HEY, HEY!
Not so many holidays to write about this year, I wonder why!?!
To make up for the lack of blogs this year, I have written a round up of all the adventures I managed to do during this crazy global pandemic. 2020 will be the first year ever, or certainly in a long time, that I have not escaped the UK.
We all love to get away and visit other cities/countries to explore and soak up the sunshine, but this year COVID-19 has put a stop to that. Majority of us are likely to have had a year of staying home and would have postponed holidays, in the hope we can go next year. Some of you may have been lucky enough to jump on a plane this year between all the travel corridor changes and lifting of restrictions. Whatever the circumstance is for you this year, it's clear to say that COVID-19 has made things very different.
That being said, I think the restrictions on international travel have been a blessing in disguise.
Having restrictions and holiday quarantines in place has forced me to adventure to places I wouldn’t have thought about going to before in the UK.
So, if you want to see what I got up to (whilst adhering to local restrictions and guidelines) and you’re looking for places to go in the South of London and along the South coast, this is the list for you. It’s a bit lengthy I'm sorry, but be sure to save it, make a note of things or even print it ready for adventures in 2021…amongst all those flights you'll be trying to catch!
SURREY:
Epsom Downs Racecourse:
Epsom Downs Racecourse is a free racecourse that is open for the public to enjoy. The racecourse hosts a variety of races and events throughout the year and on the first weekend in June every year it hosts The Investec Derby Festival. This festival was held 'behind closed doors' this year due to COVID-19, but usually would run as a public event in the centre of the racecourse, with a fairground, music stands and markets. The Grandstand and Queenstand would be ticket access only for this event and would normally welcome the Queen each year.
Opposite the main Grandstand and racecourse is a viewpoint that looks out across London, where you can see landmarks like The Shard and Wembley Stadium. This viewpoint is a car park, along with many others located around the racecourse, all are free.
This year I visited the racecourse for many dog walks, socially distanced picnics and to sit and watch the sunset.
Reigate Hill and Colley Hill:
This place has been on my doorstep for years, yet I had never ventured to it until this year (thanks to my boyfriend for taking me). It has some great views across the Surrey Hills and Reigate. A short walk from Reigate Hill car park is Reigate Fort, left to mark the history of Reigate Hill, where they used to store tools and ammunition incase of an attack on London. Further along from the Fort is a memorial of a B17 bomber plane crash, where the gap in the trees still exists from the crash landing. The next point along after the memorial is Colley Hill which will lead you into Margery Wood.
My boyfriend and I went here a few times throughout the year for a wander and I also took my mum here once too, as she had never been before. This is definitely a place to go and check out!
Earlswood lakes
Just outside of Reigate, Earlswood Lakes and Common is nice for a walk, trip to feed the ducks/swans and also sports rowing and pedellos on one of its lakes. Again, this is a place that has been so close to me but, until this year I hadn't even heard of it. I went here in July this year and tried rowing for the first time, to which I surprised myself by how easy it was once you get the hang of it!
Denbies Wine Estate:
Denbies is a vineyard in Dorking that is open for you to wander around, providing you respect the vines. It has a cafe and a small shop where you can stop for a refreshment or grab yourself a bottle of their own Denbies wine. I went here in June, after the vines had been harvested and a time where the wine tasting was not able to run due to COVID-19, meaning it was very quiet. This place was definitely a nice change of scenery and I know from my mums recommendation that the wine tasting there is great!
Norbury Park:
Norbury Park is woodland and farmland that runs along the side of the A24 from Leatherhead, and train line as you can see above. It's great for a wander and is also home to a working sawmill. The Sawmill is located at the top of the hill, by the viewpoint and makes furniture and carvings out of wood from the woodland. At the viewpoint you can see across to the bottom of Boxhill (see below location), along the River Mole and A24.
Boxhill:
Closer to Dorking rather than Leatherhead, Boxhill is, clues in the title- a hill. It has a viewpoint at the top of the hill with plaques to tell you where, how far and in what direction certain areas are, eg Brighton and Gatwick. The River Mole (stepping stones and bridge to cross over) and A24 runs along the bottom of the hill. This is a great location for a walk and to stop off for a picnic (there are cafes at the top and bottom of the hill). Rikers Cafe is based at the bottom of the hill and is a common spot for Sunday bike and classic car meets.
Garsons Farm:
Garsons is a garden centre with a huge farm to accompany it. The farm operates as a 'pick your own', where depending on the season, different crops are available to be picked and bought. I had hoped to go during the Summer months to see the sunflower field as so many had recommended this to me, but all slots were fully booked. I did manage to get tickets to their pumpkin patch in October though, which was a great afternoon out. I have already written and published a separate blog about my pumpkin picking and how the farm works.
Link to Pumpkin blog here >>> LINK
Newlands Corner:
Located in the Surrey Hills, Newlands Corner is a great place for a long walk, a scenic woodland and farmland view and an alternative place to go and walk your dog near Guildford. There are a few car parks around the site of Newlands Corner. The main car park has a small fee for parking, but there is another car park "White Lane" that is free, however this is a lot smaller than the main one. There are a lot of woodland walks and pathways that lead into different areas, one being towards Albury and another takes you all the way to St Marthas Hill. St Marthas Church is located on top of the hill, which is where it gets its name from, and is one of the viewpoints on the mapped paths above.
In Albury, is the following location (Silent Pools) that I have been to, which I believe you can also walk to from Newlands corner…, however, it might be quite a lengthy one.
Silent Pool:
This is a Gin distillery and a farming ground that has beautiful pools of spring-fed water. As they are spring-fed ponds, they are likely to be clear and pale. So, if you time it right with the weather and go a few days after a mass downpour of rain, you’ll find the pools glistening and a pure pale blue. They weren’t far from pale blue when I visited, however I think I have seen pictures online that look better from other occasions. There is a tour (subject to being open and COVID-19 restrictions) that you can do with the Gin Distillery on how it’s made using the water in the pools. This tour also includes gin testing.
When I visited here I had a short walk around the ponds and up the hill that runs along the side of the ponds. Next to this hill is a working vineyard and farmland.
A short walk from the Silent Pool car park (free parking by the way) is the village Shere, which has a playing field ideal for picnics, a few shops and a nice river to walk along too.
Ockham Common:
In Ockham Common, near Woking is a nice woodland walk running alongside the A3 and the M25. There are a few free car parks around the area and plenty of paths to choose from. I visited here on a summer evening, we parked in the Ockham Forest Old Lane car park and walked to the Bolder Mere lake and surrounding forest areas. This is on the opposite side of the A3 to where RHS Garden Wisley is located. To access the right road for parking, you must come off the A3 at the M25 crossover junction and rejoin the A3 over the roundabout. Wisley Common next to RHS Garden Wisley is one on the list to do soon!
Virginia Waters Lakes:
Virginia Water Lakes are located near Windsor Park, not too far from Thorpe Park. You can walk the whole way around the lakes, taking those steps all the way to the distance of 5 miles!
There are a few things to stop and look at as you go round such as a Totem Pole, the Cascade and the Roman Ruins, which I still to this day do not fully understand why they are in the middle of Virgina Water?!
Parking in the main car park can be pricey, with a few hours adding up to £9. I highly recommend trying to find parking in the town centre or on the roads nearby.
I went here in August and the Cascade was completely dry due to all the warm weather we had (picture above). However, after returning at the end of November, it was full, running water and functioning again (picture across).
LONDON
Kingston River Thames walk and Bushy Park:
A touch of London, without being lost in the mix of it. I love Kingston, the walks along the river, the shopping centre, the high street and it's range of restaurants. A short walk from the main high street is Bushy Park, where you can wonder to your hearts content, cycle and go deer spotting. Definitely a good two days out with these two, or combine the two together. Bushy Park car parking is free in most car parks, whereas Kingston car parks are with a fee.
Hampton Court:
I haven't been to Hampton Court Palace in a long time, or not to go in the grounds/ gardens and building itself. It's definitely something different to do with a day out if your interested in history. Hampton Court is a short walk away from the main entrance of Bushy Park, so could easily be combined with this as a day out to just see the outside grounds.
My boyfriend and I also went back here recently after ice skating to wonder along the river towards Molesey Lock and in the opposite direction towards Kingston too. Along the river walk towards Kingston you can see great views of the gardens of Hampton Court Palace.
Teddington Lock:
The closest lock on the river from Kingston is Teddington Lock. This is a beautiful place to sit and watch the world go by. In the Summer me and my boyfriend had a picnic date and walk along the river into Kingston for Ice cream. It's something diffrerent and offers a city feel to an adventure. There are great cycle paths and routes along the river too, which makes it great for a bike ride to Kingston/ Bushy Park. I am still yet to walk in the opposite direction from the lock towards Twickenham, I might have to add that to the list to see what there is to see. A bike ride along the river into Central London would be a cool idea!
Richmond Park & Isabella Plantation:
Similar to Bushy Park, Richmond Park sits on the other side of the river and has plenty of land to walk across along with deer spotting. The Isabella Plantation is located in the middle of Richmond park and offers a wide variety of plants and ponds. I will be hoping to return to the Isabella Plantation in the Spring/Summer months when the flowers are beginning to bloom and the colours in the plantation become, hopefully, brighter!
Wimbledon Common:
The Commons are in Wimbledon just a short distance away from the main town centre. There is a car park located by the Windmill which is a pay by donation car park. The donations go towards the upkeep of the windmill I believe. The Windmill was closed when we visited, but your still able to view from the outside and then walk around the common. If its been raining/is raining then I highly recommend welly boots!
EAST SUSSEX
Groombridge Place/ The Enchanted Forest:
Groombridge Place is a country estate, located in Tunbridge Wells, with gardens to walk around and see, including a range of activities such as tree swings, canal boat, teepee tents, vineyard, wooden boardwalk and birds of prey shows. There is a small entry fee to enter the site however this is worth it for a change of scenery and what's included.
When my boyfriend and I visited here back in September we saw 3 different types of owls in the birds of prey show, with demonstrations of their hiding and hunting abilities.
Harrisons Rocks:
Another adventure in the Tunbridge Wells region, Harrisons Rocks, is predominantly a rock climbing place due to its high rocks and boulders. There are foot paths that take you amongst the rocks too, making it a nice day out/ adventure for a walk and a picnic. There is a steam railway line that runs along the edge of the area that has a passing steam train every 30 minutes, which you can catch from the local train station; Eridge Station.
Ouse Valley Viaduct:
Based in Ardingly, West Sussex is this incredible Ouse Valley viaduct. This viaduct carries most of the Brighton-London train services. It looks super cool from underneath and sounds really weird too when trains pass overhead. From under the Viaduct there are a few nature pathways that take you around fields towards Ardingly reservoir. Parking around this area is limited so I would try and avoid weekends or hot sunny days if possible or find alternative parking at the reservior.
Ashdown Forest- Winnie the Pooh walk:
Ashdown Forest is the home of all the Winnie the Pooh tales. This is great walk for all the family, or in my case dragging the boyfriend along to (however, I didn't come up with this adventure...my boyfriend did). The best car park to go to is Gills Lap, where there are a few different paths to follow for a Pooh themed walk (maps found online). The main walk takes you past Gills Lap Clump, the Enchanted Place and a few of the characters homes (doors on trees to put it simply).
WEST SUSSEX
Arundel:
Arundel is a cute, picturesque village in the South East, towards Littlehampton. There is Arundel Castle to visit, Swanbourne Lake (boats in the Summer months), nature walks, antique shops and cafes. Castle tickets this year had to be booked in advance, so on both the occasions I went to Arundel, I missed out on going into the castle. I did however walk around the grounds, which are open to enter without prior booking.
Just off the main street in Arundel is a cake shop, which does the cutest and best cakes ever. Its called LG Cafe and is every Instagrammers dream. Not only is the decor amazing, the cakes are too!
SOUTH COAST
Brighton:
Who doesn’t love a trip to the beach, walks along the pier, fish and chips, fresh doughnuts and to sit and listen to the waves. I mean, that pretty much describes my trip to Brighton, minus the seaguls. There is plenty of parking around Brighton, but it can be quite pricey. Other things to do in Brighton is the British Airways I360 viewing platform, the upside down house and some shopping. You can also take a walk all the way down to the Marina, where there are plenty of restaurants.
Brighton Marina and Rottingdean Beach:
Brighton Marina is East, along the beach from Brighton Pier and if you follow the cliff edge walk you will come across some lovely beaches and views. The first beach along is Rottingdean beach.
I went here on a family walk in July, where we started having breakfast in the Marina and then ventured along the Under Cliff Walk.
Rustington Beach:
Between Littlehampton and Worthing is Rustington beach, which is probably one of the sandiest beaches I have been to in the UK in the last few years. When the tide is out you can walk on huge stretches of sand and paddle in ankle depth water out to sand banks. If your looking for a beach that's a little less common and full of sand then this is it. There are a number of side roads near the beach that have places to park along, with local car parks close by too.
Birling Gap and The Seven Sisters:
A truly beautiful view and surroundings along the South East coast towards Eastbourne. It follows the seven cliff hills, named the Seven Sisters and all along the chalk cliff edge. There are many natural pathways along the coastline both down on the beach and up on the cliff side. Parking can get very busy, especially on a dry sunny day, but this is definitely a must see destination in the UK. Take your camera for this one.
Please take extra care when visiting here and don't go too close to the edge - enjoy safely.
Eastbourne:
A nice beach along the coast that gives a change of scenery to Brighton. With it's own pier and restaurants along the sea front, Eastbourne makes for a good day out. I went here this year as a breakfast stop before heading onto Cuckmere to kayak.
Cuckmere River:
The Cuckmere River flows from the South Downs into the estuary where it meets the English Channel, slightly West of Eastbourne on the other side of Birling Gap.
Kayaking here follows the Cuckmere River all the way down to the seafront- Cuckmere Haven, where you can see beautiful views of the Seven Sister Cliffs.
DEVON
Torquay Harbour:
This was my holiday location this year. My boyfriend and I went down to Devon for the last bank holiday weekend in August. Our hotel was based in Exeter as a good central point for all the areas we wanted to visit. We went to Torquay Harbour on out first day. Here you will find plenty of shops, a sandy beach, the harbour and if you walk further round from the harbour you will also find a walk along the cliff side. This walks takes you round to a rock structure in the sea that has been named after London Bridge; the top is believed to be shaped like London Bridge, I however think the person who named it has never been to London.
Exeter:
Exeter is a great town location to visit or stop off at. As said above, I stayed here as a central location to all days out I had planned in our trip to Devon. There is a great range of restaurants in Exeter, on the main high street and down at Exeter Quay. The hotel we stayed in was the Mercure Southgate Hotel, right in the city centre behind Exeter Cathedral.
Dartmoor National Park:
Another one of our holiday adventures from Exeter was the Dartmoor National Park. It was only a 25 minute drive from our hotel and has many features to look at within it. The two features we did were; Canonteign Falls and Haytors Rock. The Canonteign Falls is a beautiful manmade waterfall (by diverting a stream off a cliff) that stands at 70 metres high.
Haytors Rock is a huge rock that offers 360 degree views south towards the coast of Devon and across the whole of the national park.
THAT'S IT, YOU'VE READ ALL ABOUT MY ADVENTURES THIS YEAR AND 2020 IS COMPLETE.
It's been a very unique year that I'm sure we will never forget. Stay safe, stay positive and I wish you all the best for 2021!
Love, Zo
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