There’s something a little bittersweet about packing up camp when you know you’re on the final leg of a road trip.
We left our campsite around 10:30am and headed towards Winchester, where we’d be spending our last two nights before returning the motorhome and making our way back to Mum’s in Norwich.
But before we got there, I had one stop I absolutely wasn’t willing to skip.
Poundbury.
I’ve wanted to visit for years. I’ve watched documentaries, read countless articles and admired photos online, so finally seeing it with my own eyes was something I’d been looking forward to for a very long time.
Of course, before any serious sightseeing could begin, we made what had become our regular pilgrimage…Waitrose.
I think by this stage of the trip I deserved some sort of loyalty award! We grabbed lunch, a few supplies for the road and then continued towards Dorset’s most talked-about town.
Finally Seeing Poundbury
The first thing that struck me was just how different it felt.
Although it’s a modern development, it doesn’t feel like one at all. Instead of endless rows of identical houses, every street seems to have its own personality. Georgian terraces sit beside classical buildings, elegant townhouses, cottages and little squares that somehow make everything feel as though it’s been there for centuries.
As we slowly drove around I found myself constantly interrupting Mum.
“Look at that building…”
“Look at those chimneys!”
“Even the garages look beautiful!”
Poor Mum probably heard me say “Look at that!” about fifty times.
What impressed me most wasn’t any one building. It was how much thought had gone into every detail. The brickwork, stonework, proportions, parks, streets and public spaces all felt intentional rather than simply squeezed in wherever they would fit.
I completely understand why Poundbury divides opinion, but personally…
I absolutely loved it.
In fact, I found myself thinking more than once,
“I could quite happily live here!”
Google Map -https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Queen+Mother+Square,+Poundbury/Buttermarket,+Poundbury/The+Great+Field,+Poundbury/Pummery+Square,+Poundbury/Queen+Mother+Square,+Poundbury
On to Winchester
Eventually it was time to leave Poundbury behind and continue towards Winchester.
We stopped at Tesco and M&S to stock up before arriving at what would be our final campsite of the trip. It turned out to be a great little spot, and even better, they had food vans visiting throughout the week.
Decision made.
No cooking.
No dishes.
Just loaded fries and a relaxing evening after another full day on the road.
As we settled in, it started to sink in that our motorhome adventure was beginning to wind down. We still had two nights left, but after nearly two weeks of exploring England together, you could feel this chapter slowly coming to an end.
The campground was quieter than I expected, and during my wander I discovered another member of the “working while travelling” club. Unlike me, though, this guy had come fully prepared with a Starlink setup beside his motorhome. I have to admit, I was slightly jealous… that’s taking the mobile office to the next level!
Looking back over the day,
Poundbury was everything I’d hoped it would be.
Sometimes you build a place up so much in your mind that reality can never quite match the expectation.
This wasn’t one of those times.
After years of wanting to visit, it completely lived up to the hype—and I already know it’ll be somewhere I return to one day.
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