Hassocks, Isle of Wight & Chichester 8th until 16th August

Classic cream tea at The Badgers cafe, Alfriston

Friday morning we set out for the church carpark at Berwick to then find the public footpath to the medieval village of Alfriston. Was a nice walk through harvested wheat fields then down into the village past well cared for very old buildings. 

The wee dog was our happy companion

This is what as known as the Clergy House, 14th century and the first property to be owned by the National Trust. Need to be short of stature, sure footed and good eyesight to move around in it and see in the gloom

This is a bookcase made from wood, clever

Belle and I at the Village Green, she liked to see what is going on, not just everyones ankles

Spent the afternoon cleaning and tidying up where we had been staying for the last week. A final walk to Ditchling village next morning for coffee and the weekend newspaper. Took a picnic lunch up onto the South Downs, was a lovely day and good views. The wee dog was sticking closeby no doubt aware of our leaving.  We headed back to Chichester in the late afternoon to friend, Marj. 

Sunday morning Marj left about 4.30am to make the long drive up to Glasgow to see her Mum and empty her house with her sisters before sale as her Mum is now in care. It was a beautiful day so walked into town and back, not too busy early morning as shops do not open until 10am.

The market cross in the centre of the East, North, South and West gates that are downtown Chichester

Later in the day we plotted a circular 3hr walk via Dell Quay from the house as we were meeting friends there the next day and wanted to suss out parking etc. Being a Sunday late afternoon and gorgeous weather it was absolutely packed but an idyllic setting.

Tidal Dell Quay part of Chichester Harbour

The Cown and Anchor 

Jeff far right as we quenched our thirst with half a lager half way around circular walk. Lots of mudflats, swans and ramped boards, was well worth doing

Next day we had booked to get the train to Portsmouth Harbour then ferry to Isle of Wight following our lunch date with Tim and Carolyn. They had been on our Channel to Med ride in France in June (seems so long ago!). We had got on with them really well, both very strong cyclists and they had wanted to meet up again. Tim had just retired a week previous and they are keen to come out to NZ and camper van their way around. We will send them our "where to" map

With Carolyn and Tim, Jeff and Tim sporting fluff hairdos

Crown and Anchor outdoor menu, a different menu inside. Did not rate the food, not a salad to be seen, but company and setting was great

We had booked a carpark at the Chichester train station so seamless to park then the 3pm train to Portsmouth Harbour for the Isle of Wight ferry to Ryde, which only takes 20 minutes. Suzanne met us at the ferry terminal and we were off to her place which is near the centre of the island. Suzanne is a friend of Marj and we had hosted Suzanne in Nelson a couple of years ago. Usual story in NZ; someone knows someone looking for a friendly face and travelling tips or somewhere to stop, do laundry, sleep in a real bed etc.

Suzanne takes of the top of a bottle of Cloudy Bay with a sword no less in our honour

The start of a walk we did Tuesday from Freshwater beach to what is known as The Needles on the western tip of the Isle of Wight

Quite a few folks did the "challenging" walk....dead flat 3hrs which we laughed about

Alum beach. A 25C day so lots of beach goers but  not too many swimmers, if any

Looking across to England mainland. There had been talk for years of a bridge being built but not likely to ever happen if the fiasco of HS2 rail line is anything to go by presently £40 billion, yes billion pounds over budget. If ever finished in 2040.

More chalk cliffs. Chalk is throughout Southern England so the water is very very hard, not a bubble to be seen. Your hair always feels a bit lank

The famous Needles. There is great sailing all along this coast but do have to watch out for underwater reefs

Next day Suzanne schemed that we walk from St Catherines lighthouse, which is on the otherside of the island to the previous day, to Ventnor. The difference on the island is that the mainland side is windy with less vegetation and the St Catherine side is more verdant and way less windy. 

St Catherine lighthouse on the southern most part of the island

Astounded to see so many cabbage trees on the walk to Ventnor

Suzanne walked the first hour with us to a Korean cafe on the coast, made up of sea containers. Very random but super salads etc. We than carried on along the coast for a couple of hours to Ventnor which is your classic English seaside town. We enjoyed watching the comings and goings on what was really an overcast cool day.

No swimmers or sunbathers

Did not partake in the crab pasties or icecream, coffee and Madiera cake was ok

Beach huts

We left the Isle of Wight the next day after Jeff had done a couple of " need a man" tasks for Suzanne. Sadly her husband had died early from some ghastly cancer. She is a great hostess and loves folks staying.

The hovercraft that zips between Portsmouth and Ryde on the Isle of Wight, we were on the fast ferry

Our last full day here so the annual shop at Boots, Marks and Spencers, which only took an hour, then we drove back down to the New Forest to visit Beaulieu National Car Museum. It has an extensive display of all things motor from late 1800's to present day. Have to say it was really well done and my eyes did not glaze over, Jeff a happy bunny. Was on the Montagu family estate complete with palace house and gardens, river etc. Worth the walk about on a scorcher day for southern England.

Mr Montagu ( Lord) with a Morris 8

Jeffs other love Jaguar E-Type behind the Ford GT40

Carving on the tree stump is called Mr Quirky Quercus

Mum and Dad swan, a cob and pen, with four signets

Local village cricket oh so English. We really enjoyed watching

So a fabulous 3 months in Europe and the UK ends tomorrow when we head to Heathrow at the end of the day arriving back in NZ Monday 18th August, our 35th wedding anniversary. Life continues to be full of adventure, opportunities and fun.

Hassocks, West Sussex 3rd August - 7th August

Arrived at our second house sit in Hassocks as the owners were departing for a week camping. We immediately took the dog, Belle, for a walk into nearby Ditchling to settle her down. Very busy village on a Sunday morning. 

Owners had made an effort to tame the chaos in the house so we all settled in for the rest of Sunday reading the very chunky weekend newspapers they have in England.

Next day was a classic dreary English day with the sky around your neck and constant mizzle interrupted by rain. We took the train to Brighton, 10mins away, to have a look around. Gay Pride week had just finished so still busy and plenty of "sights". Brighton's heyday was well and truly gone, quite tatty areas, but on a real summers day the beach would be heaving, the main street and esplanade busy.

One of the many eccentric shops

Lots of garish facades like this, certainly gave personality to the town

This was above a very old pub door

The Pavillion, looks more like a mosque. A royal residence from George IV era then converted to a military hospital in WW1. Now owned by the council for tours, film sets etc.

The infamous Brighton pier, £2 to walk along. The dog was not keen....

Felt sorry for this old boy, determined to have his oysters from the shellfish stand, lack of summers day weather not withstanding. They even had swim flags out but no takers given the swell and cool temps.

Our huge responsibility in pink rain jacket at the Brighton train station

Next day was fine and dry so the South Down National Park was first up just a few minutes away. 160km walk from one end to the other if you have a mind to.  We did an hour with the dog, those little legs can get along if she wants to. There are fabulous views to the north and out to sea with all the wind turbines.

Facing north

How far am I walking?

An option to walk the 160km over a week is to be picked up by shuttle say from Chichester, get dropped off each day to where you finished the day before. Shuttle back to Chichester after the days 20+km, rinse and repeat.

We drove to Chartwell House, Winston Churchills home from 1922 to mid 1960's. Had a stunning aspect overlooking the Kent Weald. Extensive gardens that tumbled down the hillside and walkable woods. The walled garden was well kept with an impressive range of espaliered apple trees.  Although a large house it had a family feel about it, quite light and airy.

Jeff spotted this picture in the house of the then prime minister with a bulldog gifted to him in 1950 by a "Mrs Sewell". We were destined to dog sit....

Chartwell House built in 16th century but modernised in 1922 when Winston Churchill purchased it.

As we were nearby we carried on to Hever castle, once home to Anne Boleyn, second wife if Henry V111. We had stayed at the accommodation there several years ago and had fond memories of the grounds and the local pub - Henry V111 of course.

Sadly in the intervening years Hever Castle has become more commercial with various stalls found dotted about the grounds and a couple of concert sound stages.

Front entrance Hever castle

Accommodation wing

Some clever person crochet/knitted Anne Boleyn as a post box  feature.

Walled rose garden

We walked up to the Henry V111 pub for a late afternoon tea only to find to our dismay " closed on Tuesdays".... raisin buns purchased at Waitrose on the way back to Hassock instead.

Used our National Trust card next day to visit Bodiam Castle. NT properties can cost €24 each plus €5 for parking. As NT members, seniors no less, we get in free at each NT property. Given the number of properties we have been to so far this trip our membership fee was well worth it.

Built in 1385 Bodiam Castle was possible defence against the French in the hundred year war and War of the Roses etc.  Believed to have been abandoned late 17th century, now a shell.

Quadrangal towers were unsual for the time.  Gave views everywhere and a canon platform

Given the moat was full of very large and numerous carp we kept hold of Belle should she decide to jump in and be gobbled by the hideous carp

Nearby heritage rail was running short trips in the summer from Bodiam to Tenderton

We continued to Birling Gap and the Seven Sisters on the south coast. Remarkable landscape feature with the chalk cliffs. These are in the South Down National Park and the beach is well visited by tourists and locals. Many walks originate from the carpark, which was rammed. We did an hour or so, the Crows link,  with the dog, much to other walkers amusement.

It was low tide, a few sunbathers and fossickers

Carpark and usual icecream vans

Beach dog Belle on the small amount of sand, a stone beach

There was a white horse on a hillside we spotted at Litlington similar to the prehistoric Uffington White Horse. Litlington horse was crafted using 6 tons of chalk by four chaps in 1836. It is 93 feet long x 65 feet high and now maintained by volunteers from the National Trust. It makes quite a statement.

This morning we walked to Ditchling again for a coffee. The Green Welly cafe is beside the village roundabout (white circle in middle of four way village lanes). Always lots to see. The owner is very affable and has decent coffee.

Even the dog gets sonething!!

As we walk to the cafe we pass a very old house called Wing Place and happened upon the estate manager who told us the history. It had belonged to Anne of Cleeves, 4th wife of Henry V111, who kept her head. He gave her the house, in fact the whole block as a divorce settlement in 1540. Has been owned by various ever since, William Pitt, Duke of Wellington etc.

Cars somewhat detract...estate managers ute

 Does not seem to be a straight wall on the house, but is very much a family home now.

Today was gardens of note which we visited relatively nearby. First up was Leonardslee, 100 hectares of rhodos, camellia, trees, lakes and woodland. Great valIey setting giving plenty of aspect to show magnificent specimens at their best. We set off on a 5km loop with a small dog a willing accomplice. Planting began in about 1801 but really got some speed on from1889 with Edmund Loder. He was famous for hybridising rhododendrons, particularly Loderi. Huge creamy white scented flowers on large healthy plants. We had planted Loderi at Jefferswood. There were hundreds of these very old plants in amongst towering woodland trees. Must be amazing to see the 100 hectares in flower in amongst azaleas also. Sadly the grounds went to rack and ruin in 2010 after an " investor" purchased it. Saved by a South African weathly woman now brought back, with some serious hard work, to be enjoyed by the public.

Before and after photos are amazing, so much vision

There were many sculptures in the grounds, the original homestead now used for accommodation, a restaurant, yoga retreats etc

This was made from resin.

Edmund Loder's father had a smaller garden of about 50 hectares called High Beeches which we also visited, not as dynamic but still definitely worth a stroll about.