We are truly blessed to live in such a beautiful part of not only the UK, but the world. A part of the world that includes wild coastline, beautiful sandy beaches, rich forestry & idyllic countryside all within an accessible distance of each other.
Getting outdoors to exercise has been proven to benefit your health & well-being, so why not utilise some of these stunning spots to appreciate nature whilst boosting your well-being.
Hengistbury Head
This beautiful nature reserve is a headland that is jutting into the English Channel & sits between Bournemouth & Mudeford. Home to a variety of wildlife, this location offers fantastic coastal views, including the Needles on the Isle of Wight on a clear day.
Bournemouth Beach
A popular holiday destination in the UK that often makes the newspaper headlines for crowded beaches during the rare heatwaves that hit our country. However, most of the time this beautiful sandy stretch of coastline is a great location to utilise the spacious promenade for either a walk, run or cycle. The Bournemouth pier to Boscombe pier roundtrip is approx. 5km route.
Studland & Old Harry Rocks
Located on the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset. Studland & Old Harry Rocks provide some of the most picturesque scenery of the Jurassic Coast landscape. Old Harry Rocks marks the most Eastern point of the Jurassic Coast, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With views ranging from sandy beaches to stunningly wild & rouged chalk coastline, you will have plenty of spots to stop & soak in the scenery, allowing yourself to be present in the moment & appreciate what is around you.
Sandbanks & Isle of Purbeck loop
This one is predominantly for those enthusiastic cyclists out there. If the sound of miles of golden sands, national nature reserve, one of the world's largest natural harbours or historic castle ruins sound appealing to you, then this cycle loop is perfect for you. Starting with the glorious beaches of Sandbanks, you can then jump on the chain-link ferry before continuing along Studland's beaches. This is followed by working your way through Studland & Godlingston Heath National Nature Reserve, before climbing up, stopping to soak in panoramic views of Poole harbour. From there you head down towards Corfe Castle, taking yourself out directly to the foot of the ruins. Next you can lead yourself through the town of Wareham & its picturesque river, before closing out the loop back into Poole & Sandbanks again.
Lulworth & Durdle Door
If a clifftop walk or run covering two of the most spectacular parts of the Jurassic Coast is what you're after, then look no further, this has you covered. A 2.1-mile roundtrip walk takes you from Lulworth Cover to Durdle Door & back. Whilst viewed as an easy route, it does include some incline. This route does fall a part of the infamous Southwest Coast path, which is a 630-mile coastal path taking you all the way around the Southwest coastline from Minehead, Somerset, to Poole, Dorset.
Kingston Lacy
This is a stunning National Trust location that plays home to a beautiful Venetian Palace, classical English gardens & woodland walkways. With well laid out paths, you can either slowly meander or map out a 5km run to take you through the lovely scenery & boost your well-being.
Castleman Trailway
The Castleman Trailway is one of Dorset's gentlest way-marked, walking, cycling and running routes. This 16.5-mile (26.5 kilometers) trailway follows much of the old Southampton to Dorchester railway line. The trailway takes you through some of East Dorset's stunning landscape whilst also connecting a string of settlements between Ringwood and Poole. This route takes you through heathland, over rivers & through forestry plantations
Blackwater: Tall Tree Trail
The Tall Tree Trail is one of the finest walks in New Forest, with the footpath meandering through a collection of massive Redwood trees & Douglas firs. The trail itself is only 2.5km, but there are many other options to extend the walk from the car park. Taking time out from our hectic lives to appreciate forestry can boost our mental well-being. In fact, the Japanese have a saying called ‘Shinrin Yoku’, which means to forest bath. This national pastime in Japan of being calm & quiet amongst trees is thought to promote well-being & reduce stress
There you have it, a small selection of what this beautiful part of the world has to offer. But hey, why take our word for it. Take some time out to go visit one or two of these locations, boost your well-being & let us know your thoughts.
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