Dover Castle
20-22 March 2024
Back in 2020 we had a holiday based in New Romney and during that trip had an excellent tea at the Hythe Imperial hotel (in the garden due to covid) and promised ourselves a return visit as the place looked interesting plus there are a couple of restaurants in the area which deserve sampling.
A midweek special offer finally lands and gets booked for two nights including dinner on one night, which we have tonight (20 March) following our drive along the M3, M25 and M26.
The dinner is excellent and we are a little bit surprised as it is better than we expected. Additionally the food is served hot which means that even when reaching the end of each course it has not gone cold. Equally welcome the hot elements of breakfast are warmer in the repositories than normal. If they can do it why not everywhere else?
With the railway running season not yet having started our choices today are limited and we did the zoo last time so this time we are going to Dover Castle (21 March).
There are numerous elements but we restrict ourselves to the WWII tunnels which largely tell the story of Dunkirk and the vast troop numbers which the small ships managed to bring across the Channel. I just wonder how the influx of demoralised troops were able to reach their own regiments again. I suppose each regiment had a nominal base and ways were found.
Henry II Tower Dover Castle
I also visit the Henry II tower. Henry ruled much of Western France following his marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine. In his own right he held England, Normandy, Anjou, Maine and Touraine and on marriage added Aquitaine. He maintained control by regularly visiting those lands – so they were regular visitors to the Castle on journeys to and from the continent. Consequently having a suitably royal stopping place here was essential.
Hide and Fox Menu
Dinner this evening (21 March) is at the Hide and Fox which is holding a wine evening. The restaurant is a taxi ride out of Hythe to Saltwood – a small place up on the hill above Hythe. The food is excellent. Our chosen date was also a special wine evening and it is pleasing to see an obviously good restaurant full with all tables taken and appreciation for the team.
Moving on to Friday 22 March our return home commenced by a gentle journey to Bridge and the Bridge Arms for lunch. Another excellent meal – the team are also responsible for the Fordwich Arms at Fordwich which we visited back in 2020 and the place steadily fills up whilst we are eating.
The journey home is marred by serious traffic delays. The exit from the M2 to the A249 is closed with little warning. It is therefore not a surprise when the junction for the A229 is causing huge traffic delays. So we then head to the M25 and do well for a while – but once the M26 and M25 merge we are then in solid traffic with overhead displays requiring lower than normal speeds and yet there is nothing to justify the reduction. Inevitably the A3 junction roadworks cause even more delays, so a nice simply journey takes nearly an hour longer than planned. Typical of simply trying to get out and about these days.