One reason I was so excited to come to Bournemouth for university was to be able to explore somewhere new and see places I wouldn't necessarily travel to from home. Over summer, I continued to explore the area with a trip to Shaftesbury.
While Shaftesbury is probably one of the furthest-away places I have explored, I would still recommend it for a visit. However, the only realistic and convenient way of getting there is via car. It is quite a simple journey, taking around 50 minutes to an hour and there are various cheap public car parks to use, which is super handy.
What makes Shaftesbury so popular is the Gold Hill, built in the 18th century and put on the map by the famous Hovis advert of a boy pushing a bike and loaf of bread up the hill. It is a beautiful, cobbled street lined down one side with old and crooked but very charming houses. The view from the top of the hill is also very attractive, overlooking Blackmore Vale. It's a lovely street to walk down and admire and a fun place to be able to say you have been and seen it in person. There is also a museum to visit at the top of the hill. Although I didn't personally go in, I'm sure it's got lots of interesting facts and would be a good way to kill an hour or so.
Shaftesbury is also full of lovely independent cafes and old pubs with nice gardens to sit in. We found a small café for lunch, which was very homely and the owners were super friendly. We couldn't resist the call of a pub garden, so picked one for a cheeky drink to finish our day off.
The surrounding area of Shaftesbury is also very nice for some walks. We found a 12 km circular route not far away, and it was extremely peaceful. The All Trails app had some great routes to follow, but there are also many recommendations on the town council website or Visit Shaftesbury website to choose from. This was a nice way to extend our day trip a little longer and get out in nature together while chatting as we walked. As much as I love having the beach on our doorstep in Bournemouth, sometimes it's nice to mix it up with some countryside views, and Shaftesbury definitely didn't disappoint.
Before we headed home, we also drove up to Compton Abbas airfield too. This is about 20 minutes outside Shaftesbury. It's an airfield owned by Guy Ritchie and a great place to see some really cool, old planes both on the ground and flying in the sky. They also have a bar, snacks and food if you want to make your pit stop longer. We only had a short stop here to see some of the planes that were grounded and admire the views over the valley, but if you're up for something different, I would definitely recommend a visit.
Although Shaftesbury is much smaller than Bournemouth, its peaceful, quiet countryside feel has a lot of charm. It was lovely to explore somewhere new in the Dorset area and helped me feel like I knew a bit more about the county I call home during term time. Also getting away from the bustle of our town and taking in a slow day in the countryside, enjoying some summer sunshine too, was gorgeous. But I think even in winter it would be a very cosy and warming place to visit!
