Whilst I am a self confessed workaholic, I must admit that one of the best feelings has to be setting your out of office. As soon as you hit that button, you know it's time for some serious relaxation. This is exactly what I did last Thursday in preparation for my long weekend down in Dorset.
With an Instagram feed which is currently jam packed full of beautiful Mediterranean destinations, I might have been forgiven for feeling a bit underwhelmed about my staycation right here in the good old UK.
However, apart from the usual fears over the ever unpredictable British weather, I couldn't think of a better place to head for some fresh air and a bit of time away from the hustle and bustle of normal life.
The thing is, for me it doesn't really matter where I'm going. The only thing I'm interested in is getting away from it all with lashings of fresh air and big open spaces.
Luckily this kind of thing can be found in abundance across the British isles, all of which can be accessed easily and (relatively) cheaply via public transport or car.
I think the idea of having a "staycation" has become increasingly popular over the last few years, especially among people, like me, who want to get away, but don't have a massive budget. I'm also of the opinion that Britain has some of the most beautiful outdoor spaces in the world, especially in our coastal regions and national parks.
So all the way down to Dorset we went, in search of relaxation and recuperation.
We ended up staying at the lovely Eypes Mouth Hotel, which is located just outside of Bridport and ideally situated about 5 minutes walk away from the beach. This quaint little country hotel definitely fit the bill, especially as the food was superb, including the all important breakfast. (I seriously think this is the most important metric to judge a hotel by!)
Alongside lots of eating and drinking, the main focus of our trip was to get outside and enjoy walking along the famous Jurassic coast.
We actually didn't really spend a penny on any kind of planned activity, as we simply looked on a trusty OS map for places/points of interest and then set our course in their direction.
This strategy took us to beautiful beaches with fossil filled shorelines, prehistoric monuments and the top of mighty cliff faces.
Some people might be turning their noses up at this kind of agenda, but I can say with absolute honesty that it was THE most fun I have had in a very long time. Engaging with something completely opposite to my usual daily routine of computer screens and phone calls was immensely satisfying and extremely relaxing.
It also helped that the weather remained uncharacteristically gorgeous, which meant that we could really make extended forays into the countryside, with picnics at the ready.
The best and most beautiful things in life are certainly free, but you might have to walk a bit to experience them!
Charmouth Beach
Fossils at Charmouth
Kingston Russell Stone Circle.
Sunset over the shoreline
I also made a short video from some of the footage I short during our stay, check it out below!
A guide to holidays on the Isles of Scilly, featuring Tresco, Bryher, St Martins, St Agnes and St Mary’s.