Author Archives: rsmalley

Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest, Kent

The National Pinetum is a botanical garden/collection of conifers and sits on the largest site in the world for such a collection. There are  over 12,000 trees and shrubs (including 1,800 different species) from across five continents, many of them rare and endangered.  It is very popular with cyclists but the Pinetum path does not allow bikes so is good for dogs, although as usual some families think their kids are excluded from such rules! There are grassy hilly areas where we let CC off the lead and she bounced around in the grass. You don’t have to walk up the hills as the main path is generally flat and wide to allow wheelchairs. It was a beautiful day when we went and lots of shady areas and places to have a picnic. The parking fee is a little steep for only a couple of people so we won’t visit to often but I’d like to see it in winter.

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  • OK after wet weather – yes
  • Parking fee – £9.50
  • Toilets – yes
  • Café – yes
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    Manor Park Country Park, Kent, again

    We have been here before but not for some time. One of the fields was covered in buttercups which Couscous loved running through. Across the road from the park is St Leonard’s Tower and here are a couple of photos of that:

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    Dachshund cloned

    The first dog cloned is a dachshund – of course! Click here for details.

    Tilbury Fort, Essex

    We finally got across the river to visit Tilbury Fort. (Maybe next time we’ll take the ferry.) It’s described as one of the finest surviving 17th century forts in England. It’s an English Heritage site and dogs are allowed. The staff fussed over Couscous and she loved the grassy lawns so it was a success. There are good views of the surrounding marsh lands.

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  • OK after wet weather – yes
  • Parking fee – no
  • Toilets – yes
  • Café – yes
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    Otford, Kent

    We visited this village a couple of weeks ago. The town has a duck pond in the centre of the roundabout, in the centre of the village. They have a model of the solar system in the main rec field (free parking by the field) but we only came across Jupiter – a football match was on so we didn’t bother looking on the other side of the field. There are the remains of a palatial residence that once rivalled Hampton Court and there is nice walk from the church to the train station.

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  • OK after wet weather – yes
  • Parking fee – no
  • Toilets – yes
  • Café/Pub – yes
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    Post bath

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    Herne Bay, Kent

    We’ve done this area before, although last time when we parked at Hampton pier we went the other direction. Today we walked towards Herne Bay.

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    Kelvedeon Hatch nuclear bunker, Essex

    This is a nuclear bunker in Essex –Secret Nuclear Bunker. I emailed the owners and they kindly let us bring CC in. She whined a little at times but seemed to enjoy the smells. Very interesting stuff. Although the bunker was decommissioned in the early 1990s the feel is more 1970s or earlier – the digital equipment was removed at the end and most of what is on show is telephonic systems etc of an earlier time. There is no tour, you just take a hand held guide and walk yourself around. There is a café at the end and when no-one is there it is an honour system entry fee (£7 an adult). Also on the property are quad bike hire for kids, zip wire and paint ball type activities for children.

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  • OK after wet weather – yes
  • Parking fee – no
  • Toilets – yes
  • Café – yes
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    Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park, Kent

    Today we went to the Oare Gunpowder Works Country Park near Faversham. Gunpowder was manufactured here for several centuries and the site is now valuable for wildlife. There are marked trails through woods, mill ponds and remains of industrial works with information boards explaining the site. A little muddy but pretty good considering the rain we’d had recently. Couscous loved it.

    oare-map

  • OK after wet weather – yes
  • Parking fee – no
  • Toilets – yes (not winter)
  • Café – yes (not winter)
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    Famous owners

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    Andy Warhol by Jack Mitchell.