I really do like to make the most of my time off at weekends and this usually involves a trip to another UK city by train. I've been to Warwick, Derbyshire, London, Birmingham, Manchester and many more destinations in the past couple of years and I'm always on the lookout for new places to explore. Being young, free and single (well not anymore) means I can go away at weekends and I intend to keep on doing this until I have more adult things to worry about.
Thanks to Michael Portillo and his Great British Railway Journeys show I'm pretty obsessed with trains now (I'm even going on a steam train a few days after Christmas) and I love to relax for a couple of hours, reading on the train before ending up in an exciting and new destination.
There are still a few corners of the UK that I've still got left to explore including most of the Northern cities and Scotland but there are a few trips I would like to go on in 2014 a little closer to home which I can visit directly from Cardiff on the First Great Western rail network.
Cornwall
The first place I'm longing to visit is Cornwall. I've Only ever been down south as far as Dorset so I really want to explore that corner of the UK more. Cornwall is famous for; spectacular beaches; surf spots and surf schools; gorgeous gardens; cliff top walks; boat trips; and attractions such as St Michael's Mount, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Minack Theatre, Land's End, King Arthur's castle and the Eden Project. I know I could go for a couple of weeks and still not see all of this beautiful area.Oxford
From the city of Dreaming Spires - Oxford to the pretty countryside of Oxfordshire, there are so many fantastic things to see and places to visit in Oxford. I've never been before and it's somewhere I'm itching to visit. I bet you can guess the place I want to visit there the most? The Bodleian Library of course! For a bookworm and library assistant like me it's the ultimate destination.The Divinity School at Oxford also served as Hogwarts infirmary in four films and the Duke Humfrey's Library was Hogwarts library. Both of these located at the Bodleian Library. I would love to hire a bike and visit the Ashmolean Museum, Blenheim Palace and Bicester Village to shop some of the designer outlets. Trains to Oxford only take two hours from Cardiff so I'm not sure why I've never been before.
First Great Western run to some fabulous destinations around the country and they are giving you the chance to win two first class tickets to the location of your choice. You can chose Cornwall, London, south Devon, Bath, the Cotswolds, Cardiff and Bristol (and many more) If you win and chose Cardiff do let me know and I can give you plenty of recommendations of things to do and see.
Where you go is up to you, but to be in with a chance of bagging the prize you’ll need to go to this page and fill in your details. You’ve only got until December 16th to enter, so be quick! If you’re on Twitter you can let others know where you’d most like to go and join in the chatter using the #imagreatwesterner.
11 comments
I'm from Cornwall but currently living in London and it is so very beautiful. Definitely best to go from May I would say :) Worth a visit for the beautiful views and beaches.
ReplyDeleteI would like to visit Oxford myself :)
DarlingSophie
I've never stayed at a Great Western before, but reading this I'd defo give them a whirl. I've never stayed in Cornwall either - perhaps something I need to take care of in 2014. Am folowing you sweets - awesome blog :-)
ReplyDeleteLove Vicky
http://aroundandaroundandupsidedown.blogspot.co.uk
I'm from St.Ives but moved to Bristol in September. I miss being by the sea! (Although going home for Christmas soon.) Better to visit Cornwall around spring. Definitely don't go in the school holidays, it's an absolute nightmare!
ReplyDeleteWe're always keen to get out the country but seriously, there's some many interesting and beautiful places in ours. And I've hardly been to any of them! Not been to either of these and i've never been down SW before, though my auntie lives in Cornwall.
ReplyDeleteBuckets & Spades
I want to have a day out in Oxford, so many people say it's a lovely place to visit & I'm pretty close since moving down south! I'd also like to have a look round Bicester Village! x
ReplyDeleteI fancy a snoop around the Mulberry outlet.
DeleteGreat choices, both beautiful for such vastly different reasons! I think I would love to visit Liverpool, I have never been there before and York!
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to go to Liverpool. York is full of history too which I would adore. So many great places in the UK, I don't need to go abroad :)
DeleteI am definitely going to Cornwall this summer - the bf has family down there. It really looks beautiful! :) x
ReplyDeleteI do love Cornwall and the south west but I want to see more of Scotland next year so that is my plan!
ReplyDeleteMaria xxx
I'm living in Cornwall at the moment (well techniqly I'm with family in Birmingham right now for Christmas) still I'm completely in love with the place - even started blogging about it - http://onserpentineshores.blogspot.co.uk/ ...beautiful blog btw! xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you for leaving a comment, feel free to ask me any questions here or on twitter- @Gemma_DS.