Blue Heaven

Hastings and Burwash

Hastings hasn’t changed much in the many years since we’ve been there. Trying hard to up its game but many rough areas n rough sleepers.

The pier has been refurbished. Its proportions seem a bit odd for a conventional pier but will lend itself to open air concerts et al on finr days. There was an interesting display of knitted object d’art attached to its railings. It also closed quite early.

 

 

The old town and fishing quarter is still quite unique with a good assortment of eateries. Had a great Turkish meze and wine at Isabellas.


 

Spent a day at Batemans, near Bodiam twix Hastins and Tonbridge, last home of the Kipling (Rudyard not the cake maker :) family. The C17th house is just as they left it and contains all the paraphernalia of everyday life.

 

There are three major circular walks across the extended estate which we covered. Across fields, through blueball woods and the picturesque village of Burwash. Burwash contains the parish church with its plaque to John Kipling their only son. He was killed in September 1915 at the Battle of Loos during the WW 1, nearly six weeks after his eighteenth birthday.

Blagdon

After a swift home sleep over it was off to Blagdon in Somerset. We had a pressie of a wine tasting in the area and decided to make a couple of days of it, explore the area. Staed in a lovely converted mezzanine bungalow at the picturesque Butcombe Farm on the side of Blagdon Lake (really a reservoir).

 

Again copious walks through bluebell carpeted woods, over rolling fields and through old mine workings and quarries on the hills above Cheddar Gorge.

 







 











 

Aldwick Court Vineyard has been a family business for five generations now with over 11 acres of vines making it the largest vineyard in Somerset. Really interesting tour, friendly and informative guide and, of course, the wine tasting :) 

Returning to a choice of fine local hostelries and amazing beer gardens.