Take a deep breath. This is the year to slow down and take it all in. Ditch the holiday bucket list packed with places to go and things to do, and let your journey unfold mindfully and spontaneously by adopting a slow travel approach for your next coastal break.
So, what is ‘Slow Travel’, and how can it enhance a holiday by the sea?
Slow travel is “to travel lightly and adventurously,” says Jo Tinsley, author of The Slow Traveller: An Intentional Path to Mindful Adventures.
It’s a mindful and meaningful approach to a holiday that connects you more deeply to landscapes, cultures and people by exploring at a slower pace dictated by mood, nature and your surroundings.
It’s a magical way of getting under the skin of our beautiful coastline. Tuck into fresh local ingredients. Discover unique products made by passionate artisans. Let the sights and sounds of the seaside envelope your senses. Wander and wonder. Slow down, tread lightly and live in the moment.
Here are some tips for slipping into the slow travel mindset on your seaside getaway.
Be Spontaneous
We know it’s tempting to pre-plan every minute of your holiday so you don’t waste a moment of your precious time away. But when everyday life is dictated by schedules, it’s a relief to ditch the task list and live in the moment. So, while having a few planned elements for your seaside holiday is okay, give yourself the freedom to be spontaneous according to your mood, the weather, and the unknown.
With nothing cluttering up your agenda, you might simply stir with the sunrise and take coffee to the beach for a sea dip. Or nibble artisan bakery treats in bed while storms rattle the window panes. You might choose to follow a sign to a beach you’ve never heard of, or veer off the coast path into wooded glen a pebble’s throw from the sea.
While the social media explosion means pretty much everywhere has been documented, what would happen if you swapped your phone for a map and followed your feet wherever they wanted to go? Some of the most memorable adventures are the spontaneous ones that lead us to unexpected destinations – and the journey there – is as much a part of it as the end destination.
Follow Nature’s Rhythm
When you’re at the seaside, ditch conventional time and live to the beat of the tides and nature. Let the lowest tides lure you to the water’s edge in search of anemones, crabs, and crustaceans, usually hidden from landlubbers. At high tide, dip in the sea once the water has soaked up the warmth of the rocks and sand, or comb the flotsam and jetsam for beach treasures.
If you want to try surfing, time your experience to synchronise with the tides to ensure the best experience for sliding and gliding. When the moon is full, wander along the beach after sunset, and on the darkest nights, wrap up warm to experience starry skies and meteor showers above the ocean.
Explore Under Paddle Power
Slow down and experience the ocean under paddle power. At the helm of your own seafaring vessel, you can travel at your own pace, feel the hypnotic rhythm of your oars beating the water, and enjoy the time to take in the details of your surroundings. Why not take a kayaking expedition along Cornwall’s Fowey River, spotting kingfishers and egrets, or feel the wind in your sails and cast away from Salcombe by yacht?
Paddleboarding is one of the UK’s fastest-growing watersports for good reason – it’s a relatively gentle exercise in flat water, strengthens the core and takes you to the nooks and crannies of the coastline that are inaccessible via land or on bigger boats. Whether you choose to paddleboard along the Dorset coast or explore the far reaches of Scotland, it’s the perfect way to slow down and immerse yourself in the saltwater lifestyle.
Cycle or Stroll
Whether you explore on two feet or two wheels, the world slows down when you’re not hooning past it behind the wheel of a car. Not only do you have the liberty to pause for pictures and ‘wow’ moments when you’re freewheeling or on foot, but you can also change course according to whichever route or path takes your fancy.
Trundle off along a seaward track with your picnic in your panniers, or leave the main trails behind to make the first set of footprints on a secret cove. From the Lizard Peninsula to the Isle of Lewis, we’ve found some of our favourite spots on unplanned adventures while riding bikes or wearing hiking boots.
Use Local Transport
While a car is convenient for getting from A to B, it’s more environmentally friendly to use local transport and usually more scenic. Some of the UK’s most stunning railway routes hug the coast, including the famous Londonderry to Coleraine coastal route in Northern Ireland, Swansea to Carmarthen in Wales, Inverness to Thurso in Scotland, London to Margate and the famous St Ives Bay line.
If you prefer to travel by bus, take a seat on Cornwall’s Atlantic Coaster, from which you get a gull’s eye view of the coast from the open-topped double-decker. Or, if you want to float away on a ferry, there are stunning routes UK-wide to choose from, including the Fal River ferries in Cornwall, the tug from Dartmouth to Kingswear in Devon, the crossing from Tenby to Caldey Island in Wales, and also the chain ferry from Poole to the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset.
Enjoy Slow Food
One of the finest elements of slow travel is the food. Forget fast food and convenience staples and indulge in the taste of the seasons and your surroundings – whether you fill your baskets in farm shops and delis or order from menus showcasing local food.
Never has it been more important to care about the provenance of what we eat, and when we slow down and take time to source local produce plucked from the land and sea, our tastebuds are in for a treat. We’re talking fresh fish line-caught by local fishermen just hours before landing on your plate, mussels grown on ropes in the rivers you explore under paddle power, and oysters growing on estuary beds you see from your dining table.
Seafood aside, the farmland and meadows tumbling down to the edge of our shorelines are home to well-fed local cattle reared for meats and cheeses, while a rainbow of veg bursts from the soil, and the fruits of vineyards and orchards ripen throughout the seasons. Visit one of the UK’s best seaside towns, discover the wealth of quality produce, and feast your taste buds in local restaurants.
Ready to book your slow travel experience at the seaside this year?
Ditch your bucket list and book any of our incredible coastal destinations where you can get under the skin of coastal life in the UK. Search for a holiday home by the sea and look forward to a relaxing coastal break by adopting a slow travel mindset.
