It takes about 3.5 hours to get to Dover, which is on the southeast coast. Two hours to London, 30 minutes to switch trains, an hour to Dover. We left at about 7:15 am and arrived by 11.
We stayed at the Best Western, which is right on the water. The building is Victorian and looks like the kind of place you can imagine people in elaborate hats escaping to at the seaside to wear too much clothing and recover from tuberculosis.
We arrived, dropped off our packs and headed to the cliffs.
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| Path to the cliffs |
It was 1.5 miles to the National Trust visitor center. Beautiful views, gorgeous day. The sun was so sneaky we didn't realize we'd been sunburned until we got back to the hotel at the end of the day.
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| I couldn't get enough of it. |
It was really lovely to see the water (we think we could see France!) and expansive views. I hadn't realized how boxed in I felt in Nottingham until we planned this trip. Seattle has really spoiled me for panoramas; I miss them so much! But now I have a job (money!) and our stuff has arrived, so we have our hiking gear. I'm hoping to take a lot more short trips to see what we can see.
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| These Public Foot Path signs were all along the path. I like how they look like little tombstones. |
After we got some water at the visitor center, we continued on another 1.5 miles to the Fan Bay Deep Shelter to do the tour. These tunnels were built in 1940 for World War II and contained bunk beds, a hospital, store rooms and bathrooms.
It was quite a good tour. (£10 for adults, free for National Trust members, which we are, thanks Grandma!) It lasted about 45 minutes and tickets are first come, first served.
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| Inside the tunnels - literally inside the white, chalky cliffs - strips of flint are compressed. |
After the tour we walked another half mile and got to the lighthouse. We got some ice cream and borrowed a kite. Lyle flew it while I took a nap on the grass.
The next day was castle day. Dover Castle was built mainly in the 1100s by Henry II.
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| Castle on the hill |
It was also used during WWII as an air-raid shelter and then later as a military command centre and underground hospital.
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| View from the top of the Great Tower |
We also happened to be there on the celebration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day, so we were treated to a full on reenactment with pyrotechnics.
A full day to spend at the castle was about right, and two days in Dover was too. There were a few more things we could have done, but I felt satisfied with what we accomplished.
It was an excellent trip and a great way to spend our tenth wedding anniversary. Thanks to Mom and Dad for bankrolling the getaway. Until the next one!
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