Martina Gardeva (Bulgaria)

My name is Martina Gardeva and I am a Bulgarian postgraduate student in MSc Tourism Management and Marketing. As you can guess from my degree, I simply adore travelling and exploring new places! It is an excellent way to get to know the local culture, have a fun with your friends and spend some stress-free time away from your studies. Here are my top day trips ideas for you:

Jurassic coast

When you first get to Bournemouth this is probably the attraction you are going to hear the most about. The people from Dorset are proud of this UNESCO World Heritage site and trust me, there is a good reason for that…..the coast is stunning! The easiest way to organise a trip is to go with one of the tours organised by SUBU – it will cost you £25 and you can choose between several dates during the academic year. If you prefer going in the summer, then the Discover Dorset tours are the people you need to contact. The trip is about £35 and it takes you to popular places along the heritage site, such as the Lulworth Cove, Corfe Castle and Durdle Door. An alternative would be to simply take the X54 bus from Poole and go by yourself, or just rent a car and drive along the scenic route. No matter which one you choose, it is totally worth a visit!

The New Forest National Park

Once a hunting ground for the king, the park is now famous for its wildlife and especially the ponies, which you can see everywhere. The best way to visit the park is to take the train from Bournemouth station and stop at Brockenhurst – a lovely picturesque village with beautiful gardens, retro cars and a peaceful town centre. The return ticket costs around £6.70 and the journey takes about 20 min. You can have a nice picnic in the fields, go walking in the wonderful forest, try horse riding or bike your way around. Definitely a must if you need to get a breath of fresh air away from the busy town of Bournemouth!

Poole

Poole is a wonderful town right next to Bournemouth, which can be easily reached by public transportation. You can spend a day wandering around the historic Poole Harbour, explore the famous Brownsea Island or just walk around the town centre to marvel at its beautiful medieval architecture. It is also a good alternative to Bournemouth’s busy beaches on a sunny day.

Swanage

Swanage is a lovely small town on the British coast near Bournemouth, which is definitely worth mentioning. You can take the Breezers bus from the town centre and they will take you to Swanage in no time. The most popular attraction is, of course, the amazing Old Harry Rocks, part of the Jurassic coast. Once there, you can also try the Durlston Country Park and go all the way to the Lighthouse where you can spot many dolphins on sunny days.

No matter where you decide to go, my advice is just do it! Go on, live the adventure… life is not meant to be lived in one place!

Martina Gardeva, Bulgaria, MSc Tourism Management and Marketing, 2017/18.