My parents could be mascots for VisitBritain – they haven't been abroad since 1976. When I was a kid, I was dragged out of bed every Saturday during the summer for the obligatory family day trip. They especially liked the seaside – coming from Birmingham, it always felt like a proper day out – and would think nothing of driving all the way to the south coast and back in a red Skoda that had a tendency to die on hills … and wasn't too hot on the flat either.
These trips instilled in me a taste for getting away for the day. At uni I used to badger mates to come with me to a beach, the countryside, a castle or a garden – it didn't really matter where. But now, I like going on my own – it makes it easier to be spontaneous.
If you haven't tried a solo day trip, because of commitments, kids or even shyness, I say get your ass on that train. I guarantee you will feel happier for a day out alone.
Partner being a pain? Forget them for the day. A journey gets you out of your bubble.
Cathedral cities are good for contemplation and helping to put things in perspective. That annoying work email won't seem half as bad if you are gazing up at a spire (even if you are considering impaling a colleague up there) or climbing up a windy cliff path. Try walking round Norwich cathedral's labyrinth, (cathedral.org.uk/visitorinfo), which is specially designed to make you feel reflective.
A day trip in your own company can also open you to doing something different. Try reading Dracula walking round the streets of Whitby, sketching a view, taking an audio-gallery tour, walking through Welsh valleys or nosing round colleges in Oxford. Or just sit back with a book and a pint.
If you live in London, Time Out's Country Walks Near London handbook has full instructions on trains, distances, completion times and levels of toughness. You can access some of the walks here: timeout.com/london/features/1803/Country_walks_outside_London.html.
For an art-packed trip, try one of the dedicated study days available in Tate galleries throughout the year. Check out Picasso and the Politics of Peace in Tate Liverpool, 21 August (tate.org.uk/liverpool/eventseducation). Museums and other galleries put on free lectures.
Or try a guided tour. Insider London's "Quirky London" promises lots of bizarre stories about the capital (0844 504 8080, insider-worldwide.com; £18 for 90 mins), or investigate En Route at the Edinburgh fringe (traverse.co.uk, until 29 August, £6-£19), where you are sent out with iPod and a mobile phone to experience the theatre of the city's streets.
And for a celebration of the joys of solitude, sign up for the School of Life's workshop How To Spend Time Alone on 13 October (020-7833 1010, theschooloflife.com, £30).
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