The Island of adventure

I was a huge Enid Blyton fan as a child. I still read her books to rekindle childhood memories. But I always wondered if the beauty of the English countryside she described in her books was a bit of an exaggeration. Was England really that picturesque? I was determined to establish the facts for myself and that’s what I did once I came to the UK. After exploring the countryside for almost two years, I can say Enid was not exaggerating.

And the best way to witness all that she described was to go on road trips. The good thing about driving in the UK is that the Indian driving licence is valid for a year from the day you enter the country. However, I would recommend reading up on the various driving rules. Once you know your destination, a navigation device takes care of the rest and at times even takes you through some lesser known side parts of the small town; depending on whether you choose to go through the shortest or the fastest route.

My first road trip was with the husband to Stonehenge. Road works around the area of the UNESCO heritage site took us on a two-mile detour. This led us to an intriguing spot called Woodhenge. A relatively lesser known cousin of Stonehenge, this site marks the Neolithic wood and timber circle discovered in 1925. Unlike Stonehenge, this structure can be approached up close and has no entry fee.

If you plan to make a trip anywhere in the UK, rest assured that there will be a ‘services’ stop available every 20 miles. Here you can fill up on petrol or food depending on what fuel you are after. Some even have lodges you can spend a night.

Another memorable drive was from the seaside town of Blackpool to the Lake District. The route was lined by natural beauty, once you got off the motorway, of course. Babbling brooks, bay horses, large swaths of grasslands rolling down the hills, replete with black sheep with white wool. Don’t even get me started on the flowers. It was spring when we travelled and the countryside had exploded in delightful colours. We drove through some beautiful and famous parts of the Lake District or Cumbria. Two of my favourite spots here were the Kirkstone Pass and Dove Cottage. The former for the awesome view and the latter because it was where Wordsworth spent (a part of) his childhood.

Hiring a car also allows for flexibility of travel. One can customise his itinerary, include numerous stops, and enjoy local culture and cuisine. Recently during a weekend, my husband and I decided to drive along the coast onwards from Kent. Our first stop was the White Cliffs of Dover, where we spent an entire day walking along the cliffs, picnicking on the rocky terrain and clicking pictures; something we wouldn’t have been able to do if we had taken a group tour.

After some superb dinner at a local pub, we landed at the Bread & Breakfast in Lympne, 45 minutes from

Dover, where we had booked ourselves. Over breakfast the next day, our gracious hostess pointed us in the direction of Rye, a coastal town in Sussex. At the confluence of three rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede, the Rye is, two miles away from the open sea. “The drive by the coast will be worth it,” she said.

Drive by the coast we did, but were hugely disappointed as the stretch was obstructed by a wall. But upon arrival in Rye, the beauty and quaintness of the coastal town made up for the mundane drive. This little town has a lot of character; whether you are a history buff or a seafood lover or someone who loves to walk. Set

upon a hill, with cobbled stoned paths, the Sussex town has a lot to offer — from boutique shops, pubs and cafes. All you need to do is march up the paved slope.

This sojourn, like the ones before it, confirmed that to capture the true  essence of a place, you need to get off the beaten track — whether you are a Blyton fan or not!