On Saturday 11 February a group of RNIB College learners and staff set off for their annual holiday. For the past few years they have spent their holiday in the Lake District but this year they opted for a change of scenery and headed south to Bognor Regis in Sussex.

The location may have changed but the trip still started out with a cold and icy journey early on Saturday morning but they finally found the seaside and even a spot of sun. They stayed in a hotel managed by Action for Blind People, known as The Russell Hotel, situated between Portsmouth and Brighton. This made it the ideal destination to explore the exciting activities this area of England has to offer.

To kick start the holiday the group visited the Wetlands Centre, a 65-acre reserve in South Downs National Park, for a chance to meet some of the local wildlife. Afterwards they enjoyed a walk by the sea and even got to see a fresh catch of fish. To round off the day learners and staff enjoyed a disco back at the hotel.

The next morning was spent exploring the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum which has over 40 historic buildings that have been rescued and carefully rebuilt. Learners got to see live demonstrations of how people used to live and work in the past. After another busy morning they went on to visit the nearby city of Chichester, where they looked around the City's Cathedral, which is nearly 1000 years old, and they even found time to squeeze in some shopping!

On their last full day learners took the opportunity to explore Brighton which of course included a stroll along the famous sea front and along the pier. After some sightseeing they went on some of the beach front fair rides and shopped for last minute souvenirs.

They arrived back at the College at around 4 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, in good spirits but looking rather tired. At least they have the half term break to relax before the start of another busy term.

See photos from the trip on our Flickr site.