From Fairy Lights to Ferry Rides: The Slow Start to France
Before we could say “bonjour,” our travel adventure to France continues with a gentle British whisper. A campsite tucked into 14 acres of ancient parkland, just outside the Georgian gem of Blandford Forum. The Inside Park, as it’s called, is less a campsite and more a woodland daydream. Think hawks overhead, and badgers with better social lives than us.
We were directed to pitch our camper under a cosy cluster of trees in the centre of the site, that by night was surrounded by glowing vertical poles and fairy lights that made the other campers look like they were auditioning for a woodland rave. But it was a sight to behold, for sure.
The Great Woodland Wander
On our first morning, we set off on a five-mile walk through the site’s private trails. The path twisted through ancient oaks and whispering pines, with the occasional squirrel giving us judgmental side-eye. The trail dipped into a hollow where the trees formed a natural amphitheatre. We paused to admire and imagine hosting a woodland TED Talk: “How Not to Trip Over Roots While Pretending You’re Outdoorsy.”
The walk ended (eventually) with a triumphant return to our camper, where we collapsed like Victorian poets overcome by nature, but not before having stopped off for a couple of cold drinks and some Guinness for the evening ahead. The fairy-lit campers next door were sipping wine and playing acoustic guitar. We considered responding with instant noodles and a Spotify playlist called “Songs for People Who Forgot a Fork.”.
Blandford Forum: A Town That Rose From the Ashes (Literally)
Just two miles away lies Blandford Forum, a town with more historical drama than a Netflix period series. Originally a Saxon settlement by the River Stour, Blandford was a thriving market town by the 13th century. But in 1731, a fire started in a tallow chandler’s workshop and — poof! — almost 90% of the town was gone.
King George II chipped in £1,000 (a royal GoFundMe, if you will), and the town was rebuilt in glorious Georgian style by local architects John and William Bastard (yes, that’s their actual surname), local architectural legends.
Today, Blandford Forum boasts a stunning town hall, a church with a cupola that looks like it belongs on a wedding cake, and a market square that practically begs for a Jane Austen play date. It’s also home to the Royal Signals Museum (the unit that my father was in) which sounds very official but mostly made us want to buy walkie-talkies.
Next: A Pub stopover and then the Ferry to France
As we pack up our camper and prepare to head south to Poole, we’re feeling grateful for this gentle start. The Inside Park gave us peace, leaves in our socks, and a reminder that slow travel isn’t about ticking boxes—it’s about fairy lights and Guinness.
France awaits. But for now, Dorset has our hearts.
