Using up the last of 2005's holiday meant another castle trip was in order - this time to Dover. I'd last attempted this in November, but the opening hours had just changed and they'd been shut - this time I had the foresight to check the English Heritage website to make sure they were open.

Entrance fee was £9, and a very informative guide book was available for £4. There was a lot to see, ranging from a Roman lighthouse and Saxon church to the main feature of Henry II's Keep. Almost all of the site was preserved as it orignally had been, so there was a real sense of history - but there were the first signs of catering-for-kiddies in the Keep, with a couple of interactive displays being brought in.

Outside was the Battlements Walk, which ran around the perimeter of the site, and included a good selection of cannons and WW2 artillery. This also gave the opportunity to drop down into the Medieval Tunnels halfway round - which was very atmospheric.

The other major attraction was the Secret Wartime Tunnels - with an hour-long guided tour of the tunnels built into the chalk cliff face. It was well-presented with mock-ups of the infirmary and WW2 control rooms, a couple of short films and a brief walk through the older Napolean tunnels towards the end. Well worth going to as it's included in the admission charge.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable day, and well-recommended.

In and around the buildings

Battlements Walk