If you are looking for a day out in the this wonderful part of the country, but scratching your head as to where to go, why not try Plymouth. It is not necessarilty known as a weekend break destination, but we see know reason why more people shouldn’t – Plymouth is a real gem packs plenty of things to do into a very walkable city.
We travelled down the M5 from ‘up country’ (North East Somerset to be precise) to see the fantastic sights of Plymouth. It was a fair old drive and it was the hottest day of the year so far but we thought we’d give it a try.
It was well worth it. Plymouth is unique because it is a big city but quite far down and away from everywhere. Built in Saxon times due to it’s location on the mouth of the river Plym (you can see where it gets its name), Plymouth boasts a proud maritime history. It was the birthplace of Sir Francis Drake, and the link with the the ocean everywhere you go in the city. We feel this giving it a clear identity and ocean vibe, which may or may not float your boat. There is always a buzz about the place and the nightlife is certainly very lively – the streets are bustling with people and groups of revellers who generally look like they are having a good time.
The first day we went to a beach just outside of the city called Cellars Beach, which looked good on the map, but we weren’t too sure what we’d find. It turned out to be an inspired choice because we found a secluded little,’ off the beaten track’ Well worth navigating the tiny country lanes and scratching the car for. Also passing cars was slightly difficult on some roads.
Particular shout out goes to The Swan Inn – one of the best food pubs I’ve been to combined with an unbeatable location with a view of the river and boats. Spectacular.
When we got to Cellars Beach we couldn’t believe we were in the UK, and we spent a few hours wondering around the rock pools and sunbathing. Not a crowded beach and really sheltered, with turquoise waters. I will certainly be going back.
Back to Moxy Hotel Plymouth
When we got back we stayed at the Moxy hotel which was a brand new hotel. It’s a new brand of hotels that offers a nice little alternative to a Travel Lodge at similar prices. Thankfully we had a comfortable night’s sleep there and were set up for the next day. The breakfast was not so good, however, so I would recommend giving that a miss and finding somewhere else.
We had booked in at the Aquarium in the afternoon, but had a few hours to kill walking around the city and taking in the atmosphere, an a really sunny day. There were some great old buildings and wide open boulevards and parks on display, which felt quite different to Bath and Bristol. There was a nice spot for skateboards in one of the squares which we sat and watched for a while, while some older folk operated their remote control boats in the square’s water feature, another nod to the city’s proud seafaring culture.
National Marine Aquarium
We turned up to the aquarium for our allocated slot and were pleasantly surprised to find we had unlimited return visits thrown in for the same price. Hopefully we will find the time to go back this summer.
It was a really nice experience and had a huge variety of fish and sea life. The biggest tank in the UK was amazing to sit next to and watch the sharks and turtles swim over our heads. It is great for children as well. The team there do a fantastic job of protecting marine life and researching all things ocean related so your money goes to a good cause. We didn’t take in all the information so we will definitely need to go back.
