On the way to the sea, we stop at a donkey sanctuary. Almost 200 donkeys are given a new home here when they can no longer stay at their original location for various reasons. There is a large stable and a huge outdoor enclosure where the animals can do as they like. At the sanctuary, children and adults can learn lots of interesting facts about donkeys. There is a gift shop and, of course, a café.

We reach Lyme Regis via a hilly landscape and very bumpy roads. And we are amazed: the whole coastal town is on a slope. Every road leads either steeply upwards or downwards. Only down by the sea there’s a flat bit. We walk along the coastal path for a while, past restaurants and colourful beach huts. We have lunch in one of the restaurants. Gabi’s mac and cheese tastes almost exactly like its Swiss counterpart Älplermagronen! And I try a crab sandwich and discover that it’s not really to my taste.

As we continue on our way, we pass the remains of Corfe Castle, which was once built by William the Conqueror. The ruins inspired Enid Blyton many years ago when she wrote her Famous Five books. George’s island with the castle ruins, which actually belongs to her mother and on which a treasure is hidden, is modelled on the Corfe Castle ruins. And the hill does indeed stand out from the rest of the landscape like an island.

Next stop is our hotel in Southampton. Unfortunately, we don’t make much progress. Apparently, bypasses have not yet been invented in this part of England. In every little town we come by, there’s a traffic jam until we reach the roundabout in the centre. So once arrived at the hotel, we order dinner in the hotel restaurant and eat it in our room.