every year we leave london and head to the norfolk coast. it’s a bit like a reset button, leaving the old year behind and welcoming the new year with a clear head and a belly full of food. in all the years that we have been coming to norfolk we have never actually been to sandringham. we had heard it was really quite pretty and the open spaces around good for walk but never been. at this time of year the house isn’t open, i hear they have guests, but the woodland and trails around it are. so we wrapped up warm and went for a little wander, well a 5k wander it turns out. here’s a few snaps taken along the way.
and then we found father christmas
has anyone seen father christmas?
chislehurst caves
the caves at chislehurst aren’t actually real caves they are completely man-made. they cover an incredible 22 miles and are up to, at points, 30 meters below the homes and woodlands above.
in 1903, william nichols the vice president of the british archaeological association, produced a theory that the caves had been built firstly by the druids, then the romans and finally the saxons. the three separate parts of the caves were then given these names and tour guides now point out druid altars and roman features, however this is mainly speculation as the earliest mention of the caves in 1250 is that of mines which were dug for chalk, lime and flint.
scotney castle
two for the price of one is exactly what you get when you go to see scotney castle. the old medieval moated castle, built by roger ashburnham sits on an island and dates way back to 1378 and the new castle, more english country house, designed by anthony salvin and built between 1835 and 1843. the two castles are nestled in picturesque gardens in the valley of the river bewl in lamberhurst kent. it is full of rhododendrons, azaleas and kalmia in the spring time and wisteria and roses in the summer.