2018 A year of solo travel
2018 has been a year of travel.
At the start of the year, one of my main intentions was to travel as much as possible, preferable to go somewhere every month. That was quite an ambitious idea but I wasn’t too far away from doing it. There were only two months when I didn’t travel, May and October. Considering that all of my trips are funded solely through my own income, I am overwhelmed by how much I have been able to achieve.
My trips have been over long weekends with a maximum of two nights. This is at the limit of what I can reasonably afford and means that I have to plan well to maximise every minute of each trip. Planning short trips has enabled me to travel more often, leading to 2018 being the ultimate year of solo travel.
I have travelled to new cities in the UK, got back on a plane for the first in a few years to explore more of Europe and took part in the 8 peaks walking challenge in the Lake District for the British Heart Foundation. All of this has given me so much confidence to travel solo and to make this the focus of my blog. So without further ado here is what I got up to in 2018.
Seven Hours in Paris – Blog Post
In January I took on the challenge of a day trip to Paris, to discover how much I could see from walking around the city. I ended up missing my train home but it was worth it and I was still able to catch the next train half an hour later anyway.
A weekend in Cambridge – Blog Post
Remember when the beast from the east hit the UK in 2018? Well, my weekend in Cambridge was days before the freezing cold set in. Thankfully I had clear blue skies when I walked around the botanical gardens.
Exploring Edinburgh – Blog Post
Whilst in Edinburgh I took a long muddy walk up to Arthur’s Seat with rain and wind making it a challenge. This trip also included my first experience on a walking tour.
A weekend in Oxford – Blog Post
Whilst in Oxford I felt like being a student again. Learning about the colleges, during a walking tour brought back memories from my time as a student, but not at Oxford.
Day trip to the Isle of Wight
During the hot summer, I went on a day trip to the Isle of Wight with a few friends. We took the cable car at The Needles and I even won a few prices at the fairground. Still, haven’t used those giant playing cards!
A Summer Weekend in Winchester – Blog Post
Anybody heard of the Hat Festival in Winchester? I hadn’t until I arrived when it was in full flow. Winchester was a historical adventure during a gloriously hot summer.
Birthday in Venice
During my birthday I did my first solo trip of the year abroad to Venice. Contrary to what I was expecting, it was hotter in the UK than it was in Venice.
8 Peak Challenge in the Lake District
After many months of training and fundraising, the time had come to do the 8 peak challenge in the Lake District. This walking challenge was of one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I was doing it to raise money for the British Heart Foundation in memory of my late father. The challenge was tough and I was incredibly proud to have completed all 8 peaks.
Winter Trip to Vienna – Blog Post
When in Vienna a visit to the opera is a must. Well, I went to see a ballet instead but you know what I mean. This first time experience was enlightening and a highlight of the trip.
Christmas Markets of Prague
At the end of the year, I experienced the Christmas markets of Prague to get me in the festive mood in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
I wonder why my solo travels will take me in 2019.
No need for postcards, feel free to write a comment…