What are your plans this weekend? Why not try something different and explore your local area as if you were a tourist or had only just moved here?

Some fun ways to rediscover your town include:

1. Take a “random walk”. Forget that you know the town like the back of your hand and go out for a walk turning down streets at random, try to get lost.

2.  Pretend you have guests staying who have never visited before, where would you take them? What would you show them? Go there, do that.

3.  Is there somewhere in town/your area you have never been before? Visit it. Just yesterday I walked to the Norman Arch in Cirencester, only a 5 minute walk from the centre of town, yet I’d only ever driven past it, even though I’ve lived here nearly all my life!

4.  Find out what’s happening on a regular basis, is there a Farmers Market you’ve never been to? Arethere craft markets or antique fairs? Take a wander
through.

5.  Take your camera with you, look out for the little details you usually don’t even notice. A beautiful garden maybe, a sign or notice that makes you laugh, a shop window display, a tiny detail on a door or window. Pay attention to  what you normally miss.

What did you discover? Did you learn more about the history of your area? Find a secret, peaceful place to sit and read?

By exploring your home town as you would a place you visit on holiday, you see it with ‘new eyes’, you may even fall in love with your town again. Keep a ‘local adventure’ or ‘local travels’ journal and record your discoveries.