Day 9 Fri 5/5/17
A bit of a slower start to the day after the few beers last night. After breakfast we headed to Ightham Mote the National Trust property at which we had previously had an abortive picnic and outdoor theatre experience. The house was fascinating and the guides were especially good.
After lunch in the café at Igttham we went to Chartwell, another National Trust property, which was the home of Winston Churchill. The house and grounds were very attractive and the whole experience was enhanced by the “presence” of Winston in everything, even down to the miniature real house which he built for his daughter Mary and the metres of brick wall that he built with his own hands.
Day 8 Thurs 4/5/17
We departed Hilary and Jim about 9:30 and hit the motorway on the way to Kent. Weather was rather overcast, northerly wind and a bit chilly so we drove the whole way with the top up.
We arrived at Paul and Bev’s just after 11:15 with the GPS taking us right to the door. Great to see them again. After a quick lunch we headed to Nizels for a game of golf. Paul played well, Kay and I struggled, so Paul and Bev won the Ringit Trophy.
Back home we freshened up and then walked to the Castle Inn in Chiddingstone for a few beers and dinner.
98 miles Chandlers Ford to Chiddingstone. Total 894 miles.
Day 7 Wed 3/5/17
We are all National Trust members so we went to Mottisfont, a really great property near Romsey. After coffee on arrival we walked through the gardens before exploring the house. The exhibitions in the house were fascinating with much focus on Maud Russell’s wartime diaries which have just been published. The Whistler room was also impressive with some very fine trompe d’oeil. Chandler’s Ford for lunch, picking up beam deflectors and breathalysers on the way.
We explored Winchester in the pm ending up at the Whickham pub for a refreshment. Jim and Howard also managed an couple of frames of snooker.
Day 6 Tues 2/5/17 We left Falmouth about 9:30 and headed for West Bay where the series Broadchurch was filmed, top down all the way. West Bay is on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and the cliffs are truly spectacular. Lunch at Rachel’s, a little seafood shack near the harbour. It was highly recommended on Tripadvisor and it did not disappoint. Back in the car and top down again we headed on to Hampshire, driving through the New Forest, and arriving at Hilary and Jim just after 4PM. 211 miles Falmouth to Chandlers Ford. Total 796 miles
A bit of a slower start to the day after the few beers last night. After breakfast we headed to Ightham Mote the National Trust property at which we had previously had an abortive picnic and outdoor theatre experience. The house was fascinating and the guides were especially good.
Day 8 Thurs 4/5/17
We departed Hilary and Jim about 9:30 and hit the motorway on the way to Kent. Weather was rather overcast, northerly wind and a bit chilly so we drove the whole way with the top up.
We arrived at Paul and Bev’s just after 11:15 with the GPS taking us right to the door. Great to see them again. After a quick lunch we headed to Nizels for a game of golf. Paul played well, Kay and I struggled, so Paul and Bev won the Ringit Trophy.
Back home we freshened up and then walked to the Castle Inn in Chiddingstone for a few beers and dinner.
98 miles Chandlers Ford to Chiddingstone. Total 894 miles.
Day 6 Tues 2/5/17 We left Falmouth about 9:30 and headed for West Bay where the series Broadchurch was filmed, top down all the way. West Bay is on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and the cliffs are truly spectacular. Lunch at Rachel’s, a little seafood shack near the harbour. It was highly recommended on Tripadvisor and it did not disappoint. Back in the car and top down again we headed on to Hampshire, driving through the New Forest, and arriving at Hilary and Jim just after 4PM. 211 miles Falmouth to Chandlers Ford. Total 796 miles
