With the busy lives we lead, it’s important that we find moments for downtime, to break away from the madness and find our #BetterPlaces, those we visit time and time again, the locations around beautiful Great Britain that clear our heads and restore our soul.
Syndol was curious to find out where we all go when we need to find peace and quiet, to support its #BetterPlace project. Syndol, which sponsored this BritMums activity, is returning with a new formulation for headache and migraine. Taking Syndol means you don’t lose a day when headache or migraine strikes and you can get on with your life. The #BetterPlaces featured here will be part of Syndol’s online resource of “better places” around the UK, with a map going live in April.
Thirty bloggers took part in the project. Below, the best places, in their estimation, in the British Isles for finding yourself.
Coast
“I’ve never lived too far from the sea, and wherever I’ve lived I’ve tried to keep the sea as close as possible to my house (including living in a tent on a beach for over a month in Greece!), but in the UK there is one place that refreshes and frees the mind: the North Norfolk Coast.” –Cerys at Rainy Day Mum
The Essex coastline (plus some tips for migraine relief when looking after children)
“I visited at the weekend and the wind was blowing and the sea was crashing all over the shop but my goodness did it make me feel better! There’s nothing like a bit of sea air to clear your head sometimes.”— Kate at Crafts on Sea
“Without doubt one of my favourite walks is between Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door in Dorset because the scenery is breathtaking. It is not an easy walk by any means, with steep hills, challenging muddy steps, and sharp cliff side drops near some of the pathways. It is not a walk you can do with a buggy so I would recommend you take small children in a back carrier and ensure those on foot are closely supervised, or you leave them at home and completely relax.” — Kara of Chelseamamma
“Portobello beach has become my escape, my place that I quite literally run away to. On the days when the boys have been anything but angels, when everything has gotten on top of me and my head feels ready to pop, it’s trainers on & off I go.” — Amy at Diddle Diddle Dumpling
St Mary’s Lighthouse at Whitley Bay
“There are many spots of calm across the coastline but I find the benches overlooking St Mary’s Lighthouse in Whitley Bay to be a particular quiet place to simply sit and just be.” — Samantha at North East Family Fun
“I never thought I’d live near the beach. I grew up near Manchester and never thought the beach would be part of my daily life, but now it is, I actually can’t imagine living without it.” — Karen at the Mini Travellers
“A dog friendly beach, popular with working fishermen, anglers and horse riders, it is ideal for a walk all year round.” — Lauren at Real Housewife of Suffolk
“Most days I would walk from Appledore Quay along the coastal path to Westward Ho! It is about three miles in total and boasts stunning scenery that is peaceful and calming. Plus the beach at Westward Ho! is totally amazing.” — Emma at The Syders
“Thinking about this place always holds happy memories and this year I hope to visit it so much more than last year.” — Chelle at The Mumington Post
Countryside
“We may not have beaches or mountains, but here in the heart of Staffordshire we have country lanes, and lots of them.” — Helen at The Crazy Kitchen
“As you walk down into the fields there is a river which follows a winding path off into some woods. As you hop over the style into the woods, there is a little waterfall which Grace believes was built by fairies.” — Victoria at Verily Victoria Vocalises
“It’s a beautiful spot, very tranquil with lots of woodland.” — Karen at Missing Sleep
Woods
“There’s scientific evidence that forests have a positive effect on mental and physical wellbeing, but I don’t need medical research to tell me that.” — Liz from Me and My Shadow
Sherwood Forest and the Major Oak
“Once on our journey to the Major Oak we discovered some interesting things along the way, with tree trunk houses, dens and marked walks all set out along the way.” — Jaime from The Oliver’s Madhouse
“There are a lot of different trails to follow, short ones, trim ones, horseriding ones and ones which allow your dog off the lead too, about 18 km in all and they interestingly include the Heritage Trail which passes a ruined medieval manor house and RAF air raid shelters from the WWII.” — Mari and her family at Mari’s World
“Something about the trees seems to fire up the kids’ imagination, and we find ourselves looking for fairies, pretending to the Gruffalo or hunting for ‘treasure’.” — Emma at Mummy Mummy MUM!
“All you can hear is birds and the rustling of the trees and there’s no phone signal so if you really want to escape, it’s the place to go. And they have a cafe that overlooks the woods.” — Hayley at Shutterflies
“There are acres of woodland to walk around, a lovely little cafe that serves healthy food and even a bike hire shop in case I really want to get my heart pumping.” — Kirsty at My Two Mums
Parks
“The park is over 180 hectares in total, and includes a couple of golf courses and a pitch and putt…. It has a lot of trees, so is great for hide and seek with small children, also letting them see lots of wildlife with the flowers and bushes.” — Lesley of Scottish Mum
“I don’t always go on my own; as a family we’ve enjoyed summer picnics, explored the woods, collected conkers and had snowball fights in the winter when the ground is covered with a blanket of snow.” –Michelle of The Purple Pumpkin
“I love walking past the little stream on the way and listening to the calm water running. I love breathing in the fresh air and feeling the sun reflect down on to my skin.” — Alex from Bump to Baby
“We regularly come back to Saffron Walden, happily taking my kids to play on the same common, particularly to sit with them near the wonderful turf maze they have there.” — Helen of Kiddycharts
Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Salisbury
“What I love about Queen Elizabeth Gardens is that it’s a great place to take S for a run around or to play in the park, but it’s also somewhere I can go and sit quietly on my own if she’s at nursery. Just a short walk from one end of the park to the other makes me feel instantly calmer.” — Vicky of Single Mother Ahoy
Places of Interest
“Oftentimes the first half an hour of these days will be spent with my laptop closed, coffee in hand and just letting myself be and think and clear my mind.” –Fritha of Tigerlilly Queen
St Fagans and the Amelia Trust Farm
“an outdoor museum and Amelia Trust community farm so much as the both offer so many opportunities for both adults and children to enjoy what nature has to offer.” –Laura of Side Street Style
“The Venetian Waterways, Great Yarmouth, adjacent to the North Beach is a tranquil place for visitors to enjoy. A popular haven for ducks and heron, it’s a great place to stop and relax for a while.” — Sarah of Boo Roo Tigger Too
“Our kids love having our undivided attention, but also the space to roam free. We love the space that gives us to have a grown up conversation.” — Penny at Parent Shaped
Watercress Wildlife Nature Reserve
“This community run local nature reserve is tucked away between the Alban Way and the River Ver and has to be one of St Albans best kept secrets…” — Penny at Being Mrs Carr
Indoors
“The coffee is great…. It has such a lovely atmosphere, all the waitresses wear the same blue and white spotted tops and the manager even came and fixed our wobbly table …” –Kate at Wit Wit Woo
Eastthorpe Holistic Health Spa
“…We head to the pool for an attempt at exercise (but in all honesty we do a couple of light lengths before decamping to the hot tub). There’s usually a couple of other guests in there to chat to, but the spa keeps the numbers low so that an air of calm and serenity is maintained throughout the day.” — Nadine at Juggle Mum
Bloggers were commissioned by BritMums to share their #BetterPlaces for Syndol. All opinions are the bloggers’ own.
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Travel Expert
Monday 11th of May 2015
I Know nothing can be compared to such a soothing place and an experience of such soltitude. It must definitely optimize your experience when you are with your family. I recently came to know about Travel Universally. They offer some great all inclusive vacations & tours for these regions.