Leeds Castle to Dover

 

Another adventure on the highways and by ways and byways of England. We rented a car for the weekend and headed east. More highway construction and traffic making the direct route impossible, so a lot of redirection and back roads to get to east. 

The black swam is the coat of arms for Leeds castle which was a fairly recent addition. The last owner brought some black swans from Australia and they are in the moat. The castle has been around in all sizes shapes and reconfiguration throughout the centuries. What makes this a little different is that it is surrounded by a lake type moat. The grounds are far ranging and we saw birds of prey demonstration.

Leeds Castle

Boots and Kirk enjoying the falconry show.

Dover

Then it was off to find the cliffs of dover.  Now you would think they would stand out but not being on the water they are a little tricky. We left Leeds a little late and the sun was heading down. Dover is not much of a tourist sight as you approach the line of semis it endless waiting outside the city to board and travel across the channel. Fortunately we were not in that cue. As you approach the city you descend a long hill and then the side profile of the cliffs come in to view. And they are bigger than life. 

On Top of the Cliffs of Dover

So then we wind our way up to the top and progressively get on smaller and smaller tracks until one lady final stopped us and told us we were on a walking trail. Funniest thing walking trails and English country side roads do not have much of a difference. 

We were on the top by the light house and hiked the ridge of the cliffs. You could see out over the channel forever. The sun was setting so we hurried back to the car, not a place you want to be in the dark, the cliffs have a sever drop. 

Next time we will come earlier and take a ferry ride to see the cliffs properly from the water.