Tag Archives: UK

Brockwell Park, London

Posted on March 17, 2015 by rsmalley | Comments Off

A couple of weeks ago we wanted to go to West Norwood cemetery in South London. When we got there we realised it was a No Dogs cemetery. So instead we found a local park nearby – Brockwell. Nice park and great cafe. Yet the weather was rubbish and it started to rain and Matt tore a muscle running round with CC. Then it took twice as long to drive home through south London. So won’t be doing that again. Next time Greenwich Park will be fine.

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

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Posted in Walks

Tagged leisure, London, UK, urban

Dunorlan Park, Kent

Posted on February 15, 2015 by rsmalley | Comments Off

This park is very popular with dog owners and families with small children. We read complaints re the number of dogs off lead and excess dog poo. There were more dogs off lead than we normally see but it wasn’t a problem for us. And re the poo – of course the minute we get out of the car Couscous does the sloppiest poo she has done in a long time so I made a real effort with newspaper and water to clean it all up. We went after lunch so perhaps would try a morning next time (less children??). Easy to walk around and lots of interesting paths. Birds, lake, cafe and all that. I liked it and Couscous got into the spirit of it after a few hellos from other walkers (very important for her).

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

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Posted in Walks

Tagged leisure, London, UK, urban

Wrotham, Kent

Posted on January 18, 2015 by rsmalley | Comments Off

We went to look at some fence posts that are at a side entrance to the church (a thirteenth century church believed to be the first one dedicated to St George in this country). To me they look as though they may have been used in a prehistoric stone circle at one time and moved into position. I didn’t go into the church although I usually do so may go back. We walked around the back of the village and round to the quaint high street.

OK after wet weather – yes
Parking fee – no
Toilets – yes/pub
Café – yes/pub

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Posted in Walks

Tagged heritage, leisure, UK, village

Rochester, Kent, cemetery

Posted on January 17, 2015 by rsmalley | Comments Off

Had a quick walk around this cemetery but as dogs were not allowed we’ll probably not go back. There has been an effort to clear the graves in this cemetery and in doing so it seems to have lost something of its atmosphere, although there are patches that remain. There are large grassy areas (great for dogs to run around on; there were a couple of other dogs on a walk while we were there). I don’t get why some cemeteries (like the one up the road from us) don’t allow dogs.

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Posted in Walks

Tagged cemetery, leisure, UK, urban

Christmas 2014 (inc. Hadleigh Castle and Teston bridge)

Posted on December 28, 2014 by rsmalley | Comments Off

We went out four days in a row, to new and familiar places. Here are a couple of photos from the festive period, in which Couscous shows off her new (green) and older (pink) jackets.

New blanket for Christmas

Hadleigh Castle – a ruin that is easily accessed. There appears to be a few walks nearby the property which we hope to investigate another time.

OK after wet weather – no

Parking fee – no

Toilets – no

Café – no

Xmas Day Hadleigh Castle

Chartwell again on Boxing Day

Teston Bridge Country Park – There is a path along the river that goes into Maidstone which would be worth a try in warmer/better weather (the river was swollen when we went). There is a huge field of grass with picnic tables so good for families and you are allowed to BBQ (byo).

OK after wet weather – yes

Parking fee – yes

Toilets – yes

Café – maybe?

Teston Bridge lock (day after Boxing Day)

Medieval Teston Bridge (day after Boxing Day)

St Margaret's near Teston (day after Boxing Day)

Swalecliffe coastline (day after the day after Boxing Day)

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Posted in Walks

Tagged beach, heritage, leisure, rural, UK

St Mary’s Island / Chatham Docks, Kent

Posted on November 10, 2014 by rsmalley | Comments Off

We returned to the Island again this morning. We walked round to the left and Couscous chased the boats on the Medway River. The drawbridge was down so we went across to Chatham Docks and had a coffee. There are some new restaurants since we were last here (years ago we came to see a movie and the area depressed me so we never returned). It seems to have changed for the better.

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

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Posted in Walks

Tagged heritage, leisure, UK, urban

Haysden Country Park, Kent, again

Posted on November 2, 2014 by rsmalley | Comments Off

Yesterday we went back to Haysden Country Park, only we missed the turn off and ended up parking by the other lake. This lake is actually Haysden Water while the main park is Barden Lake. Haysden had two problems – muddy and near the freeway so Couscous wanted to chase the cars and kept straining on her lead. So we walked a little way round and decided to go to the main park where it wasn’t muddy. Of course that is near a train line and Couscous wanted to chase the train, but by then she was tired so it wasn’t such a problem. Couscous had a lot of exercise on this trip.

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Posted in Walks

Tagged leisure, UK, urban

Victoria Park, London

Posted on October 27, 2014 by rsmalley | Comments Off

We went into London to pick up my loom and on the way home stopped off at Victoria Park – London’s oldest purpose built, public park. A lovely autumn day. You can park in any of the side streets.

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

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Posted in Walks

Tagged leisure, London, UK, urban

Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Posted on October 12, 2014 by rsmalley | Comments Off

Today we drove to Tunbridge Wells. First we visited Woodbury Park Cemetery, established in the mid 1800s. It’s a lovely Victorian cemetery, quite small, which is well kept. Lady Brisbane’s tomb is here – a cousin of the eponym for Brisbane, Australia. You park in the neighbouring streets for this walk. We then drove round to Calverley Ground (parked in a multi-storey car park across the road from one of the entrances). This park is formal and has a café and toilets. So together they make a good outing for walking Couscous.

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

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Posted in Walks

Tagged cemetery, leisure, UK, urban

Drop Redoubt Fortress, Kent

Posted on September 14, 2014 by rsmalley | Comments Off

The Fortress, at Dover, can be walked around easily (once you enter through a small tunnel which you need to crouch to get through). The inner complex is open only one? weekend a year. Nearby is the Grand Shaft Staircase (also only opened once? a year) which enabled soldiers to get from the fortress to the port easily. An amazing structure with two cylinders encompassing three staircases. Dover Castle isn’t far and there are other heritages sites in the area.