Across The English Channel

 

Wednesday 9th September 

What a contrast to yesterday, blue skies and sunshine to wake up to today.

We took another walk around Cowdray Castle ruins this morning before setting off towards Newhaven ferry port.

I selected a route to take us along the coast as much as possible and through Brighton.
The town didn't impress, admittedly I only saw it from the promenade road but it looked a bit of a scruffy hole.

I stopped for a walk and a brew on the other side of the town in a place called Ovingdean, which didn't impress much either.
Still it was ok for a walk along the front, take in a bit of sea air and the views of the white cliffs this coast is famous for.

Next it was onto Sainsburys in Newhaven for last minute supplies.

We were still sitting on the Quay 15 minutes before our due departure time but the guys did a great job getting everyone loaded and we set off at exactly at on 4pm departure time.
I always feel so relieved when I've checked in and not made a monumental screw up by turning up on the wrong day or time.
It's also a relief to get Louis through with all the complications with pet passports and Animal Health Certificates, which have become a nightmare of their own this year.

My mind then went to the poor folk at UK airports yesterday sitting on the plane for four hours and in packed departure lounges, unable to do anything whilst their travel plans of holidays, meeting family and missing connection flights became the reality nobody wants to be part of.
It must be awful for them but I'm so grateful to not be part of that madness.

So the ferry was uneventful, when we arrive in Dieppe, I'll drive 20 minutes up the coast to a place where I've stayed before at Belleville Sur Mer.

A free parkup next to the local leisure center and with great views of the English Channel for the morning.

Photos to follow when dodgy Internet sorted 

Midhurst West Sussex

 

Tuesday 8th September 2026

It's been a bit of a disappointing morning today, glorious sunshine yesterday evening for our evening walk around Shenfield on Loddon, but today's been a different story.

It started raining early this morning and it's not relented all day.

The weather apps said it would dry up by 1100, it didn't, then it would dry up by 1.00, it didn't.

3pm before the rain cleared off and the sun came out.

So my planned visit to The Vyne NT site didn't happen, instead I headed across the South Downs National Park to Midhurst West Sussex which sits on the River Rother.

It's a small market town with lots of history, castle ruins and other interesting buildings.

So I'll hope to get out and explore once the rain lets up.

We eventually had a walk around the town and it's an interesting place with some castle ruins nearby called Cowdray Castle and estate.

Cowdray Castle from a distance

From their website - The Cowdray Heritage Ruins are one of England’s most important early Tudor houses and Cowdray is known to have been visited by both King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. 

In September 1793, whilst undergoing repairs and refurbishments for the impending marriage of the 8th Viscount Montague, a devastating fire took hold and most of the property was destroyed. 

The Kitchen Tower is the only part of the mansion to remain intact.

The entrance to the walled garden, a sign says closed for a private event !

I tried to sneek a peek but it didnt show much lol

River Rother

The ruins appears to be closed to the public now except the walled garden and tea rooms.
I think they're carrying out safety work to the structure of the ruins.

So having a walk around the town and the castle ruins in the sun was a nice end to the day which didn't seem likely this morning.