SURPRISE DAY OUT – ATO’S CONFIDENTIAL SURPRISE EXCURSIONS

Apr 28, 2021

How we surprised a local group of friends with an unforgettable day trip.

ATO’s surprise trips are an easy and exciting way to book an exciting weekend break or even your annual holidays. But if someone fancies a great day out, we are the last ones to say no. A surprise is a surprise and there’s no limit on how long you must stay.

So, when we received the questionnaire back from a client asking for a one-day surprise excursion we got right onto it. Here are some of the results of the client’s questionnaire:

Start date: 01/08/2019
Return on: 01/08/2019
Start time: 08:30
Depart From: Bromley
Who’s travelling: Friends
Number of people: 4
Budget per person: £99
Some must haves: Natural Beauty
Some no-go areas: We want to book day trip by train or chauffeured car, max 2hs away from Bromley, not London please.

OK, in short locals who want to be surprised by something local. Quite a challenge which made us dig deep into our creativity casket.

Dungeness

But we did it and created a lasting memory for this group of friends by sending them to Britain’s only desert, Dungeness! An eerie, yet fantastic place on the southern Kentish coast. Full of dazzling natural beauty, solitude, and relaxing calm.

And guess what? They had never been or even heard about Dungeness! 10 out of 10 for the surprise factor and the anticipation was rising the closer we got to departure.

Here is how it went. Having opted for the chauffeured service we took our adventurers down to the southern tip of Kent and arrived in no time in the tiny fishing hamlet Dungeness.

Imagine yourself walking this stunning shingle beach in absolute silence on a glorious summer day. The views over the Channel are stunning. Against the backdrop of a nuclear power station, it’s not quite the Garden of England picture many people have in mind when thinking about Kent, but it’s exactly this brute contrast which makes this place tick and gives it a special vibe.

Dungeness Lighthouse

A first up visit to the iconic Dungeness Lighthouse was followed by out long beach and marshland walk. Bird and nature watching at its best in this seemingly forgotten place. The atmosphere is eerie and totally relaxing.

Lunch was served at the HOME – DungenessSnackShack. A simple fish hut serving great fresh fish dishes in the most relaxed atmosphere.

Camber Sands

Beach vibes at nearby Camber Sands afterwards as it turned out to be a gloriously hot day. Remember, it was supposed to be a relaxing surprise trip. Being way into their crafted ales a quick shopping venture to the Romney Marsh Brewery was arranged before the focus returned on great views again. A day trip doesn’t mean that you don’t have to bring something back to the ones you left at home.

And what better way to enjoy the sunset than from the vista garden of Britain’s only pub in the desert, Home | Britannia, (britanniadungeness.co.uk). Thirst was quenched with some of great local ales and refreshing al fresco vines. And as it was a chauffeured trip, no one had to worry about who drives home. Strike.

A glorious view to sum up a great surprise day out. Let it sink it in and take some deep breaths. Great day trips let you take your mind off things and sometimes a few hours away from home can feel like proper holiday. And this one is definitely one of them!

If you liked what you read and feel like exploring more beautiful Kent, let us tailor your Kent tour for you. Just get in touch here.

See you in Kent!

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