by Janis / 0 comments - Orginally published:31st December 2024
From the wells in Wells to the olive groves of Provence
As we say goodbye, au revoir, adios, auf wiedersehen and arrivederci to 2024, we can take a little sneaky glance back at our travel adventures for the year.
In 2024, we took delivery of our first EV, a Polestar 2; for us, this is quite a big leap of faith as we do love our road trips, especially popping across the English Channel to mainland Europe.
Our first adventure took us to a couple of delightful cities in the southwest of the UK, shortly followed by a cheeky visit to north Normandy, to dig a little deeper into the rich history of our neighbours.
Our brief visit to Northern France whetted our appetite, and our French EV escapade led to a two-week road trip through France, journeying from north to south and back again.
We extended our annual National Trust membership again in 2024. We visited some beautiful stately homes and gardens and are looking forward to seeking out more in 2025.
Why not Pin it for later?
In 2024, we continued to revamp and refresh the website, updated, and reviewed older posts and regularly shared content on our YouTube channel.
So, here’s a little peek at our 2024.
Exploring our corner of the UK
A treat in the southeastAs I mentioned, Gary and I live in the southeast of the UK, specifically Kent. We love heading off for days out and visiting the charming towns and villages that lie on our doorstep. It’s always lovely to discover hamlets and villages that we have not stumbled upon before, but equally I really enjoy returning to old haunts.
Looking across the bay
This is our 4th post on scenic villages and towns to be found in Kent; it’s amazing how many there are to be discovered. In our latest Kent post, we dip our toes into the nostalgic seaside towns of Margate and Broadstairs; who doesn’t like fish and chips by the seaside?
Timber fronted houses in The Street, Chilham
We then start to head inland to Chilham, an extremely picturesque hilltop village full of timber-framed listed buildings and used on numerous occasions as a filming location.
It’s then a little further south and we arrive at the quaint village of Biddenden and then a short hop to Tenterden. Tenterden is full of so much character, particularly along the historic High Street and amongst the heritage locomotives at the nostalgic Kent and East Sussex Railway.
Final preparations at Tenterden
Continuing our voyage of discovery heading northeast in Kent, we stop at the charming village of Ightham and then on to the National Trust property Ightham Mote. Ightham Mote is an enchanting moted medieval timber-framed manor house, built during the 14th century.
The George and Dragon, Ightham
Our final two lovely locations to visit in this post are Farningham, a peaceful white weatherboarded village which is just a stone’s throw from the M25 and West Malling. West Malling is a small market town with some fascinating and quirky facts amongst its streets.
Outside the Landgate at Rye
Another fascinating jaunt we did this year was a circular road trip from Rye in East Sussex. There were so many incredible places to see along the way, and full of so much rich history.
The entire road trip loop was around 55 miles (88km). Once we’d explored the cobbled streets of Rye and visited Lamb House, we headed to Rye Harbour and then onto the sleepy hilltop town of Winchelsea, which is an absolute treat to discover.
The entrance to Bodiam Castle
Our next stop was to the enchanting, moated ruins of Bodiam Castle, which is managed by the National Trust. A short hop from here, we arrive at the picturesque village of Robertsbridge, which is awash with beautiful country cottages and flourishing gardens.
Our next location is Bateman's once the family home of Rudyard Kipling. This Jacobean manor is also managed by the National Trust and is a delight to visit. When you head into Kipling’s study, it almost feels like he has popped out for a brief moment, a bin in full of paper and a typewriter poised for another chapter.
Which way now?
Before completing the loop back to Rye, we stop off at the delightful town of Burwash, just near Bateman's. Then, we briefly dip our toes into the county of Kent and stroll around Hawkhurst, this small town was notorious during the 1700s for smuggling when the Hawkhurst Gang were at their height.
Where to stay in Rye
Mermaid Inn
If you fancy spending the night in a 12th-century historic inn with ghosts whispering along the corridors, then the Mermaid Inn is a must. Spooky goings-on and smugglers.
The Hope Anchor
This 18th-century former inn has beautiful individually styled rooms full of character. Relax by the fire and enjoy stunning views across Rye and beyond.
If you're intrigued by Kent's weird and wonderful history, or all unusual stories around the county, then take a peek at "Kent's Strangest Tales".
You won't be able to put it down, you can pick it up for your Kindle or in good old paperback.
Our journeys overseas
It’s all about our French neighboursAs mentioned above, we’ve ventured into the ever-evolving world of Electric Vehicles, and it was time to take our new EV on a voyage under the English Channel via Le Shuttle.
Our Polestar 2 on charge at Falaise
We were heading off to revisit the beautiful region of Normandy, more specifically, the north of Normandy. There were a couple of reasons why we chose Normandy. The first was to visit the relatively new British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer. The second was to check out the EV charging infrastructure prior to our larger French road trip adventure in September.
A statue to the courageous
During our Normandy trip, we based ourselves in Bayeux for 2 nights to explore the charming city of Bayeux and visit the British Normandy Memorial. As it was the 80th anniversary of D-Day, there was also a very touching art installation on display named “Standing with Giants”.
We love visiting France and each region so different from one another. I find the DK Eyewitness Guides really helpful in planning a trip and so often find interesting little snippets of info.
Take a peek at this revised Top 10 Pocket Travel Guide and see what you can discover.
For the second two nights of our Normandy road trip, we stayed in the seaside town of Cabourg. Cabourg has sweeping sandy beaches, a romantic promenade awash with Belle Epoque villas, a waterfront Grand Hotel and a Casino that will take you back to the golden age of 1900s gambling.
Jardin du Casino, Cabourg
Just a short hop across the River Dives is the small ancient town of Dives-sur-Mer. We discovered that not only was this the harbour where William the Conqueror departed from before arriving in England to defeat us Brits in the Battle of Hastings, but it also has a historic quarter named 'Village of William the Conqueror'.
Where to stay in Normandy
Hôtel d'Argouges
This charming 18th-century hotel is full of character and just a short stroll to the beating heart of Bayeux. Hôtel d'Argouges has many traditional features and a charming, peaceful garden in which to relax after a long day exploring the city.
Plenty of onsite parking is available and complimentary.
Kyriad Prestige Residence & Spa Cabourg-Dives-sur-Mer
This peaceful hotel is located on the edge of Dives-sur-Mer and just a short stroll to its historic centre and the beach resort of Cabourg. Its rooms are modern and has welcoming, friendly staff.
Onsite secure parking is available and complimentary.
As our Normandy road trip was so successful, and the EV infrastructure in France was so good that it paved the way for another road trip adventure through this magnificent country. However, this time, we were weaving our way down east to the South of France and then touring back north through western France.
The Rocher de la Baume in Sisteron, France
We dusted off our Back Roads France guidebook and plotted a route from Calais. We headed east down through Burgundy, south to the Mediterranean coast, onto Provence, then southwest to Albi and Bergerac. We then toured north through France, passing through the Loire, up to Poitiers, Le Mans, and back to Calais.
Take a peek at our inspiration for this French road trip.
A quiet Eygalières in Provence
We stayed at 10 different locations around France and explored so many more other towns and villages en route. During our French circular road trip, we covered 2,282 miles or 3,672km. We chose a mixture of accommodations. Some had on-site EV charging facilities, which was helpful, although it wasn’t difficult to seek out rapid EV destination chargers as we went.
Here are the towns we chose to stay at overnight. Heading east across France and then touring southwards, we stopped at Provins, Île-de-France and then Semur-en-Auxios in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. It was then south to Sisteron, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and onto Antibes on the Mediterranean coast.
The Musée Toulouse-Lautrec in Albi
Our next stop was to one of our favourite places in France, Saint-Remy-de-Provence. It was such a pleasure staying here, and three nights wasn’t enough. Heading further west, we explored Sète for one night and then onto the historic city of Albi, both of which are in Occitania.
It was time to start touring further north, and we stayed at Bergerac and then Poitiers, both in Nouvelle-Aquitainne. Our last location prior to heading home was to Le Mans in Pays de la Loire.
There are so many incredible places to discover in France, so many regions, and I love planning road trips. I often use the DK Guides,
I find them extremely informative, easy to follow and the pictures and maps tempt you into searching for more
National Trust Days Out
The Arts & Crafts to Henry James2024 was the fourth year that Gary and I renewed our National Trust annual membership. We have visited so many beautiful homes and gardens over the last few years, and there are still so many more we want to see around the UK.
I feel that more mini-breaks in the UK will be on the horizon.
Stourhead House Gardens
Our first visit to a National Trust site in 2024 was to Stourhead House in Wiltshire. This stunning 18th century Palladian-style house is beautiful and has many a tale to tell. However, it’s the exquisite, landscaped gardens to which Stourhead is famed for.
The grand gardens at Stourhead, are magnificent; as you wend your way around the vast lake, you can visit the circular Temple of Apollo, the majestic Pantheon, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome and discover the mystical grottos. It’s such a delightful place to visit.
Mompesson House
During our visit to Salisbury this year, we visited the National Trust site of Mompesson House, which overlooks the Choristers Square in the heart of Salisbury’s Cathedral Close.
Mompesson House was built in 1701 and is a lovely example of a Queen Anne house. Many families have left their stylish mark within this attractive home, and the house was even used in the film Sense and Sensibility.
Ensure you take a stroll around the tranquil walled garden.
Mottisfont gardens
Our third visit was to Mottisfont House and Garden in Hampshire. This lovely house has witnessed many transformations over the last eight centuries. Mottisfont House, now managed by the National Trust, has been lovingly maintained in the style of a 1930s neo-classical home to reflect the life of its last owner, the society hostess Maud Russell.
The colourful walled garden was such a pleasure to stroll around, particularly amongst the lavender-lined pathways. The kitchen garden is a new arrival at Mottisfont, as it has since been rediscovered and restored. Raised beds have been added and are full of vegetables and herbs, including many medicinal varieties.
Twinkling Entrance Hall, Bateman’s
A couple of years ago, we visited Chartwell House at Christmas, and it was such a wonderful experience. You were transported back to a period when Winston Churchill and his family celebrated the festive times.
So, this year, we decided to visit another family home, and this time, it was to Bateman's in East Sussex, the former home of Rudyard Kipling.
To celebrate the 130th anniversary of one of Rudyard’s most famous novels, the Christmas theme at Bateman's was the captivating story of the man-cub ‘Mowgli’ and his journey through the deep forests of India in the 1894 book, ’The Jungle Book’.
Map, guides and more
Whether you’re planning a road trip, plotting a hiking route or cycling one of UK’s scenic trails, there’s nothing quite like using a tactile paper map.
The Ordnance Survey folk are here to help, with maps, guides, gadgets and more. Take a browse through their vast array of maps and grab your ideal companion for your adventure.
Alternatively, why not purchase and download the OS Maps App, which covers all of Great Britain.
Our YouTube Videos
A taster of near and farDuring 2024, we continued to create regular YouTube content from our travels throughout the year, including further adventures from our three-week Spanish road trip. We also added a visit to the British Normandy Memorial in Normandy and the twinkling cities of Trier and Koblenz in Germany, which we explored last Christmas.
In the UK, we produced a few videos from our trips to historical National Trust sites, our circular Rye road trip tour, and the beautiful city of Wells with many adventures in between.
Grab yourself a cup of coffee and follow along with us.
Escape for a few days
Are you in search of a tranquil hideaway to relax and unwind in, while you discover the beautiful British countryside?
Browse through the handpicked properties and unique retreats at Holiday Cottages.
A mini-break to Wells and Salisbury
Unearthing more local history
Wells, Market Place
Wells was our first stop, and we fell in love with England’s smallest city immediately; it is such an enchanting place to explore. Wells is a perfect location to visit throughout all seasons of the year, and for fans of the movie Hot Fuzz, it is a must-visit. The historic centre has comical references to the film throughout; you’ll be quoting many of the famous one-liners from the film.
“No luck catching them killers then?”
Wells has an abundance of ancient history in such a small area, firstly there’s the breath-taking Cathedral and the surrounding Cathedral Close, you must seek out Vicars’ Close, it is incredible. This 15th century lane is Europe’s oldest purely residential street, with its original buildings intact. There are 27 residences, all Grade I listed buildings.
Gatehouse and Bishop’s Palace
Wells’s Market Place is so picturesque and stunning to see day and night. The medieval and moated Bishop’s Palace and Gardens are just nearby, set within 14 acres of stunning scenery. The palace’s construction began in 1210 adjacent to Wells Cathedral; the chapel and Great Hall were added towards the end of the 13th century.
The west front of Salisbury Cathedral
Our next location in the southwest of the UK was the charming city of Salisbury. Salisbury is a delightful city to visit throughout the year. It is a pleasure to explore, especially around Cathedral Close and Choristers Square. It really feels like you’ve wandered onto an English period drama film set.
Choristers Square
Salisbury Cathedral stands so majestic within the perfectly manicured Cathedral Close. It’s hard to comprehend that this beautiful cathedral was built in just 38 years, from 1220 to 1258. The tranquil cloisters were added in 1240, the chapter house followed in 1263, and the magnificent tower and spire were erected by 1330.
Don’t miss viewing the Magna Carta, the ‘Great Charter’ housed in the Chapter House. The Magna Carta was written on 15th June 1215, and Salisbury Cathedral holds one of only four original surviving documents.
I highly recommend a stay in both of these delightful cities.
Where to stay Wells & Salisbury
The Swan Hotel
This charming 15th-century coaching inn is in the beating heart of Wells. It has plenty of character and friendly staff.
Onsite parking is available and complimentary; we have a large EV and were able to charge it overnight for free.
Mercure Salisbury White Hart Hotel
This elegant Georgian hotel is in the historic centre of Salisbury. Its rooms are modern, quiet and had welcoming, friendly staff.
Private parking is available, and the daily charge is very reasonable.
So that's it for 2024
And we welcome in 20252024 has been a delightful year; our escapades have been less adventurous than some previous years and have mainly been within the UK and France. We’ve discovered some stunning locations, met some fascinating people, and sampled some incredible food.
Who knows what adventures 2025 will bring, but let’s all stay safe and have fun.
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