Vanlife with Charlie

28/05/2024

Yesterday, we enjoyed a 13km, 3 hour ramble along the north coast of Norfolk.

Following the salt Marshes from Morston to the village of Stiffkey.

The marshes are located by the Blakeney Nature Reserve, their mud creeks flood and drain each day with the tide, and are filled with an abundance of wildfowl.

In Stiffkey, we visited the quaint church of St John and the grave of the Rev Harold Francis Davidson. Former vicar for the village who was removed from the church following regular meetings with working women, after which he joined the circus, but died after putting his head in a lion's mouth...🤔

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27/05/2024

We made it to Norfolk yesterday and went for an 11.5km wander through The Broads.

Starting with the impressive sand dunes at Horsey Gap and the enormous seal colony. There must have been 200 seals with their young laid out across the beach.

Then, through the fields and marshes to Horsey Windmill and Bograve Windmill, on the canals and waterways of the Broads.

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26/05/2024

A relaxing stop for the bank holiday at the sunny Suffolk seaside town of Southwold (bit of a tongue twister).

With its long stretch of beach, lined with colourful beach huts. It's a busy pier with amusements and a high street with its own lighthouse.

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25/05/2024

Continuing up the Suffolk coast yesterday, we stopped at the sea-side village of Orford.

Overlooked by the impressive 12th century Orford Castle, and bordered by the Gedgrave Marshes, the River Alde, and views across to the Orford Nature Reserve.

A beautiful coastal stroll.

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24/05/2024

Mike's next batch of sketches cover our journey along the southeast of England, from Hampshire, Sussex, London, and Suffolk.

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23/05/2024

Back on the road and our first stop was in Dedham Vale, located on the banks of the River Stour on the county border between Essex and Suffolk.

A 16km, 4 hour hike, we followed a lovely countryside path through neck high stinging nettles and ankle deep mud. 🙈😅

Then, through a beautiful meadow of curious ponies, over a railway track, and ending at Flatford Mill.

Here, on the River Stour, at W***y Lot's farmhouse, John Constable painted his famous Haywain painting in 1821.

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22/05/2024

We got to see some beautiful animals while on the farm over the last 2 weeks.

We had the Tawny Owl, Greylag & Canadian Geese, Fallow Deer, Grey Squirrels, Red Kites, and various insects.

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20/05/2024

We started the week off today with a 27km, 6 hour hike through the beautiful countryside of East Sussex.

Going from Forest Row, by the ruins of Bramble Tye House, to Weir Wood Reservoir, along to East Grinstead and back along the old railway track of Forest Way.

Absolutely wrecked now, but it was well worth it.

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15/05/2024

We headed off this morning on a 4 hour, 18km hike, deep into the heart of 100 Acre Wood... to Pooh Bridge and onto the delightful Pooh Corner Cafe in Hartfield, East Sussex.

Writer A.A. Milne lived here on the outskirts of the Ashdown Forest and set his Winnie the Pooh stories here.

A very enjoyable hike and a fabulous lunch out.

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14/05/2024

Mike's next batch of sketches cover our journey from Cornwall to Dorset.

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13/05/2024

This afternoon, we took a lovely stroll through the woodland that surrounds the farm.

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12/05/2024

Charlie sure is loving life on Ashdown farm.

He is having a wee break from all the hiking, as we spend a couple of weeks with family in Forest Row.

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10/05/2024

We spent a lovely couple or days parked up in the beautiful little village of East Dean on the South Downs (where apparently Sherlock Holmes retired).

Then yesterday we set off on a 20km - 6 hour hike.

Following a woodland path to West Dean, and then the meandering river through Cuckmere Haven. Along the awesome white cliffs of the Seven Sisters and then to the precarious houses of Birling Gap and a view over to Beachy Head from the Belle Tout Lightouse.

Ending our fantastic hike with a pint and bowl of chips, sat out in the sunny village green outside The Tiger Inn.

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08/05/2024

So we went up the hill to stay with Jack & Jill on the windmills of the South Downs.

This morning after the haze lifted, we enjoyed a 10.5km, 2 hour hike along the downs to Ditchling Beacon.

Mike having to usher two herds of cows out of the way, who seemed to congregate at every style.

Lambing season is also in full swing, and if we weren't surrounded by cow's, it was prancing leaping lambs. Poor Charlie was dying to play with the wee lambs.....👀🙈

A very enjoyable hike along England's greenest hills 💚.

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07/05/2024

The sheep certainly enjoyed the sunset this evening 💛

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07/05/2024

After this mornings hike, we had a lovely stroll around Arundel.

It's a beautiful medieval market town located on the South Downs.

Dominated by its towering castle and walls, which date back to the 11th century, and was largely restored in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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07/05/2024

Hike number 20 of our UK tour took us to the beautiful town of Arundel.

We followed a 15km walk for 3 and a half hours through the vast rolling green hills of Arundel Park, then through some overgrown ankle deep muddy footpaths, and finally along the banks of the stunning River Arun.

A very enjoyable morning hike was had.

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07/05/2024

Below is a recent interview we done on our Vanlife adventures with Charlie 💚

Introducing Charlie and his two dads, who tell us all about life with a reactive dog, getting to grips with the lifestyle and their best tra

05/05/2024

We had planned on a smaller hike today, but somehow, it ended up bigger than yesterday 🙈.

We hiked - 22km, 4.5 hours. We started off along the Wayfarer's Way, from White Hill to North Oakley, then onto Great Deane Wood, Malshanger Park, Hannington, and back to White Hill.

We crossed over some lovely bluebell filled woodlands, laneways, and farmlans, with plenty more hares, red kites, roe deer, and even a fox! 🦊

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04/05/2024

Today was an 18km, 4-hour hike that took us through the rolling green downs, farmlands, and woodlands of Hampshire's famous Watership Down.

Made famous by the 1970's book and animated movie of the same name - in which scary rabbits traumatised generations of children.

We enjoyed a lovely sunny morning strolling across the downs. Seeing plenty of wildlife, from boxing Hares, red kites, lapwings, kestrels, and a Kerry Blue Terrier 😉

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03/05/2024

Mike's first batch of sketches from our UK tour.

Here are sketches from Somerset and North Devon.

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02/05/2024

Yesterday, we arrived in the County of Hampshire and met up with Mike's folks to explore the historic city of Wi******er.

Our first stop was the Wi******er Town Mill on the River Itchen, which dates back to 1744, and its waterways are frequently visited by otters.

We then headed into Europe's longest Gothic Cathedral. Built in 1079, Wi******er Cathedral has an impressive and beautiful interior and is also the site where writer Jane Austen is buried.

Wi******er also boasts many fine second-hand bookshops, which meant Mike was very happy, and the motorhome is probably now overweight 😀

We can also highly recommend The Jolly Farmer pub in town, we've eaten there 2 nights in a row and absolutely loved it.

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01/05/2024

Yesterday, we did our final hike in Dorset, which took us along the Jurassic Coast. 16km in under 4 hours.

Starting in Worth Matravers, our first stop was to see a dinosaur! 👀

In the Keates Quarry can be found a hundred Brachiosaurus footprints... they were admittedly slightly underwhelming.

Across the fields, we reached the 'Dancing Ledge' at the cliffs, an absolutely beautiful place.

We then turned along the South West Coastal Trail. Which took us around St Alban's Head, up and down the exhausting steps of Emmetts Hill, to Chapman's Pool.

Another beautiful hike was completed.

Our next stop is Hampshire.

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29/04/2024

We've had a fabulous evening in the seaside town of Swanage.

The beachfront is absolutely stunning. It has crystal clear waters and lovely beach huts that run the full length of it.

It's a real beachside town, fish and chip shops, amusements, and it even has a steam train.

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29/04/2024

We headed off this morning on the beautiful South West Coastal Path around Dorset, a 16km hike in 4 hours.

Over the stunning Ballard Down and around to the famous Old Harry Rocks.

The chalk white cliffs, sea arches, and sea stacks were breathtaking. Absolutely beautiful weather also.

We then looped back along the headland overlooking Studland Bay, where we stopped off in The Bankes Arms for refreshments before making our way back across the downs to Swanage.

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27/04/2024

Another lovely day roaming the countryside.

We done a 4 hour, 18km hike around the hills, valleys, and woodlands of 'Hardy' Country.

Starting with writer Thomas Hardy's birthplace cottage - a beautiful thatch building built in 1800 by Hardy's great grandfather. Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) wrote some of his most famous novels here, including Far from the Madding Crowd.

We then set off through Puddletown Forest and back along Ridge Way - where we found a mother sheep on its back next to her lambs, and Mike hopped the fence and rolled her over.

Good deed done, we crossed country down to the village of Stinsford and St Michael's Church. Here is where Thomas Hardy's heart is buried, along with poet Cecil Day-Lewis (father of Irish actor, Daniel Day-Lewis).

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26/04/2024

We've now arrived in Dorset.

This morning, we headed off on a 4 hour, 16km walk along the beautiful valleys, woodlands, and fields that surround the rather 'excited' Cerna Abbas Giant.

This chalk figure in the hillside was first recorded in 1694 and measures 55 metres tall.

Maintenance was out this morning, giving him a trim, short back, and sides by the looks of it.

We ended the hike with a mighty pint in the Royal Oak Pub.

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24/04/2024

This evening, we had a quick visit to the town of Marazion, which looks out across to St Michael's Mount, a tidal island linked to the mainland by a causeway, which is accessible at low tide.

Linked with the larger island monastery of Mont-Saint-Michel, in Normandy France (which we visited in September 2023).

We also had a lovely catch-up with our aunt Jan and friends Sally and Anna.

That's the end of our week in Cornwall. We've had an absolutely fantastic time hiking this stunning coastline.

Tomorrow, we head off to east Dorset.

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24/04/2024

This afternoon, we did a wee 6km hike from Logan Rock to Porthcurno beach and up the cliffside steps to the Minack Open Air Theatre.

We are having a very relaxing day after a few big hikes the last few days.

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