Author Archives: rsmalley

TV for dogs

DogTV cable channel launched in US to keep canines busy

A cable channel has been launched in the US that aims to keep dogs occupied when their owners are away.
DogTV is an eight-hour on-demand service that helps keep canines entertained, stimulated and relaxed, say its creators. Specially created music and muted colours were used to produce the programming, along with low and long shots aimed to replicate how dogs view the world…

Darnley Mausolem, Cobham, Kent

I have decided to add another dimension to the blog and write little blurbs on good places to take Couscous for a walk. I will start with where we went today – the Cobham Mausolem. It was recently restored and then acquired by the National Trust. It was designed by James Wyatt for the Darnley family in the late 18th century but never used for burials.

Photos of the mausoleum pre, post and during restoration can be found here.

More historical detail can be found here.

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cobham-mausoleum-walk-15-apr-12-4-comp

It’s easy to find. Drive along Lodge Lane and just before the bend is a carpark. The path starts by the thatched house and you walk straight until you get to it.

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

cob-mausolem-map

Lower Higham marshes & Reculver, Kent

After breakfast we went out to the Lower Higham marshes for a 5 km walk and after lunch we drove to Reculver for a stroll along the ruins and the sea. Couscous handled the horses and cattle on the marshes without much fuss.

Higham marsh horses

Higham marsh horses

Start of a Higham marsh public footpath

Start of a Higham marsh public footpath

Reculver

Reculver

The UN assembly populated by dachshunds

Dachshund UN art installation by Bennett Miller

Dachshund UN art installation by Bennett Miller (Fierce Festival, Birmingham 2012)

Smallest dog is a dachshund

World’s smallest dog

smalldog

Coldrum Stones, Kent

About 3-4 miles. Park at the George Inn at Trotiscliffe. Walk left out of the car park until you get to Green Lane. Walk to the end of Green lane and along the bridleway on the right of a house. Turn left and walk along the edge of the field. Keep going through the field until you come to a couple of gates and the walk across a lane into Trosley Park. Walk right and head diagonally up the chalk scarp. At the top, through the gate and turn left. Soon after, go right up some broad stairs. Here you hit the North Downs Way (Red Walk). Turn right and keep on the Way. Eventually you bend left and come to a green gate and another lane. Turn right, continuing on the Way and down the hill, until you get to some houses. On your right you’ll see the sign to Coldrum Longbarrow. Head to the Stones. Just before you get to them you’ll see a path to the right. After visiting the Barrow come back to this path. Follow it to the Heritage car park and then across a field to the church. At the church go right by the renovated barn and through the garage courtyard to a field. Follow the path back to Green Lane and the George Inn.

For a shorter walk just go past the first field and right along Pilgrim’s Way (skip Trosley Park) or even shorter, to the Longbarrow from the pub or from the Heritage carpark.

Trotiscliffe walk

Trotiscliffe walk

North Downs Way

North Downs Way

Coldrum Stones view

Coldrum Stones view

  • OK after wet weather – not all
  • Parking fee – no
  • Toilets – at pub
  • Café & Pub – yes

coldrum-map

More dogs in politics

Minister Greg Barker takes small dog into meeting on cushion

(Not a picture of a dachshund though – sloppy journalism.)

Feeding dog from afar

Feeding dog from afar.

February 2012

Catching a little bit of sunshine

Catching a little bit of sunshine

Dog with a vote

Latvians reject Russian official language.

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