Folkestone Campsite - just above the beach !!
It's May - the weather must be good by now so it is time for a little jaunt in the motorhome. We booked 2 nights at Hawthorn Farm just East of Dover and 3 nights at the C&CC site at Folkestone situated on the Warren again to the east.
Arrived Sunday afternoon a little earlier than planned - we had intended to visit Leeds Castle but there was a car show on and the queues to get in stretched back onto the M20 so a quick coffee at the services and straight to the campsite. Campsite was pleasant enough if a little isolated but we were well looked after.
On Monday a.m. we set off in glorious sunshine on shanks's pony to the lighthouse near St Margarets Bay then turned West along the white cliffs towards Dover. The plan was to visit the castle and then have a good look around Dover - didn't happen !!! Along the way we found some newly opened tunnels that were used in the war and decided to take the tour. Spent an enjoyable hour roaming around inside the white cliffs where all the soldiers used to live.
Back out into the sunshine and on towards the castle - but found the National Trust site and stopped for a coffee and a quick look around - and then we headed off to the castle via a fairly quite road that passed over the Jubilee Way road that comes out of Dover just by the Port. We spent the rest of our day in the castle moving from medieval to WW II - really enjoyed the secret tunnels - if you haven't been go and do it !!
What i haven't said is that we walked nearly 12km which is not a great deal but i very much doubt that we walked on any level ground once we left the campsite. Walking towards the coast was like walking on a roller coaster up and down and up and down. Walking around Dover castle is no easy matter either.
The downside to our day ? 2 really, we didn't get into Dover and there were crowds of French school kids all over the castle.
Onwards to Folkestone.......
Access to the campsite is via a single track road which is very steep - in fact its so steep and tight that caravans are not allowed to used the site. Setup in very pleasant sunshine and was handed a nice cool gin and tonic - definitely the way to spend the afternoon.
The following day we walked into Folkestone, along the beach and then up the hill to the point where the picture was taken (above). This was about two thirds of the way up and we still had to navigate around the headland. Folkestone turned out to be quite a nice town with a lovely promenade. We had a good walk around and eventually settled down to a late lunch next to the harbour. Lorraine had the usual crab with whatever they were serving and i settled for the moules - probably the best ones ever !!! Only allowed one glass of wine as we had to walk - climb - back over the headland to the campsite.
We decided to spend the day visiting Battle Abbey so we set off mid morning the next day - little did we realise quite how far Battle was, around 90mins doesn't seem far unless you are driving a motor home.
Managed to park near the station and walked into Battle center and into the Abbey. Battle of Hastings etc. (The English lost because they chased the enemy down the hill and got slaughtered). A really nice visit in hot sunshine followed by lunch just outside the Abbey sat outside a nice little restaurant.
Good drive back and stocked up with fuel and wine at a supermarket before tackling the road into the site again.
Drove back Friday - trying to time it so that we missed the morning mayhem and the Friday pm rush on the M25.
A very pleasant week away.