Water on the rocks....

A quick walking post, mainly because it was raining so there aren't many photos. Nothing torrential, but, certainly persistent. Lots of water in the air and on the ground with a side order of mud all round!

This is one of the drier paths!

Another South East meet this one took in some of the rock formations to be found down South. I know, rocks to go climbing on isn't what I think of when it comes to the Kent/Sussex border either, but, it seems there are...

We met up in Aytton's Wood by Groombridge Village and walked through the village to Groombridge Place. Beautiful old building that would be worthy of many photos on a drier day. From here we followed that paths that run (roughly) parallel to the River Grom and the Spa Valley Railway until we ended up at High Rocks.

From here it was into Broadwater Woods and then RSPB Broadwater Warren where we sheltered as best we could for a spot of lunch before walking on through the Nature Reserve to Eridge Rocks.

Eridge Rocks

From here it was across the fields and down to Harrison's Rocks where we again picked up the Spa Valley Railway which we followed back to the carpark. A lovely little walk with friends which certainly got rid of any cobwebs. Must go back on a sunnier day though...

Deal to Dover

Sunday saw me pull my walking boots on again for the first time in a while in order to meet up with some friends and walk from Deal to Dover. A lovely coastal walk over the famous "White Cliffs".

After an inauspicious start (it chucked it down as I arrived at Dover Station) we all met up and got the train to Deal. Whilst it wasn't exactly sunny it had at least stopped raining. It also soon warmed up as we got walking meaning that the waterproofs could be taken off and stowed in the bag. It stayed fairly overcast all the way with the occasional spot of drizzle, but, never enough to require the waterproofs again.

Photos below run in order from Deal. In essence though...a great walk over a historic landscape. The defenses in places date back to the 12th Century (Dover Castle). But, if you think that is old the White Cliffs themselves date back even further...These chalk cliffs rise to ~110m in places. That chalk is thought to form at the rate of 1cm every 100,000 years. Do the maths and that is 1,100,000,000 years to form the cliffs. They are also eroding at the rate of 1-2cm per year due to the waves (and occasionally a large chuck comes down!).

Enjoy the photos.

Deal Pier

Fishing boats in Deal

Deal Castle

Walmer Life Boat Station

Walmer Castle

Walmer Coast

Lonely beach hut

Looking back from the first ascent (near Kingsdown)

Clouds over the fields

Memorial to the Dover Patrol
Dover war memorial project - Obelisk

Looking down to St Margaret's Bay

St Margaret's Bay

The way ahead from St Margaret's Bay

View back from the South Foreland

South Foreland Lighthouse
National Trust - South Foreland Lighthouse

Ferry - anyone would think there was a port nearby...

Dover Port and it's finally sunny!

Hmmm, did I say sunny...

Dover Castle