Paddy and Plunkett’s tour of the southeast of England continues! Today they’re down by the famous White Cliffs of Dover, which are shining brightly in the sunshine. In fact, Plunkett seems to be quite dazzled by them!
While they were here, the boys decided to have a look around Samphire Hoe Country Park. It’s a relatively new attraction in these parts – when work on the Channel Tunnel began in the 1980s, this area was given the (questionable) honour of being the dumping ground for all the chalk they dug out of the sea bed. The soil was used to reclaim 30 hectares of land from the sea, and a wall was built offshore to create an artificial lagoon. Then Mother Nature was left to recolonise the park as she saw fit!
There are a variety of different habitats to explore, and the lads even met a sunbathing adder on their travels – unfortunately they just weren’t quick enough with the camera to get a picture!
Then in the afternoon, it was time for something completely different!
Oooh, look at that lovely old train! But all is not as it seems…
Welcome to New Romney station, on the Romney, Hythe and Dimchurch heritage railway line – home of Britain’s largest model railway! Even Paddy and Plunkett felt like giants among these miniature landscapes!
They especially liked this part – well, who wouldn’t want to enjoy a monster day out for all the family?
But what really got Paddy’s attention was waiting just outside – real trains, scaled down to one third their usual size! Perfect for a little woolly monster… Let’s just hope Plunkett managed to stop him from taking one for a test drive!
We’ll be back on Tuesday with more monster antics! In the meantime, have a super weekend… and please get in touch immediately if a small green monster in an Aran sweater careens past you in what looks like a stolen miniature train!
Such a cute way to photograph your travels.
Aaah, I wish these were my travels! Paddy and Plunkett travel solo, and then make me jealous with their holiday snaps 😆 Thanks for stopping by!
Ah. I see.
LOL no careening trains around here …..well not yet least-ways
Ha! At least part of the UK is safe… Thanks for your vigilance!
Teeny trains?! I see a potential career move for Paddy & Plunkett as teeny train engineers. Although a job might cut into their sightseeing time.
Yes, these two seem remarkably adept at avoiding gainful employment and remaining on holiday indefinitely. I reckon Paddy could be convinced to settle down if he was offered the right driving job though…
Now I get the hint with the stolen vehicle … haha! I really like trains and train museums so I totally understand their excitement about this trip. Maybe you should make them a train … or two? 🙂
Now THERE’S a challenge! I’ve never tried my hand at vehicles before… Hmmm… 😀
What I would like to know is…..with all the soot of the steam trains, how did Paddy keep his jumper so clean?
You know, I never considered that! I hope he wasn’t taking it off between photos and tearing around the place half-naked… Mind you, if one of them was going to be doing that, it would probably be Paddy!
I didn’t know about Samphire Hoe – as an ecologist, I’d love to visit to see the natural vegetation colonisation.
No sign of beasties on trains in west Wales… but then Dr Beeching did for our railway connection decades ago and, despite a very active campaign to have it restored, we are still without rails (although the sign for the station is still there… now at the entrance to Jewsons)
Yes, from what I’ve heard there should be plenty there to keep you entertained… Natural colonisation in progress, plus 3 different watery environments (salt, brackish and fresh)! As for Dr Beeching’s handiwork, is there no chance it might be overturned in the future? In Dublin, the old tram systems were dug up to make way for cars and buses years ago… And now we’re putting them all back in again 😆 Anyway, I’m sure Paddy wouldn’t let a little thing like “no rail infrastructure” get in the way of paying you a visit!
He would be most welcome in mid-Wales… just let me know if he and Plunket ever fancy a holiday!
Oooh! Most generous… I’m sure they’d love to spend a day hanging out with your Vaarks in the Limery! 😀
What an amazing model train and countryside. An interesting history!
Thanks! I really enjoyed the boys’ photos of the miniature landscapes at the model railway too 😀