Solo Travel Lessons from Avebury, England: 4 Things I Wish I Knew

Though I travel a lot for my job (and travel solo a lot for my job), there's something different about an intentional, real solo trip — one planned just for yourself with no other obligations at hand.

The feeling/desire for a solo trip I feel comes wayyy before the destination. To me, it's been an itchy feeling, usually on the cusp of a major personal or professional transition or change. The best way I know how to describe it is the feeling of wanting to get away to a cabin in the woods — even though I'm not particularly fond of cabins or "roughing it."

Yet the feeling I think is important to follow.

But it takes time and intention to focus that energy on actually booking a solo trip. We all have our excuses — not enough time, not enough money, too many obligations at home. But deep down, we know it's what we need.

When that itchy feeling finally got to be too much, I started to get serious. Instead of just actually holing up in a cabin (which would have been easy to do in Colorado), I listened to my intuition. For whatever reason, the place I needed to go was the UK. I wasn't sure where yet, but then I also knew I had to be there during the summer solstice. In some ways, it felt like my ancient ancestors were calling me home.

I thought about Stonehenge. Iconic and mystical. I thought about Stratford. Literary and a lifelong dream. But none seemed right for this trip.

Instead, I was drawn to Avebury — the site older and bigger than Stonehenge, but much less crowded, and you can still touch the stones. But also, much harder to get to easily. I figured it out, and it was truly magical being there as ancient drums called in the solstice sunset, but there were still some lessons about solo travel that I learned, and wish someone would have told me first.

Your Homebase Matters More Than You Think

When you're on your own in a foreign country, you're coming home to only yourself everyday. I can't stress enough how important it is to have a cozy place where you're comfortable and can feel at home with your own thoughts. I lucked out with the Farm at Avebury, where the rooms were like little apartments in a re-modeled carriage house, and fresh sourdough bread was waiting for me when I arrived. I loved it so much, I plan on holding a Travel Pretty retreat there someday!

Halfway through the trip, I switched to a B&B because the Farm was booked out — which was fine, but a little less privacy and felt more like a room than a mini home. For a special trip like this, I think it's totally worth the money to spend on a comfortable place where you can journal, make tea, and come home to yourself in all the ways a solo trip demands.

Consider the Season and the Weather Where You Travel

When you're on your own, you're going to be walking, driving, or taking public transport by yourself a lot. It's important to know your own comfort level with all of the above, and that's why I think it's also important to consider the right season for your solo travel.

I like to walk a lot (I'm the friend that's like 'it's just a few minutes more!' when everyone else starts to complain), but I hate being cold. So summer warmth + longer days made the most sense for this trip.

Know Your Logistics Beforehand

I consider myself really good at public transportation, and made it all the way to Avebury on trains and buses (not exactly the easiest—I'd recommend renting a car tbh). But I did make one mistake.

On solstice night, I didn't realize the busses stopped running at 10:30. And Avebury isn't exactly a town with a bunch of Ubers. I ended up having to walk 40 minutes in the dark down a busy, un-sidewalked road. So questionable that multiple cars stopped to ask me if I was okay or needed a ride!!

I passed on the rides because sometimes that can be just as questionable as a woman alone, but the long dark walk wasn't exactly the most fun part of the journey.

You Will Get Lonely, Especially at the End of a Trip

No matter how magical, important, and needed a solo trip is, there will be times when you feel utterly lonely — wishing you had someone there to share a drink or a long walk or even the memories you know you're taking home with you. But I think the loneliness feeling is one of the important moments in a transformation.

First, I think you have to actually sit with the feeling. It's really, really tempting to run away from it and go chasing strangers or drinking or some other distraction. Journaling, deep breathing, and an acceptance of What Is is so important at that moment of acuteness.

When those pangs of heartbreak and pain soften a bit, I find walking or seeking out some live music moves the feeling a bit to be tolerable, without suppressing it. You will go to bed sad, but I promise you'll feel better in the morning for having survived those intense feelings.

It's also tempting to want some immediate outcome from a solo trip — but the truth is that trip is still working on me in mysterious ways and will continue to do so. Travel for transformation really isn't about a clear checklist, but growing trust in yourself, and feeling more comfortable in who you are becoming.

If you've been having that itchy feeling but can't figure out what it is you're really looking for, or need some guidance so you aren't really ever alone on this journey of self-discovery, I'm looking for 4 more beta testers for my Before You Book program. The code SOLOTRIP will get you in for only $47. We really spend some time figuring out the feeling you need from a trip before the destination, and how to get the most out of it.

Safest travels friends,

Lindsey