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Close to home... Abbotsbury

- May 31, 2017

As someone who tends to travel away at the weekends, I often miss opportunities to explore what is right on my doorstep. So a couple of weekends ago, me and a friend headed to the village next door for a little local adventure, and were met with a welcome surprise. Here are some of the delights the sleepy village of Abbotsbury has to offer: Reaching from Portland down past Abbotsbury and onwards, Chesil beach is 29km of shingle, and a sight you’re unlikely to see anywhere else! Easily accessible from Abbotsbury, it is a prime fishing location, and thanks to the steep shoreline, home to some spectacular crashing waves that just encapsulate the vastness of the ocean.

Abbotsbury Swannery is home to hundreds of swans, all of whom have chosen to make the swannery their home. This beautiful sanctuary is designed for the swans to leave should they choose, and yet every year the population grows and grows, homage to the majesty this beautiful place holds. In addition, every spring the site becomes awash with nests full of fluffy baby cygnets, which the public are free to walk around and be face to face with these adorable little chicks! I personally feel this is definitely the highlight of Abbotsbury.

Subtropical Gardens
In addition to the swannery, Abbotsbury is home to a beautiful subtropical garden. Its roots lie in the gardens of the now ruined Abbotsbury castle built for Elizabeth, 1st countess of Ilchester in 1765. Despite fires, storms and economic scarcity over the centuries, the garden has now grown into a tremendous spectacle with a stunning assortment of flora, and is home to a delightful little restaurant. St Catherine's Chapel
Set high atop a hill on the edge of the village, St. Catherine's chapel is a stunning building that can be spotted from miles around. Built in the 1500's as a site of pilgrimage, it remains perfectly preserved set aside from the hustle of life. It is quite a trek up the hill, via a field often shared by a family of friendly sheep, but the view is completely worth it once you make it to the top. In addition, the chapel is currently home to a pair of beautiful white doves, a beautiful symbol of the peace attained in such a beautiful and isolated site. Also, for any collectors of national heritage sites, this is another you can check off the list!


In the village itself there are a number of adorable tea shops and cafes, perfect for a spot of afternoon tea, or some fresh lemonade on a sunny afternoon.

Abbotsbury was a reminder for me that anywhere, no matter how close to home, can be an adventure worth exploring, and that some of  the most unexpected beauties can be found right on your doorstep.

Happy travelling,




Trespass on Devils Mountain

- January 28, 2018 8th May 1945. The second Great War comes to an end. Germany had just surrendered to the Allies and it would be only a matter of months before Japan would follow suit. It was time for the world to piece itself back together again.
Soldiers would return home, governments would reform and economies would start to rebuild themselves. This would be no small task, particularly for Berlin, a city with 70% of its buildings in need of repair and a third destroyed completely. Consequently midnight on the 8th May 1945 (aka Stunde Null) saw the beginning of the biggest clean-up operation the city had ever seen.
Stunde Null (‘Zero Hour’ in English) was seen by many as the moment that Germany began to put the atrocities of the war behind them, the start of a new non-Nazi Germany. Overnight Soviet forces began to dismantle industry and transport across the city, removing any trace of the previous government occupation. Two months later the city would be formally divided between the four major powers, …

Berlin Survival Guide

- February 25, 2018 Thinking of going to Berlin? Want to know what to do and where to go? Have no fear, I've got you covered. I present to you the ultimate Berlin Survival Guide - your one stop shop for a fantastic trip no matter whether you are an adventurer, a clubber or a creature of culture.
Get Some Culture! Berlin is steeped in modern history, with the shadow of the Berlin Wall still very much a part of the city. And its not just modern history it holds in excess, with galleries on museum island and incredible 17th century architecture in the form of the state opera house, if arts and history are your thing, you will not be left disappointed.
Sandemans Tour - FREE(ish) If you only have one day in Berlin GO ON THIS TOUR!. Berlin is not a small city and you can easily waste a day just trying to find the sites featured on this list. Sandemans offer a FREE (yes, free!) tour of the city that will take you through all of the highlights and have a nice lunch stop in just 3 hours. I've been on Sandema…

Box Hill - Tales from the Home Counties
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Upon leaving the carpark and picking up a (free!) map from the National Trust café, I made my way toward the first viewpoint, where I could fuel up on packed lunch before my adventure began.  I rounded the corner, and the hill dropped off ahead revealing the viewpoint as promised. It did not disappoint. What felt like the entirety of this beautiful home county was staring up at me, the river Mole flowing below, the railway line running alongside. As I sat watching th… Vicky P

