Break by the coast eased stress levels

ALL the ads say that 2020 is the year of the staycation. And I put this to the test by travelling to surfers’ paradise.

Unfortunately not the one in Australia but, instead, to the golden sands of Cornwall.

I didn’t fancy getting on a plane for a summer holiday and so a break away from my computer was just what was needed.

And what a week is was. With the warm weather and picturesque beaches, it was reminiscent of the French Riviera – if you just blocked out the noisy tourists and seagulls.

St Ives is stunning but it was by far and away the most people I’ve seen walking down a single street since February.

It would appear the rest of the British public had the same idea to travel to the seaside and so the cobbled streets were packed with families and tourists alike, even in September.

It definitely took some getting used to, and I felt myself reaching into my bag to get out my mask and hand gel a lot more than usual.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for the summer sunshine vibes to wash away the coronavirus anxiety for a wee while.

There was definitely a noticeable change in attitude across the border in terms of how seriously people took precautions, with some acting as if the pandemic was already over.

This made me grateful that Scotland as a whole has been doing such a good job in trying to keep the numbers low.

Luckily, the majority of people were following the rules and, even better, there was plenty of sand to go around as the coastline is scattered with so many beautiful, pristine beaches.

I even braved taking to the water, skirting along the Cornish coastline in a kayak.

With seals bobbing up alongside us and private beaches to land on for much needed breathers, the hours spent in my makeshift home office seemed like a distant memory. Deadlines, what deadlines?

With the waves lapping the beach and sand between my toes I could feel my stress levels mellowing by the minute.

You really can’t put a price on how important it is for your mental health to finally stop checking your work emails and forgetting your responsibility for a week or two and recharge your batteries. Especially given everything 2020 has thrown at us all.

And as we tuck away our shorts and sandals and prepare for the long wintry months ahead, I’m so grateful that I was still able to enjoy a proper summer holiday without picking up my passport.

I’ve even got the sunburn to prove it.