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A Vow to Explore the UK

A Vow to Explore the UK

Posted on: Sunday 14 May 2017

scenic view of the English countryside through an old fashioned window

I'm writing this post fresh from a long weekend in Dorset, an area of the country that I'd never previously explored. Despite being a hen weekend, it was the most relaxed I've felt in a long time. There was something about the fresh country air, quaint farmhouse cottage we stayed in and the breathtaking views that made me breathe a hypothetical sigh of relief and chill out. 

It made me really appreciate this little island of ours. We're forever looking for new places to explore and travel to, but when breaks abroad are so cheap and accessible we often overlook the country we already live in. 

When I was younger our family holidays tended to be in the UK rather than abroad, which means I've always thought of myself as being quite well-travelled within this country, when in reality there's so much more to see. It's funny how the UK is really quite small yet seems so big when I list all the places I'd still like to visit.

I'm always making a travel wish list of places I want to visit abroad, but I never add UK destinations to the list. I think I've neglected thinking about them partly because I have been under the impression that I was quite well travelled within the UK and partly because it's very easy to get swept away with FOMO simply when scrolling through Instagram and seeing what seems like everyone but you on an exotic holiday.

I know a lot of people think it's not worth staying in the UK when you can sometimes get a holiday abroad for the same price and I've even used that excuse myself, but UK breaks can be much less hassle and therefore much less stressful - you don't need to think about the exchange rate, you don't need to try and speed teach yourself a different language and you don't need to worry about missing a flight. I also think some places in the UK are worth the price of a holiday - just because you haven't flown somewhere doesn't mean you're not going to have a nice time.

Saying that, I also think you can make a UK break as cheap or as expensive as suits you. Booking trains or buses in advance can save a lot of money and if you're not bothered about having a luxury hotel there are Travelodges and Premier Inns up and down the country. Personally I've camped a fair few times, which really does save you money and can be fun if you're with the right people and at a nice campsite. I realise that's not to everyone's taste though! 

large garden overlooking miles of green fields

Two-storey brick cottage with a thatch roof, green wooden door and green picket fence

Pink flower buds almost blooming

woman looking out of steamed up window with cup of tea in hands

So this is my vow to explore more of the UK, not just dreamy countryside retreats like Dorset, but also busy city breaks to the countless ones I'm yet to visit. When you think about it, the UK actually has a lot to offer (despite the questionable weather) - you can spend a holiday nestled in a countryside cottage, hiking up a mountain or shopping and visiting galleries in a city. There's something for everyone and actually, I'd quite like to do it all!

Do you like UK breaks?

Amy x

P.S. If you want to see more of my weekend in Dorset I've popped a video on my YouTube channel - it's the first in a new series called 'A Day In The Life'. I'm basically starting YouTube afresh with a better idea of what I want to create and what I enjoy making so head on over there if you fancy a watch (I'll love you forever if you do!) Link here.

Comments

  1. Loved reading this, such a good ideas as you say a lot of people just go abroad! I'd love to visit places round the uk more, where's top on your list?

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    1. If you're looking for recommendations I'd 100% say go to Cornwall, it's the most beautiful place I've ever been! I'd love to explore Devon next which I've never been to xx

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  2. I'm not allowed to travel as my pregnancy is high risk but we want to do a mini break in the uk even if it's for just few days.

    There's so many good places to pick I don't know where to start!


    Tania || www.taniaalexandraribeiro.com
    xxxx

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    1. Yeah you probably don't even have to go that far and there'll be somewhere gorgeous to explore! xx

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  3. Lovely post! I am trying to travel around the UK a little bit more too! Great post!

    Steph xx

    Steph’s World | Lifestyle Blog | www.stephsworld.com

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    1. Thanks Steph, so underrated I think isn't it! xx

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  4. A lovely vow! I totally agree that UK breaks/staycations can be totally magical, especially as you can make them as low or high key as you feel like. You make a great point too about how sometimes you don't need to fly abroad to have a good time :)

    Gabrielle | A Glass Of Ice | Worldwide NARS Beauty Giveaway x

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    1. Yeah definitely, I always feel like UK breaks are more on my own terms! Your staycations always look so dreamy! xx

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  5. Absolutely love posts like this. Such a breathe of fresh air. Amy, your photos are absolutely incredible as well! I'm definitely vowing to explore the UK more too! I always say how we have so many hidden corners in the country that many will never see. I would like to see it all! xx

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    1. I'd love to say I'd visited everywhere in the UK! Thanks Debra :) xx

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  6. I've lived in the UK for 3 years and love exploring new cities! It's a pitty train tickets are usually so expensive when I try to go further than 2 hours away! x

    G

    www.teawithgi.com

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    1. I know, I count myself lucky that I can drive places otherwise I'd be much more limited with train prices! xx

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  7. The UK countryside is breathtaking indeed! I think I'm more partial to the countryside than city breaks but like you, I'd like to try it all anyway. Such wonderful pictures x

    www.wildfirecharm.com

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    1. I think because I tend to do city breaks abroad it's always nice to have a more rural retreat in the UK, but I can't resist exploring cities too! xx

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  8. What beautiful pictures Amy, I really like visiting Dorset and the south coast. I'm definitely planning to explore the rest of the UK more too, I want to do a road trip around the north coast of Scotland next year!
    Have a lovely day :)
    Rosanna x
    Rose's Rooftop

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    1. Ah that sounds lovely, I'd love to do that - my friend recently did and the views just look stunning there xx

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  9. I've travelled all around the world but never really explored the UK! It's ridiculous when you think about it because there's so many amazing places right on our doorstep. Even living in London I find myself getting annoyed with how slow the tourists walk and then I realise that they are walking slow because they're taking pictures of buildings that I've barely even noticed! xxxx

    www.badhairandbackpacks.co.uk

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    1. Haha yeah I totally get that! It's definitely worth exploring more of the UK for sure :) xx

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  10. That looks like my kind of great! The location is stunning and I can see how you felt relaxed there. Gemma x
    www.jacquardflower.uk

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    1. It was so stunning and the most relaxed I've felt in a long time! xx

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  11. Dorset looks absolutely beautiful! I'm so glad to hear that you had such a tranquil and relaxing time, sounds like my perfect hen party if I'm honest!! I also really want to explore more of the UK, it's such a shame that I've explored so few of the places that are right on my doorstep! Sure, you might not get the sunny weather and heat of a beach holiday abroad, but I'm sure you can have an equally lovely time on a stay-cation!

    Abbey 💖 www.abbeylouisarose.co.uk

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    1. Haha I'm glad it's not just me that prefers a quiet one! It was so perfect! xx

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  12. Yessss to this Amy - I've also been thinking along similar lines recently, there are so many UK destinations I'd love to visit and usually I am the first to say 'oh well we could go abroad for the same price' but that means I'm neglecting all the lovely places right here on our doorstep! That cottage is so gorgeous, looks so serene and like such a great little break :)
    Sophie xxx | Sophar So Good

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    1. Yeah definitely and I think if you're thrifty about it it can be done for cheaper than abroad - so many places I want to go! xx

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  13. YES YES YES to this lady! I vowed the same thing to myself this year; it's so easy to jet off and explore fancy destinations when we forget the beauty on our very doorsteps! I visited Somerset the other weekend and it was so beautiful and peaceful - my family have decided we're going to make it a yearly thing as we had SO much fun! I'm also heading to Cornwall next month for the first time and I can't wait to explore!

    Hayley xo
    www.frockmeimfamous.com

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    1. Aw babe you will adore Cornwall, it's the most beautiful place! xx

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  14. Oh your pictures are gorgeous! And exploring the UK sounds like a great idea. The worlds so big and we all want to explore as much as possible, but it definitely can lead to us forgetting about whats on our own doorstep. I've made it a goal to try and explore more of Northern Ireland over the next year, so many places I've never actually visited.

    Lauren | Lauren the Daydreamer

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    1. Thanks so much lovely! I've been loving your local posts - such a great idea and nice thing to do. I've never been to Northern Ireland so that needs to go on my list for sure! xx

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  15. It looks so beautiful there. When I was younger, the UK was my top travel destination. I wanted to see all the places like this. I think it’s a great plan you’ve made, to explore more of it there. That photo of the fields is so pretty!

    TFM BLOG

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    1. Thank you so much, it was so gorgeous here and I can't wait to explore more! xx

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  16. Love this! For the past few years I've been wanting to travel about England but never seemed to get round to it as jetting off to somewhere in Europe seemed more "holiday-esque." BUT this July I'm finally getting to explore the Lake District, Leeds and Manchester. It doesn't feel particularly exotic but I'm so excited about it as I haven't seen a great deal of England outside London (I'm from Belfast)!

    www.kaityhall.com

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    1. Aw you'll have a lovely time I'm sure! Leeds is a great city and the Lake District is gorgeous, hope you have a great time! xx

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  17. I've always wanted to explore the UK, it's been on my wishlist for some time but the train tickets are putting me off. I keep thinking with the price of a ticket to get to somewhere like the Lake District, I could get to Spain haha xx
    tipscapsule.blogspot.com

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    1. Yeah trains are expensive! I tend to drive places to avoid train costs! xx

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  18. Great post Amy! I love visiting places around the UK. I love visiting Cornwall especially. Thanks for sharing :)

    xox

    www.imogenrose.co.uk

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    1. Cornwall is gorgeous isn't it! Can't wait to explore more places! xx

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  19. For various reasons, I haven't been abroad in almost 15 years but we have had a few really nice holidays in the UK. I think sometimes people get so wrapped up in travelling the world that they forget to appreciate the beauty of our own country. I've certainly got a list as long as my arm of places I'd love to visit. I think this is a great post and your trip to Dorset looked stunning.

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    1. It was so lovely! And the UK is totally underrated as a holiday destination! xx

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  20. I love UK breaks here too! I live in Bath, so you should definitely visit here if you want to, it's a fantastic city! I love going to St. Ives though, it's SO pretty!

    Raindrops of Sapphire

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    1. Ah I'm so jealous you live in Bath, I love it there! I really want to visit there again later in the year! xx

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  21. Great post! I'm a city girl, barely every venturing anywhere outside of London, but some time in the future I would love to see more of the UK. I feel like there is so much to see, we rarely ever think to travel within the country!

    www.lovefrommaira.co.uk

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    1. I know and it's such a shame cause there's so much to see and do! xx

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  22. I've actually only been abroad once and that was on a school trip to Poland! My parents always holiday in this country so I've always been a fan and been many places; definitely have a list of places that I have yet to visit! I want to try a few more places in the Midlands and further down south (I've only been to London and Cornwall). I love city breaks now live outside of Hull but nothing beats a week in the country!

    Sian x
    www.theenglisheverygirl.com

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    1. Aw that's so nice you holidayed around the UK so much! We used to do the same mainly although we often went back to the same places that we loved! xx

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  23. I love visiting new places in the Uk but I much prefer leaving the Uk as theres so much more culture x

    Kayleigh Zara
    Www.kayleighzaraa.com

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    1. That's true although I suppose it depends what you're looking for in a holiday! xx

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  24. I'm the biggest fan of holidaying in the UK, my parents always took us away to a different part of the UK every year and I didn't go on a plane until I was 19! I think I've probably explored almost every part. If you'd like some recommendations I'll obviously say Newcastle first but then Norwich, York, Edinburgh, Chester, Bath and Stratford upon Avon are some of my other favourite places.

    Chloe
    newgirlintoon.co.uk

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    1. That's so great that you've explored so much! I'd love to explore Stratford upon Avon - I've been once but so long ago! Norwich is somewhere I've not really ventured either apart from for the day once! xx

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  25. I love UK holidays, I really want to get round a bit more. I love Dorset and spent a lot of time there growing up and this cottage looks stunning!! I am really not one for camping so I take my hat off to you haha xxxxxx

    lucylovesbeautyxo.com

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    1. Haha I'm not a hardcore camper, I don't have a gas stove or anything so I'm a bit of a cheater really!
      Amy xx
      www.callmeamy.co.uk

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