Dougal's Dog Blog. Entry 19: Daleacres, Hythe, Kent
This is another one of the Human that I Own's favourite sites. After the Great Henley Debacle of April, I wasn't holding my breath.
I have to say though, I was pleasantly surprised. I always like it when the wardens are so welcoming. They told us that the pub that is 10 minutes walk away, the Botolphs Bridge Inn, is dog friendly. I was hoping to go there but the Human refused on the grounds that the caravan fridge was already bursting with food that he wasn't going to allow to go to waste. Instead we checked out the 'Eating Out Recommendations' book in the information room, and the pub had received mixed reviews from members. Some people loved it, others were ambivalent. Reading between the lines (how does he DO that?) the Human reckoned that people who went when it was busy didn't receive the great service that was offered at quieter times.
Nearby (a drive though, not a walk) there are plenty of beaches to roam. The good news is that I was allowed on almost all of them, and between Hythe and Sandgate (near the Imperial Hotel) it's free to park along the road right next to the beach. The bad news is that it's pebbles, pebbles, and more pebbles, which doesn't suit my little paws so well. The nearest sandy beach is Camber Sands which is over half an hour's drive away, and has expensive parking and dog restrictions. Humph.
What about the dog walk on site?
We really liked it. It's a nice spacious field with plenty of room to play ball. But what's lovely about it is that the wardens have allowed the grass to grow, then cut paths through it and around it in a criss-cross pattern so you can make the most of the walk. This was in July. I don't know about other periods.
Best of all was Sunday morning. Practically all the dogs on site met up at the doggie field to have a great run around together, leaving those humans to stand and jabber away to each other as they often do.
For quieter times there are benches at the side of the field for humans to sit and enjoy the views across the Romney Marsh while us pooches go off investigating.
All in all a lovely site, with a pub within walking distance. Only small downside is that you need to drive or cycle to get anywhere else, but cycling is fine as of course the Romney Marsh is flat.
Total Bone Rating? Four out of five.
Comments
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Many woofy thanks from Skye & Iona. Like the sound of the doggie field on a Sunday. We are in the Lakes at the moment and have been petted, fussed and even had our photos taken by a human stranger who made lovely cooing noises at us. The lady at the nice cafe in Grasmere even had a lovely dog biscuit bone each for us - Iona being the biggest decided she would try and eat her sister's too, that did not last long though. Look forward to the next instalment. Love Skye & Iona
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Barney agreed with your review but wanted me to point out that there is also a great walk along the Military Canal which is only five minutes further on from the pub. Then its either a 2 mile walk to Hythe (then 2 back of course) or a three mile walk back
to the site following the path between the canal and the zoo. I pointed out the giraffes to him but he wasn't that interested.0 -
I'm surprised that Dougal didn't ask his Human to take him for a walk to investigate the loud whistle every half hour or so, and chuffing like the steam train he'd seen at home on Wild Westerns, together with the accompanying smell of burning coal. Why can't
Humans smell such things quarter of a mile away? He may even have seen the half-size steam trains en route to the site, carrying tourists to Dungeness and the disused lighthouse with public viewing platform.0 -
Sorry to diagree with Dougal but no need to go all the way to Camber for sand. If his human had turned right for Dymchurch rather than left for Hythe he woulsd have found more sandy beaches than he knew what to do with. They stretch from Pirate Springs all
the way to Dungeness which is several miles. Check tides first though as you might find yourself walking along the sea wall at high tide.0 -
Thanks for all the updates folks. I could smell those little trains and hear the whistles, but grumpy-pants didn't have the time to take me on one. Had we done so, he may have remembered about the sandy beaches to the other side of Dymchurch. Although, as
you rightly say Tordog, it's best to go to those at low tide. At last Camber Sands are there at high tide too, although are far far busier than Littlestone et al.And Bob... this is what we read about the pub. Some people seem to like it, others don't. We WILL have to go and check it for ourselves one day as it really does seem to be a little 'hit or miss'.
If anyone else has more details, please add them! The more doggy opinions there are, the better for everydog.
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