavily restored and looked beautiful. We might have stayed longer, but ‘Class 3B’ had also arrived about the same time as us, obviously working on a school project and took up most of the room by the altar – time for a swift exit!!

10.20am:
Inside the Castle

Today featured steps and lots of them! Our first encounter was heading for the battlements of the Castle and to look around the Great Tower.

Every room was immaculate and had been decorated to reflect the period. There were plenty of Guides on hand to answer questions, although I wouldn’t have fancied their job today as it was already quite hot in the rooms.

10.35am:
The View from the top

The climb to the top was worth it! I counted about 80 steps, but it felt more like 8000! As our feet slowly recovered, we admired the views from all four sides of the Tower.

10.45am:
The Regimental Museum

We headed down a different set of stairs (still the same number though – I counted them!) Next stop? The Regimental Museum. The Regiments depicted here dated back to 1572, and there were plenty of exhibits on display to re-tell their respective histories.

Admission was free, and the displays and exhibits had been put together with a great eye for detail.

Even if you only have a passing interest in military history, it’s worth a look. It’s also worth visiting as it was nice and cool inside whilst outside had already hit 25℃ (and it was only 11am!)

Tunnels, Tunnels and more Tunnels

The secret tunnels (well, not that secret these days!) are located beneath the white cliffs of Dover and Dover Castle. They weren’t just used in WWII, but served as a barracks for soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars too! Later, they were headquarters and a war hospital during the Second World War under Winston Churchill. The war theme continued in the 1960s, when it served as a Regional Seat of Government in the 1960s in the event of nuclear war.

Opinions seemed to vary, but one account of the tunnels suggests there are over 15 miles of them!

11.20am:
The Spur Tunnels

The Spur Tunnels were built in the early 13th century to allow soldiers to quickly get to the northern tip of the Castle. They were remodelled in the 1790s to better assist the next generation to more effectively defend the Castle.

Yes, more stairs to get to the Tunnels!!!

It was just coming up to midday, and we were both wilting with the heat. After a brief sit down in the shade we spotted something unusual in the NAAFI restaurant! We learned that (with a massive dose of irony) it was called the Pocket Pistol and it has quite a history. The 24-foot-long bronze cannon was originally cast in 1544. It is thought to have been presented to Henry VIII as a gift for his young daughter Elizabeth and is known to have been referred to as Queen Elizabeth’s Pocket Pistol by an article in the Gentleman’s Magazine from 1767. The cannon is thought to have been used during the English Civil War, described as ‘the Great Basilisco of Dover’.

12.05pm:
The WWII Tunnels (aka Cliff Casemates)

We were disappointed to learn that no photography was allowed once we descended into the Tunnels. No explanation was given, but we think that the Tunnels are still in use by the State (where’s my tin-foil hat? ). Amazingly, they date back to 1793 and have been used on and off ever since in times of war. More especially from 1942 when they became a combined HQ for the military services. They are probably more famously known for where the Dunkirk evacuation of May 1940 – codenamed ‘Dynamo‘ – was masterminded.

The Tour itself lasted around 45 minutes and was part AV and part explanation by Kate our EH Guide. Quite a lot of walking, often in semi-darkness, gave a good feel for how it might have been for those who HAD to be here over the centuries.

1.03pm:
The Hospital (more Tunnels!)

Just like the War Tunnels, no photography was allowed in here either. Our Guide, Cara, explained that the Hospital aka ‘Dressing Station’ could look after as many as 100 patients, supported by 200 trained medical staff. Built in 1941–1942 as an annexe to the military command tunnels, it features a fully-equipped operating theatre and wards.

The Tour itself took an imaginative approach. Led by Cara we travelled through the myriad of tunnels supported by a recorded commentary complete with authentic period sound effects such as air-raid sirens and voices of the doctors and surgeons of the time. Flickering lights and complete blackouts added to the authenticity.

Not being allowed to take photographs was a definite disadvantage, whereas, unlike next door in the WWII Tunnels, we couldn’t think of a reason why not. We ended our tour with MORE STAIRS … and the famous ‘double helix’ staircase that allows two groups of soldiers to ascend/descend without literally running inot each other!

1.45pm:
Phew!

We ended our visit at the Memorial to Vice Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay (unveiled in 2000), who planned and directed Operation Dynamo. And that’s when we decided to call it a day. It was now so hot, the best place would have been in the Tunnels!

2.05pm: Lunch

We usually cover these sort of places at some pace, but this one still took us 4 hours – and we could have probably spent even longer here! There’s a lot to take in but the staff here were great – helpful, happy, enthusiastic and professional – just like their colleagues at the other two Castles we’ve visited. After a quick picnic lunch it was back to the car and a stop off at Aldi in Deal for a top-up charge for EVie.

Time to pack when we get back – for our departure tomorrow, just after 9am.

Tomorrow

We say goodbye to our Castle Capers and head for Maidstone for a single-night sleepover and to catch up with friends in nearby West Malling.

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post The Kent Castles Caper! – Day 3 appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Morning all! Here we are in Deal, Kent. We arrived yesterday to a scorching hot day – and impossible parking (more about that in a while!). We’re taking a short break with our cultural heads on – in search of Castles! On the list during our stay is:-

Yes, we plan to give those English Heritage Cards a real workout before we leave on Friday! .

We woke at 3.45am to ‘nature’s alarm clock’ aka a herd of seagulls – and what sounded like a the worst Britain’s Got Talent audition! Step forward, about half a dozen of our winged warblers screaming at each other to prove who had the largest lungs and biggest beaks! How we laughed!! Thanks gulls!!!

We’re staying at Channel View Apartments in Deal Castle Road. It’s not bad accommodation, but we’ve had better. It has all we need and is well-equipped, but looks a little ‘tired’ in places (a little like me!). There’s plenty of space in the lounge, but location-wise, the most crucial issue is car parking – or complete lack of it!

With the car parking challenge, maybe they should call this place ‘Deal or No Deal’. Honestly, it’s like being in London: a great location and plenty to see – but parking is not easy if you’re a stranger! Actually, no, it’s worse than London as there doesn’t appear to be ANY long-term parking at all within easy reach of where we are and where signage for parking is non-existent (apart from the residents zones and short term affairs). And just to screw any thought of promoting tourism at this end of town, all the immediate parking is subject to a two-hour maximum and no return within the hour! Thanks, Dover Council . They don’t need Castles round here to thwart an invasion, they just need to paint double yellows everywhere! Oh, wait! They already have!!!

Therefore at the top of our list today is to talk with the locals to determine what we do with the car for the next few days! Disappointingly, I think the nearest long-stay car-park might be in France! Oh ye, of little faith, the mystery is solved, thanks to one of the helpful Staff at Deal Castle – more about that later in this Post.

Today’s plan? We’ve two Castles in mind – nearby Deal Castle and then, a shortish walk away, Warmer Walmer Castle. The former is so close, we can almost touch it from where we’re staying, whilst Walmer Castle is 30 minutes by foot. Thankfully, it’s a little cooler here today, contrary to the national forecast with ‘early 20s’ being the maximum. In spite of the ideal walking conditions though and the short distance between the Castles, we’ll probably take the car to escape the clutches of the local Traffic Enforcers!

Once we’re all ‘castled-out, we’re going to take a drive into Deal town and have a look around.

Deal Castle

Deal Castle was built in 1539–40 on Henry VIII’s order as an artillery fortress, designed to allow all-round firepower from over 140 guns. For over 250 years it defended the important naval anchorage called the Downs, and in 1648 endured a hard-fought siege between Royalist and Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil Wars. From 1730 it was gradually transformed into a genteel residence, and its military role had effectively ceased by around 1800 (Thanks, English Heritage!).

Ann chatted with two of the Guides to gain some more background information, and here’s what we learned: It was built in just a year and using just 1427 men. But better than that, not just Deal Castle but they constructed Walmer Castle and Sandown Castle too in that same 12 months! Impressive! Now that’s what I call ‘productivity’!Of the three, Sandown Castle is no more, (today, it’s a Community Garden), whilst here at Deal and nearby Walmer, they certainly pull in the crowds.

It was just a short flight of stairs up to the battlements with some stunning views from the top.

It was a beautiful day for it, and the breeze from the ocean worked a treat as the temperature was now already higher than the forecast! . A perfect opportunity to descend and look inside the Castle.

It was like it had its own air-conditioning! Wonderfully cool and such a contrast to outside. We ended our visit with a wander around ‘ground level’ outside. It had been a thoroughly enjoyable visit with knowledgeable Guides, stunning views and a beautiful day for it!

Next stop? Walmer Castle, a short drive away. But before all that, as promised, here’s the official ‘line’ on parking here in Deal. Our thanks to Melanie, who was on the front desk at Deal Castle, who explained how it all works!

Yes, parking for more than a few hours is challenging, and yes, there are the occasional spaces in side streets BUT… there are long-term Car-Parks in Deal, but as we suspected, they were nowhere near where we’re staying – see below. The parking is managed by Dover Council and the Wardens are very visible and doing their job!

Happily, there was an official workaround for us. As we suspected yesterday, we could take advantage of being English Heritage members. Parking in any of their car parks is free from 6pm until 9am – and when parked, you are given three hours free. So today, we plan to park the car in Deal Castle car park just after 3pm (using our free three hours) and plan to leave by 9am tomorrow. Simples!

Walmer Castle

Thanks again to English Heritage, here are some essential facts about this Castle.
Walmer Castle was built in 1539–40 by Henry VIII in response to threats of invasion from Europe. It was all part of a 2.7-mile coastal barrier that included Deal and Sandown Castles. During the English Civil Wars, Walmer came under siege from Parliamentarian forces, but since the 18th century, Walmer has been the official residence of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. The Cinque Ports are a series of major ports on the south-east coast of England. They are Sandwich, Dover, Hythe, New Romney and Hastings. By the mid-18th century, the castle had become a well-equipped seaside retreat as well as a Fort.

As we approached Walmer Castle, the weather was definitely warmer than the forecast. Cue hats and sunglasses! . After parking the car (drat! All the shady spaces had gone!) we headed for the entrance. What makes this Castle a little different to its sister in Deal is that it has impressive Gardens, and because it was the residence of the ‘Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports‘ too, it all felt somewhat grander than ‘just’ a Castle. It became the official residence of the Lord Warden in 1607 and is still in use today. The position dates back to the 12th century and is highly coveted.

Our first stop then had to be the Lord Warden’s Apartment. Notable ‘Lords Warden’ include William Pitt the Younger, the Duke of Wellington, W H Smith (later T G Jones ) and the Queen Mother. The slightly macabre factoid is that the Duke of Wellington actually died here at Walmer Castle in 1852 – and they still have the actual chair where we ‘left this world’. It wasn’t surprising, therefore to see a lot of exhibits celebrating the DoW’s life – including his boots!

The Castle was impressive, but the Apartment was a very pleasant surprise. Each room was special in its own way, and English Heritage have done a great job in conserving the property.

I was just getting started with my photographs when I noticed that there was a sign prohibiting any form of photography or video – so I stopped! . A shame really, as it would have been good to show off the decor. The above two are all I got! – no, I don’t know what the red light does!

If Deal Castle had been impressive, then here at Walmer, it was even more so – but the best was yet to come! As we wandered into the Gardens, it was easy to spot that it was well-loved. Everything seemed to be in rude health, and it looked especially impressive on this very hot day against a perfect blue sky!

..and if that didn’t impress, then their Kitchen Garden was even more impressive!

Wow! What an impressive location! We headed back to the car for a picnic lunch before heading off into the town of Deal.

The Town of Deal

Here we are in the Town. Today, with its population of around 32000, Deal is a former fishing, mining and garrison town. Deal became a ‘limb port’ of the Cinque Ports in 1278 and grew into the busiest port in England; today it is a seaside resort, its streets and houses a reminder of its history along with many ancient buildings and monuments. In 1968, Middle Street was the first conservation area in Kent.

Meanwhile, in 2026, we were here to get a ‘feel’ for the town – and a meal for tonight!

It was a busy town and definitely had a buzz about it. The shops were a mix of mostly well-known high street brands plus a few independents. Nice to see a fresh fish shop on the high street in 2026!

But old habits die hard, and we couldn’t resist checking out the local Sainsbury’s here in Deal. Opened in 1998, it looked much newer and looking around, we think it’s the largest supermarket in Deal. With Dinner tonight sorted, we headed back to the Apartment having covered a grand total of FOUR miles in the car today!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, we’re off to Dover. We’ve never spent any time together in Dover before now (except for grabbing a Ferry to France), whilst I’d spent a lot of time here, as part of my day job, during the brand-new Dover Sainsbury’s opening back in 1980!

See you on Thursday!!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post The Kent Castles Caper! – Day 2 appeared first on Steve's Blog.

We’re off to Kent for a week – in search of Castles! On the list is:-

Yes, we plan to melt those English Heritage Cards before the week is out!

We’re staying and self-catering at Channel View Apartments in Deal until Thursday…

…and then, later in the week, we’re heading for Maidstone and booking-into the Premier Inn in Sandling in time for meeting up with a ex-work friend of Ann’s in the town for an evening meal.

We left home just before 9.45am and had a trouble-free journey – even the M25 was well-behaved! We stopped off at Thong Services (yes, really!) near Gravesend, having covered about ⅔rds of our journey, and even though we only had another hour to go, it felt like the right time for a break.

Hhhhm! Thong Services. That’s a first! Motorway Services named after an item of clothing! . Somehow, just the name suggested it might not be a very attractive location – and that proved to be true. What a dump! In fact, it’s obviously so unpopular and unknown, even Mr Google can’t find it! In truth, that probably meant we’d got the wrong name, but it was in the village of Thong and it was err, a ‘Services’ area – and we did follow the signposts to ‘Services’.

Fifteen minutes later, with coffee, biscuits and chocolate consumed, we said a rather hurried goodbye to possibly the weirdest village name we’d ever come across (and the crappiest of Motorway Services).

It was then back in the car for the final part of our journey. Looking ahead, we knew we’d be too early to check into our accommodation, so we filled the time by taking a slight diversion and heading for a massive slice of local history in the town of Sandwich – the ruins of the ancient Roman Fort and Ampitheatre called ‘Richborough’.

Roman Fort and Ampitheatre

The Romans considered Richborough a significant location in their invasion of Britain, and they landed here before heading for the Medway and then the Thames before ending up in Colchester. Thus, Richborough Roman Fort became a significant ‘dot on the map’ in Roman Britain.

We weren’t sure what to expect when we arrived, but one thing was certain – it was HOT! Very HOT! . Touching 32℃ at just before 1pm and showing no signs of cooling down, meant that this was going to be a quicker look around than we originally planned. A short walk from the makeshift car-park took us to the site. Much to see? There’s certainly a fair amount of the Fort’s wall left – a testament to their construction skills – but very little else.

The 2000-year-old walls looked as solid as ever, but it did require a degree of imagination to fill in the gaps and imagine how the complete Fort might have looked ‘back in the day’. Apart from the very solid walls, we learned there had been some significant archaeological finds here too, and in the visitor area they’d built a small museum, packed with what had been uncovered.

The Museum was amazing! . There was a lot more here than we imagined! Definitely worth a visit, just to see what they’ve found (so far!). As we ended our visit with a well-deserved Magnum each, we caught up with what happened to the town after the Romans left. Not surprisingly, the town went into decline around AD410, but the legacy of Richborough lived on for a while as the town was one of the last military bases to be occupied by the Romans. In later years, evidence was unearthed of another settlement – Anglo-Saxon – here between AD 400-900. The maritime connection in the shape of the nearby Wantsum Channel eventually silted up, by the early 17th century, making it inaccessible to big ships. Sadly, what we saw today – the impressive fort walls – are all that’s left as a testament to its former glory.

The last mile or so to the Fort had been very narrow and quite twisty. if you follow in our footsteps, take care! . In fact, we had considered turning RIGHT out of the Fort, but according to the staff on duty, that route was even worse!!

With our history lesson over for the day, it was off to our final stop for the day – Deal – to top up the car at the local Aldi and to sort out a meal for tonight.

Luckily, it was easy to find! Unusually, it also had very fast EV chargers and we were soon plugged-in and whilst EVie enjoyed a blast of kilowatts, we headed to the store to pick up some food. We were in and out inside 30 minutes, which meant that by the time we got to the car, EVie was well on the way to being 80% fully charged

Channel View Apartments

At just after 3.30pm, we arrived at our bed for the next three nights – Channel View Apartments – where we’d covered a total of just over 150 miles.

First impressions? Not easy to pinpoint. Second impressions? Although we knew there was ‘only’ on-street parking, try finding some! After about a dozen laps around the block, I gave up and parked on double yellows right outside to allow us to get our luggage to our apartment.

Yikes, this was going to be a challenge! It was now 34℃ outside and about 134℃ inside the Apartment. Whilst I left Ann to do the unpacking, I returned to the car to scour the coastline for a parking space. Luckily, on the 17th lap, I spotted one just half a mile from our apartment. Unfortunately, it was limited to a maximum of two hours. Ah well, let’s go for two hours and see what happens! With parking secured (for at least the next few hours, at least) we settled in to our new home.

We’re on the ground floor, and it’s got all the basics. It looks like an old Edwardian house has been ‘carved up’ and turned into multiple dwellings, but there’s plenty of room. Decor-wise, it could do with a coat of paint in places, although the furniture in the lounge and the kitchen looked quite new. It’s not the most luxurious of apartments, but it’ll provide all we need for our short stay. The only ‘issue’ is the parking and as the clock counted down to our two-hour maximum, we decided to head out for a short spin to see if we could find a more permanent parking solution.

Not a chance! All the spaces in the immediate area were taken, and everywhere else was double yellow lines! . Surely, we were missing something obvious (like a massive multi-storey hidden in plain sight?). Nope! And then Ann read that English Heritage members get parking for free on their properties – and as luck would have it, Deal Castle was right opposite our Apartment! There was the small matter of a THREE hour maximum, but the free ticket from the machine seemed to be suggesting that we were ‘OK’ until 11.47am tomorrow. That suited us fine as we’re visiting Deal Castle tomorrow around 10am.

Had we beaten the system? Who knows? Well, Dover Council probably knows, but let’s see how that turns out!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, we’re heading for nearby Deal Castle.

We ate in tonight – and it went down a treat! . See you tomorrow!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post The Kent Castles Caper! – Day 1 appeared first on Steve's Blog.

Off to visit Apethorpe Palace today with Chris and Gill!

The Palace

We last visited here back in August 2011 with Nicki, when it was known simply as Apethorpe Hall. Since that time, it’s been sold-off by English Heritage (December 2014) to one Baron von Pfetten, a French anglophile. English Heritage are still responsible for the day-to-day running as well as the marketing, but as part of the arrangement, the Baron has made an 80-year commitment of 50 days public opening a year (hurrah!). This is a far more extensive undertaking than the normal period of 10 years, in the case of English Heritage’s other grant-aided properties.

Simon Thurley, English Heritage’s Chief Executive, welcomed the purchase, saying:

Since 2000 English Heritage has consistently said that the best solution for Apethorpe is for it to be taken on by a single owner, who wants to continue to restore the house and to live in it; especially one who has experience of restoring historic buildings and is prepared to share its joys with a wide public, as Baron Pfetten will do.

Located west of Peterborough, the regular Tours are of the timed sort (you can’t just turn up and wander around) – and we arrived for our 10.30 slot just a minute ahead of the stipulated instruction: “Don’t arrive more than 10 minutes before the start of your tour”.

They still let us in! Parking was a smallish tarmac affair with a polite warning about the legion of cats in residence! Anywhere with cats gets our vote!

According to Wiki: “Apethorpe holds a particularly important place in English history because of its ownership by, and role in entertaining, Tudor and Stuart monarchs. Elizabeth I inherited the palace from her father Henry VIII. Her successor James I personally contributed to its extension resulting in a set of impressive state rooms featuring some of the most important surviving plasterwork and fireplaces of the period”.

Back to 2019, and the first thing to note is that currently, the Palace is (still) very much ‘work-in-progress’. Last time we visited here it was mostly a building-site inside, whereas this time, it’s a lot more navigable, although no photos are allowed inside or out.

Our Guides David and Julie did a great job explaining the history of the Palace. Architecturally, it’s a bit of a mish-mash on the outside, boasting at least four architectural styles across four centuries! Inside, as I’ve mentioned, is now a lot easier to get around, but overall, it’s still very spartan with only the (rather well preserved) fireplaces and plasterwork in each room to act as a focal point. Those expecting a typical ‘old house’ full of authentic contents of the age will be very disappointed. We weren’t though, as a lot of good work has already been done to the ceilings to bring them back their former glory.

It’s a very large local attraction with years of renovation and repair still to do, and ffter the ninety-minute tour, we all agreed it had been very worthwhile. It’ll be worth re-visiting in a few year’s time to see the progress!

The Pub

All that culture gave us a thirst and an appetite, so we headed for The Queen’s Head in nearby Bulwick (pop: 152!) – The Village Pub is another establishment that’s been rescued in recent years and you can read more about their story HERE.

It was our first visit here and everything exceed our expectation! The service and quality of the food was excellent, and I’m sure we’ll be back again before too long! Another fine eating establishment to add to our list of faves!

It was then back to ours for a quick cuppa before saying our goodbyes. Nicki is due later and then we’re off to our weekly Archery Lesson!

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post The Palace and the Pub appeared first on Steve's Blog.

We headed for Bolsover Castle today to meet up with our friends: Dennis and Sandra. We haven’t seen them since we all visited Belton House back in May, and it was good to catch-up.

9.20am: ETA was 11am, so we left just before 9.30 and had a trouble-free journey there (although the traffic on the M1 was pretty heavy in places).

Apparently, we’d visited Bolsover Castle around 20 years ago, but as usual, none of it rang a bell to me! A quick check of my blog revealed that it must have been pre-blog (2004) days as there was nothing recorded – so that didn’t help much!

Bolsover Castle is best described as a 17th Century aristocratic retreat and it was initially owned by Charles Cavendish and then, his son, William Cavendish – the 1st Duke of Newcastle – the latter better known as The Father of Dressage. In all, you have the remains of the castle, the House and the Stables, all maintained by English Heritage.

11.05am: Parking was, shall we say, ‘challenging’ with both nearby car-parks already full. Fortunately, after a couple of laps around the local road, we spotted a sign for ‘overflow parking’ – not a massive number of spaces on offer, but we only needed one – and as it turned out, right next door to Dennis and Sandra who’d arrived 30 seconds before us!

The Stables

The House

…with stunning views across Derbyshire! Inside was a treat too…

…beautiful…

…with priceless interiors!

11.55am: It didn’t take long to take it all in, but the combination of a roofless castle (a bit like Kirby Hall near us), the stunning vistas and the plethora of rooms, combined to make it a very memorable (hopefully) visit!

We decamped to the Café for a drink whilst planning Lunch! Bolsover isn’t known for its abundance of eateries, but a quick check of Google revealed a few Pubs that were within walking distance.

Actually, as things turned out, there was somewhere suitable right on our doorstep, which we discovered within two minutes of exiting Bolsover Castle…

The Pillar of Rock – courtesy of Mr Wetherspoon! It was already busy by the time we arrived, but were able to secure a cosy table-for-four in the corner. The food and service didn’t disappoint, and we had plenty of time for a long catch-up. In fact, by the time we’d finished eating and talking, it was getting on for 3.30! Talk about a long lunch!

3.45pm: We took the short walk back to the car, said our goodbyes and headed for the M1.

It had been a great place to visit, with a lot to see – and in surprisingly good condition, given its age. But I think if it hadn’t been for the Pub/Restaurant almost next door, we might have struggled to find somewhere suitable to eat as Bolsover is only a small town. Still, it was all very agreeable!

There’s a few additional photos HERE.

Steve Palmer

I got into blogging quite late in life, not publishing my first post until 2004 – well into my 40s! My lifelong love of technology and communication (in all its forms), together with a fondness for the art of writing seemed to be the perfect combination to contribute a few words to the online community. But I’m no Samuel Pepys! If you’re looking for deep and meaningful comments on a variety of subjects, then you’ve arrived at the wrong site! I only pen for pleasure! On average, my posts appear about twice per month, covering family & friends, cinema visits, eating out, holiday experiences and techy stuff. Oh, and as this is my hobby, there are no sponsored links nor adverts here – it’s all done with love!

I hope you find it enjoyable, interesting and occasionally, even helpful!

StevePalmerTheBlogger.com

The post Bolsover Castle with Dennis & Sandra appeared first on Steve's Blog.