I went to Portugal a few weeks back with my parents, and usually by the end of a holiday you start missing your own bed. I definitely wasn’t. I wasn’t missing the pressure of being an adult either. It was just nice being carefree for a bit. I think it took right until the end of the trip to properly relax, and by the time I got home, I was straight into that post-holiday fog. The kind where you’re trying to get back into some kind of routine, or at least attempting to, with an ADHD brain that doesn’t exactly thrive on structure.

Fast forward two weeks and I’ve procrastinated far too much, overdone it in places, and pretty much burnt myself out trying to get on top of everything. Usually I’d head into town or maybe even the Dingle, but I needed something a bit different to shake me out of it. Luckily, I had a free pass to a National Trust site that needed using before the end of June, so Attingham Park felt like the ideal escape to find some breathing space.

It’s only about ten minutes down the road, but it genuinely feels like a world away from normal adult life. The paths are peaceful and well kept, everything’s quiet, and if you go during the week it’s never too busy. The house is beautiful and the grounds are even better this time of year. I’d last been to Attingham back in March, on a weekend when it was packed and most of the garden still looked like it was waking up. This time was completely different. The walled garden was full of colour, flowers in bloom, and everything felt like it had come alive again. It properly lifted my mood.

I also feel like I’ve improved a little with my new camera, which was a really nice bonus from this solo date. It made me slow down and look more carefully at things, which is never a bad thing.

One thing I’ve always noticed about a National Trust site, and really appreciate, is how people are just that bit more likely to say good morning. Not everyone of course, and that’s fine, but it’s definitely more than usual. I ended up chatting to a few people while I was there, which felt really natural. Just nice little interactions that reminded me of when I lived in Neston. You’d pass someone and get a hiya, or a good morning, or even a “how are you today?”

My partner Seb, being German, doesn’t always get the point of those kinds of comments. He finds small talk a completely non-essential part of life, whereas I’ve always felt the need for those little exchanges. That bit of eye contact, a quick “hiya,” it really can shift your mood. In the centre of Shrewsbury it’s a bit more mixed. People are either really friendly or just quietly getting on with their day. It’s not quite as naturally chatty as where I’m originally from, though I suppose not everywhere can be.

Now obviously this isn’t going to be an in-depth blog post about Attingham Park. I’m sure there are people much better suited to writing those kinds of things. The reason I love it is because it feels like a quiet little haven. I get to take some photos, wander without feeling rushed, and just slow everything down a bit.

If you ever need a chilled walk somewhere that isn’t too far but still feels like an escape, it’s ideal. And honestly, anywhere with a good gift shop filled with local produce and a café that sells ice cream, I’m there.