I managed to find a Ryanair promotional £2 return flight from Edinburgh to Bourmemouth. So to all you cynics out there, it is possible to bag really cheap Ryanair flights as long as you pay by Visa Electron to avoid payment fees and only take one piece of hand luggage.

I’m a bit surprised that the shuttle bus from Bourmemouth airport only runs from 7am to 7pm, not very useful when my fight arrives at 21.25 and departs at 22.00.

My accommodation host is the Art Deco Cumberland Hotel on the seafront. I love Art Deco, so this is perfect for me.

Tips

Lucy Whittington, a local resident has given me heaps of tips.

My absolute favourite place nearby is Brownsea Island, it’s lovely. You can get a boat from Sandbanks, Poole Harbour or Bournemouth Pier. They have an outdoor theatre there in summer, and lots of guided walks, things for kids, nature reserve too for birds etc. You could easily spend a whole day there.

Something you won’t miss is the Bournemouth Eye – the tethered balloon in the lower gardens: – it’s actually an amazing view up there and you can see for miles. Won’t fly if its windy though! Touristy yes, but it is a good view (try early morning for a longer and uncrowded flight).

The Russell-Cotes Museum is under-rated but I like it and has some interesting things in it. Because its right next to the sea front it can be overlooked as somewhere to visit (what with the beach being right there and other more ‘touristy’ things to choose from) but its free and worth a look round.

And last but not least… Don’t forget its only 20 mins on the train from Bournemouth (a fast train not the stopping service!) to the heart of The New Forest in Brockenhurst. You can walk or bike ride from the station here, or jump on the branch line to Lymington for a lovely day out.