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Original poster

Following the 'what UK places weird you out', what places ground you?

115 replies

JellieT0tz · 19/04/2025 20:03

What places in the Uk make you feel that you can breathe again?!

I live in a North East England coastal town. Despite having the beach, I quite regularly have to drive out into the Yorkshire Moors to ground myself again.

I think it may be related to Biophilia however I dont get the same relief from visiting local nature.

OP posts:
mjf981 · 21/04/2025 02:08

Further afield - but leaving the Rocky Mountains on an Autumn day and driving onto the open expanse of prairie in Alberta. Finding a dirt road and pulling over. Then taking a walk in the middle of nowhere and watching the biggest sky in the world do its thing. Feeling the wind. Smelling the harvest and the dirt. Listening to the silence. I love the mountains but the freedom of open space gives me a special feeling.

DrPrunesqualer · 21/04/2025 02:02

Not so much an individual place as it occurs in many
but

Choristers singing in a Cathedral ( or large high ceilinged Abbey or church )

I could listen for hours ! It’s truly amazing

Cattenberg · 21/04/2025 01:54

Glastonbury is often mentioned on here as a place that people find creepy. The town centre is a bit run down (aren't most of them, these days?) and there are plenty of eccentrics, some selling New Age stuff.

However, I think there's something very peaceful about Chalice Well Gardens, with its beautiful garden 'rooms' and iron-rich springs. There's a small healing pool which is refreshing to walk through, although the bottom can be very slippery, so if you aren't careful you could end up injured rather than healed! Some parts of the garden have views of the Tor.

Glastonbury Abbey is nice too. As well as the majestic abbey ruins, there is a pretty little chapel called St Patricks, which I love visiting.

Zeb81 · 21/04/2025 00:09

The North Coast of Ireland in general but somehow the air is different in Donegal

Squirrelsnut · 20/04/2025 23:41

Sewfrickinamazeballs · 20/04/2025 23:35

Cherhill white horse, silbury hill, the ridgeway….something comforting about being around places that our ancestors created many years ago

I love White Horse Hill and the Ridgeway.

Sewfrickinamazeballs · 20/04/2025 23:35

Cherhill white horse, silbury hill, the ridgeway….something comforting about being around places that our ancestors created many years ago

Els1e · 20/04/2025 23:29

Dorset.

LushLemonTart · 20/04/2025 23:23

FiftyDoorbells · 20/04/2025 20:53

The Lake District, the sea, forests, hill walks, mountains. Anywhere away from towns and cities, with wide open views, but equally the nooks and crannys of forest walks, the dappled shade and hidden parts.
Ambleside and Grasmere make me happy though, even when busy.

I love Ambleside and agree even when it's busy

Cheeseandpicklecob · 20/04/2025 22:35

Lytham St Anne’s

Cheeseandpicklecob · 20/04/2025 22:34

Broadhaven beach in Pembrokeshire
The Brontë moorlands in Haworth, West Yorkshire

monkeysox · 20/04/2025 22:30

JellieT0tz · 19/04/2025 21:44

Redcar, which incidentally was named a few times on the other thread, but I expect that is because of the heavy industry that is travelled through on one of the routes in. Like anywhere it has its chavvy dive estates and then affluent areas but driving in on one road is depressing with steelworks and chemical works at either side. Even the vast beach is overlooked by former steelworks which many people love but I have always found depressing and if someone was visiting me id have them in a country hall hotel further afield than recommend anything within the town as they are mainly contractors hotels and its embarassing. I dont find the town overall weird but there is a lot of low standards of self and mutual respect.

I know of someone who became wealthy and moved away to the countryside and wants to move back as they find the place magical.

People Flock to our seafront as soon as the sun is out, there is a lovely American diner ice cream shop and soft play pumping out 50s music which has a great vibe. Then there's a few arcades but the atmosphere is lacking since the prize bingo's went.

I love that we have York, Whitby, Scarborough, Leeds, The Lake District and Newcastle all within 90 mins drive and my children can go to a local school within 15 minutes walk rather than have to shlep for miles.

Show quote history

Blast furnace etc has been knocked down now. It's a very different view
Yanbu. Coast road towards Marske and Saltburn is wonderful

Tupperwarefan · 20/04/2025 22:21

There’s a Marks and Spencer near me that I go to when I feel like grounding or comforting myself. I used to go there with my mum before she became unwell (I haven’t lost her), and when I go there I feel instantly comforted. Weird really because I don’t particularly like shopping at M&S! But I go to their cafe, get a latte and feel calm.

FiftyDoorbells · 20/04/2025 20:53

The Lake District, the sea, forests, hill walks, mountains. Anywhere away from towns and cities, with wide open views, but equally the nooks and crannys of forest walks, the dappled shade and hidden parts.
Ambleside and Grasmere make me happy though, even when busy.

mamabluestar · 20/04/2025 20:44

OP visit a little further down the coast from home 😉
www.mirror.co.uk/travel/uk-ireland/underrated-uk-beach-no-facilities-34607174#ICID=Android_TMNewsApp_AppShare

Soaringskylark · 20/04/2025 20:41

The Northumberland coast, Embleton Bay, Holy Island in the evening when the Tourists have gone and the Seals play in the Bay and Gefrin (Yeavering).

The latter was the 7th Century summer residence of Yeavering’s Anglo Saxon Kings and Queens. Standing looking over it in the late evening sunshine you can feel them still there. Definitely a thin place.

hazelnutvanillalatte · 20/04/2025 20:35

Chinatown in London. Something about it being so busy, with so many little doorways into unfamiliar shops and all the neon and lanterns and alleyways just makes me feel weirdly comforted.

Poppymeldrum · 20/04/2025 20:31

Cannock chase
If I'm having one of those im-really-struggling days/weeks,we get in the car and head there
It's just so peaceful and quiet
I try to avoid the black eyed girls though!(joking-ive never seen one)

ramonaqueenbee · 20/04/2025 20:29

Holkham beach for me....windy and chilly by the sea and hot in the dunes!

researchers3 · 20/04/2025 20:21

The Dales. I think I prefer the parts that are less green and more remote and bleak.

I feel so happy when I'm driving in those areas - no idea what this says about me!!

Great thread.

Tutorpuzzle · 20/04/2025 20:14

I’m not a fan of the heat and light of June/July/August and love just sitting quietly in the cool and stillness of a medieval church (they are dotted about all over the place.) I’d never thought of it as ‘grounding’ before, @JellieT0tz , but you’re right, that’s exactly what it is.

SwanOfThoseThings · 20/04/2025 20:00

"My" Tesco. Always reassuringly the same.

Titasaducksarse · 20/04/2025 19:59

Tenby. The view over North beach to the harbour...it's my happy place.

Where I live...there's a path that opens up to a huge field and sea views. I love it.

Planetmonster · 20/04/2025 19:59

Brighton beach. Next to the palace or west pier. I love it.

also am lucky enough to work next to the Thames.

I am very lucky. As soon as I see either of those expanses of water I am calm

MurdoMunro · 20/04/2025 19:57

Thin places for me too. I find them mostly on the marshes, fresh and saltwater. I like the in-betweenness, time stops.

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