Now, more than ever, I feel the importance of being able to get outside and breathe fresh air, see growth and life and feel connection to the Earth. The UK is amazing for hill walks, country walks, country parks, public paths… I’m disappointed I haven’t done more, but am still pleased with the outdoors I did manage to explore.
Occasionally friends would offer to drive, and there are some great places accessible by public transport, but getting a hire car really makes a huge difference. Living in Birmingham, I’d often just take a day to myself and bring my camera, a packed lunch, some pens and a sketch book and get lost amongst the trees.
The first exploration:
Within 48 hours of arriving in the UK I went on a roadtrip with some friends to Cheddar Gorge. We hired a big black van from Heathrow, rented a country house on AirBnB and spent the weekend in Somerset. I won’t lie it was dreary and grey, but it was real, proper English countryside, like in the TV shows.
And yes, the village of Cheddar is where Cheddar cheese was first made. 🙂
One of the largest urban parks in Europe:
Sutton Park, just north of Birmingham is easily reached by train. It’s absolutely huge, nearly 2,500 acres, so don’t even dream of seeing it all in one day. There are trails, heathland, forest sections, ponds and pools, a cafe and even a donkey sanctuary!
The Lovely Lickeys:
I found myself lost in the Lickey Hills in Worcestershire a few times, but also wandering with friends, mushroom hunting and sprawled out on a grassy patch when the sun showed up. Squirrels galore, and views from the many hills; brilliant for a whole day and far more realistic to try and see the whole park! I just wish I had brought cash for the cafe, but there’s some great information there about which animals you might spot in the park. I do regret, not unsurprisingly, not ever sighting a badger… but it may well end up being one of my life’s great pursuits……
Something for the view:
Talk about picturesque! Some friends and I took a day trip from London, catching a train down to Seaford, to walk east atop the cliffs above the English Channel. Chalky and white, the Seven Sisters are striking, and we walked to Eastbourne, stopping at the Cuckmere Inn for lunch, and passing the Coastguard Cottages (as seen in Atonement). There’s a local bus you can catch back, so quickly it made our walking efforts look pathetic, but I was certainly exhausted by the evening, back in my bed in London.
For a feeling of achievement:
Stac Pollaidh – in Scotland, head west, over past Ullapool and bag Stac Pollaidh. Within ten minutes of our ascent we could no longer see the carpark, just a sweeping lake below. The scenery was stunning, as if we were totally isolated with no roads, towns or power lines anywhere within eyesight. My pal Ryan and I packed ourselves lunch to reward ourselves with, and although there was a bit of a scramble to reach the ridge, a little higher, we managed.
Long lazy walks to talk with friends:
Long Mynd, Shropshire. Wild ponies, what else can I say! There was also sheep and little lambs, We drove, but you can also catch the train to Church Stretton station. Long, leisurely walk along the top of the hills, with views (on a clear day) to Wales.
Myths and legends:
Though I’ve only been through the middle and to the south coast, my experiences of Wales have been completely magical. Brecon Beacons – my partner and I ambled to the top of Pen y Fan, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons, freezing in early November. It looks far easier than you think, because from the car park you can just about see the entire path and everything that’s ahead of you. Totally worth it with spectacular vistas every way you look. On a separate day some friends and I trekked through rain and fog to Llyn y Fan Fach, and even cheekily had a dip in the lake, despite the cautionary signs saying not to. Surprisingly, considering the rain, it wasn’t as cold as I expected, and I didn’t see the Lady of the Lake…
My regular dose of nature:
Moseley Bog, an old childhood haunt of JRR Tolkien, was right next to my house, so I would visit most weekends when I lived in Birmingham, or in the summer time when the days were long and light, I’d go for a walk as soon as I got home to de-stress after work before dinner with all my housemates. Full of squirrels, wrens, and funghi, too, and I’d heard stories of wizard/Gandalf gatherings, but sadly there were none while I was around.. There is an empty field behind the Bog, that smelled of the most irresistible curry, wafting over from The Covered Wagon on the adjacent block… I would sometimes lie there reading or drawing. Moseley Bog was easily one of my favourite places in Birmingham, and it was such a joy to visit often.
Quite often I’d find myself grinning out there, taking deep breaths, eyes wide at nothing at all in particular; heart beating fast, just completely high on life. A weird but addictive combination of adrenaline and lust for life mixed with complete calm.
Now, back in Australia during the COVID-19 crisis, I’m appreciating the eucalyptus that I took for granted before; the vastness of the sky, and the volumes of life whether lizard or locust (blast them…), lorikeet or ladybug. Anyway…given the choice…outdoors over a gym any day!
CARMEN TOM 