UK Staycations: Exploring Dorset
A breathtaking view!
Durdle Door - Dorset
It feels like a lifetime since I was last on a plane and for those of us who like to travel, this quarantine has been bad vibes! These days booking a flight is risky, and I’m not just talking about the health risks…
Like many, I have had holidays cancelled and let me tell you for free that chasing refunds and contacting companies during this time is NOT FUN (I’m still waiting for a refund 🙃)… is there any point risking more cancelled flights and potential money loss?
So what’s a girl to do? When you’re stuck in the house (because, you know… quarantine) and you feel like you have nowhere to escape to, your best (low risk) option is to get out out of ends at the very least! The thing is, many abroad getaways are actually cheaper than staying in the UK (which is why we fly out in the first place), but though England can be pricy, there are deffo some must-see spots around the country.
I know what you’re thinking… but Liz, the weather isn’t as nice over here and I want sun and beach! I hear you, and yes, the weather can be unpredictable in this England, but there’s loads of locations and some gems worth trekking for (if you’re up for the trek that is). Better still, with many currently working from home, a staycation doesn’t even have to disrupt your working life, AND you’re more likely to gather a (small) group of people since you don’t HAVE to book off holiday which will mitigate the cost of travel and accommodation! Besides, if you’ve got a good internet connection, how will anyone know? *wink*
Staycation/steɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/noun INFORMAL
a holiday spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.
First day of hiking - Maiden Castle, Dorset
If lockdown has taught me anything, it’s that I’ve really neglected the country I call home. In a way, I have to thank COVID for forcing me to re-explore places out of London because there are some phenomenal views that I never got to (re-)appreciate until now.
Whilst vacations are on a pause for a minute, a staycation is a great alternative since it’s unlikely to be affected by travel restrictions (but still check before you go). I’ll be honest, I’ve been wanting to go on a staycation for a while, but every time I had annual leave booked off, a flight just made more sense! Also, it’s easier to travel solo abroad ( it’s less weird lol) so I never have to worry if someone is down to go or not if I want to fly out!
This year things changed! 2020 came along to fuck up some shidd and I decided that enough was enough. A couple of months into lockdown, life stresses, and all the other lockdown nonsense that came along with it, I realised that a break was overdue! One of my girls had recently moved to Dorset and I hadn’t been there in over a decade, so when she asked if I’d come down to visit, I said ab-so-lute-ly!
Usually, when I’ve been down to explore the UK, everyone seems interested but it never gets booked. Maybe it’s one of those things we think the older generation does because they’re not into flights as much. I’ve always associated staycations with parents and grandparents where children are dragged down to the countryside or seaside in a caravan stay or something to do some “bonding” lmaoo. I say that like it’s torture, but I have enjoyed the school trips and random family getaways in the past… you just need to find a way to make it different from being “home”.
I think staycations have become more appealing to my age mates because we can make it fun. Many of us drive so it’s easy to hire a car, book an Air B&B, relax, and chilll (extra points if you find a place with a cheeky hot tub) and it can be an absolute vibe! I don't know if it’s just us getting older, but sometimes you just want a mini-break to get some peace but not necessarily a long break away - especially if you’re a Londoner! I know we associate staycations with countrysides and beaches but for those who already live there, big cities such as London are also staycations (if ‘busy’ is your thing).
Just me in the fields looking for the Osmington White horse in Weymouth.
Dorset was the holiday I didn't know I needed. With a series of stressful months and a hectic week prior, I just needed to detox from the world so I switched off my phone, jumped off socials, and set off for the countryside. I do take social media breaks from time to time and it was refreshing not to post where I was or what I was doing.
The drive down to Dorset wasn’t too bad either! I guess it depends on what kind of driver you are, but as someone who used to drive regularly from Southampton to London on my own, the 3 hr drive wasn’t so bad and I had my podcasts, music, and Ted Talks to help me pass the time. Of course, if you travel with a group, try to go with multiple drivers so that you can rotate! Your driver friends need breaks too… or take motorway breaks.
Whilst in Dorset, I went on a few treks and trails in the countryside. Some were with my friend and some were solo because the weather wasn’t the best and I had to work around it! My friend told me about an app called AllTrails which was SUPER handy as it shows you local trails that people have done and it rates the trails easy, medium, or hard. Additionally, it gives you an estimated time which helps when picking out a trail and sometimes provides pictures too.
Who knew there was a whole community on there? The guide gives you detailed step by steps so that you can do this alone no problem. The other great thing about the app is that it uses popular routes, so if you did happen to walk alone, at least you have a higher chance of running into people if you need help. Personally, I wanted to be careful since I was walking on hills and random fields but it turns out the locals are super friendly and engaging (which is a nice contrast to us moody Londoners!).
Since it’s the countryside, expect a *few* surprises here and there. For example, when I did the Osmington White Horse trial, the field I was supposed to go through had a massive puddle from the rain the day before and I wasn’t wearing wellington boots. I planned to go via the next field but nearly had an altercation with a herd of cows ffs! Nah, deep it… I calmly entered a field and a whole load of cows started walking towards me!
This happened right at the start of the trail and I was ready to end it there and then because I wasn’t trying to fight them alone. I told them, “nope, you right, my bad, I’m out.. have a nice day.” Yes, I really spoke to cows… and we’ll pretend it’s normal because you would have done the same thing haha! Thankfully, there was another way to get there and I managed to complete the trail using the app. I initially thought the app was just for countrysides but when I got back to London it showed me trails and routes nearby!
Although the weather was a bit crap and my time was limited, I was starting to get into the lifestyle of walking more in open fields with nothing around me. As much as I am a social person, I do like some time to myself. In a world of instant posting and social documenting, we hardly ever enjoy the moment for what it is and live freely! Saying that, as much as I was detoxing from the world, it was nice to see that some people were missing my presence.
I extended my trip by a day since I lost a day to rain, did a quick (ok not so quick) detour to Southampton for a girls night, and I was determined to visit Durdle Door before I left because the countryside had given me peace. I think I just used the weather as an excuse because 3 nights went so quickly! My skin was behaving (I guess minding your business, drinking water and having less stress does wonders) and there were so many trails I could do. All good things come to an end and after a few “you can come back now” messages to remind me to snap back into reality, I decided to behave. I was honestly ready to rebrand as a farmer at this point…
Views from the top! Fields and fields (if you look closely to the left, you’ll see the heard of cows that tried to rush me!)
The Osmington White Horse - Weymouth
On my final day, I woke up superrr early as I wanted to catch the sunrise at Durdle Door and miss the rain. A quick google told me it was at 5.27 am that day but I was committed to trying. To cut a long story short, I missed the pretty pink sunrise because the car park was closed at that time, but eventually, I found somewhere to park. The area is well sign-posted and can follow the path around quite easily. Because it was still very early, there was no-one around which made it even better!
Although I didn’t reach the cliffs in time for the pink skies, I was in for another treat. As I walking up to the top, the sun LITERALLY ROSE BEHIND ME. As in, I FELT THE SUN RISE and heat against my neck. I sound a little too excited but honestly, that was a feeling and sight I will remember forever. I didn’t esperrid it and honestly couldn’t describe my sight other than “a slice of heaven on earth.” Since I was on my own, I had the privilege of taking it all in and appreciating the start of the day… literally. I’m so glad I caught it all on camera because when I say CRISP VIEWS! Even though I was airing the world, I was vlogging my trip for the memories so keep an eye out for that!
Disclaimer: I may have turned into David Attenborough out there with my appreciation for nature, but the footage is breathtaking.
Lastly, Dorset was a great mini-break and I enjoyed myself, rain and all. Going back to Durdle Door after 10 years made me appreciate England a lot more since I was too young to care when I had visited on a school trip. What was becoming more apparent to me was that you can always find peacefulness in nature no matter where you are and if you can find a place with fewer people (and more sheep and cows lol) the better. Without trying to sound geeky, sitting at Durdle Door and breathing in sync with the tide was euphoric and tranquil. 10/10 recommend.
10 things to note:
Depending on where you’re travelling from, you’ll likely be travelling for hours. It may be worth hiring a car since there isn’t a lot of transport and you don’t want to be stranded or rely on taxis. This applies to people with a car, as you may find yourself racking up mileage - especially if you do a few trips a year.
Book in a group. I was lucky to stay with a friend, otherwise I would have gone with a group and booked out a place. Since we’re still in England, things aren’t cheap, and as a lot of these locations are also world heritage sites, the prices may be higher. Be smart and split where you can!
Bring wellington boots and hiking shoes! Fields get muddy and can be slippery. It’s best to be comfortable and secure in your footing and the rain can be unpredictable (this is England after all). A raincoat and torch may also be helpful.
If possible, visit during sunny periods. I know this is limited, but we’ve had a few heatwave weeks over the last few years and it’ll feel more like a holiday. If this is the time you plan to go, expect it to be extra busy as others have the same idea. It’s worth setting off earlier and arriving at the beaches and locations before peak time to ensure parking!
There is limited parking in some landmarks such as Durdle Door. If you want to avoid the parking fee at Durdle Door or you get there before it opens like me (perhaps you want a good photograph or you want to catch the sunrise/sunset), there is parking at the bottom of the main road by the church (about 10 mins walk), but this is limited and will go quickly!
Plan your days before so that you can get the most of your trip! Use the AllTrails app to help you map and organise any excursions and have a good google beforehand. Some places are very near, but others can be a car ride away.
Speak to the locals. I found that they were very helpful and almost always had a smile. Sometimes it’s nice to engage with locals and find out where all the good spots are.
Be prepared to walk and explore! The countryside can get boring otherwise. Be open to new experiences and lifestyles and you will thank yourself later.
Make memories snd take pictures/videos. You don’t have to post them to the world, but they’ll be great to reflect on in the future!
Enjoy! Whether you are hiking alone, with friends, or simply having a spa retreat and relax, take in nature if you can… and don’t forget to live in the moment!
As always, I hope this blog has been helpful and I hope you manage to experience a staycation at some point. I believe it’s something we should be promoting more and since Miss Corona is making life even more complicated, it's certainly an option to consider. Talk to your friends, partner, family, etc, and see if they’re down for a trip! It can be planned or impromptu and you can either make it into a hiking trip or turn it into a relaxed cabin-type vibe.
Whatever you prefer, get yourself out of your area from time to time, and don’t let ‘no flights’ be your excuse to go nowhere! Ps. look out for my vlog!
Liz x
Happiness looks good on me