Summer is calling! See our top 5 staycation destinations for 2021

22^nd July 2021

Phew, summer is turning out to be a scorcher! So why not take advantage of the great weather and go on a staycation here in the UK.

But where to go? Well, we like to try to make life as easy as possible, so we narrowed it down to the top 5 places that we think are worth a butchers.

Let’s dive in!

1. The City Break – Edinburgh

   Great Scot, this is the ultimate road trip!

   Discover a city shrouded in history, both sinister and enchanting. Take a tour of the underground spaces beneath the city, where old shops and dungeons will transport you to a time long forgotten.

   Then travel to the beautiful castle where you can almost see Lady Macbeth stalking the turrets with murderous intent.

   But among the tons of museums and attractions (like the Surgeon’s Hall Museum) there are some weird and wonderful bars and restaurants to get stuck in to - make sure to pay a visit to Hoot the Redeemer, accessed through a wall by answering a fortune teller’s questions.

   Or go to The Witchery, where you will be certain to be spellbound by their incredible décor and food.

   

2. The Paradise Dream – St. Ives and the Isles of Scilly

   Ahhhh the home of pirates from the past! The Cornish Coves are so awash with seafaring stories and mystery, that it had to be on this list.

   Drive down to St. Ives for some truly spectacular views and beaches… and a cheeky cream tea or two! Then go a further 20 minutes down to Penzance, to truly be in pirate territory, but this is also where you can catch a ferry (or helicopter!) to the Isles of Scilly. Where an amazing cluster of islands lie, just begging to be discovered.

   Tresco is one of their islands that's as close to being in a tropical dream as you can get… but in the UK! Then there’s St. Mary’s, the biggest island out of them and full of delicious spots for rustic cooking and a treasure trove of history.

3. The Wild Card – Bournemouth

   Keeping the beach vibe truly alive, is Bournemouth! If chilling on the sands with a clubbing backdrop is your bag, then this is the place to be.

   But don’t get it twisted, this place has a lot of beauty spots on offer too, along with cheap camping to pitch up at if you fancy.

   The Mecca (not the bingo hall, but Bournemouth does have one if that’s your thing!) for that carefree, hedonistic summer vibe is known in these parts with festivals galore and the gateway to places such as Poole and the infamous Isle of Wight (accessible by ferry for a day trip or two).

   For the full experience, visit their website, where they also have helpful advice for parking.

   

4. The Camping Gem – Cheddar – Somerset

   Ahhh, Somerset and it’s delicious sounding Gorge (if you’re a fan of cheese like me!). You definitely have to take a trip here. It also has a claim to fame with cult film ‘Hot Fuzz’ being filmed there.

   With places like Wooky Hole and the Gorge itself, you’re already onto a winner. Go glamping and stay in a shepherds hut or gypsy caravan and you can pretend you’re in Lord of the Rings for the night.

   Or pitch your tent in one of the many campsites in the area, have a bbq and a chilled evening under the stars with your mates and then travel to the Sheppey Inn, for some lunch.

   You’re not far from Gloucester, Oxford, Bristol and Bath either, so the option to extend your road trip into an epic adventure is there!

   

5. The All-Rounder – York and the Dales

   The beautiful rolling hills of the Dales up North has got to be on a road trip bucket list!

   Drive to York and marvel at the Minster (massive cathedral for anyone asking), then take a trip down The Shambles, to truly get a taste for what life was like back in the olden days, and be sure to have a cream tea there too!

   Then after you’ve explored the ruined abbey and Viking museum, drive on to the incredible dales to absorb its nature in all of its glory! A truly breathtaking place with its waterfalls, woods and brooks - it's a real feast for the eyes and senses.

   It's also one of the UK’s Dark Reserves dedicated to protecting our skies from light pollution.

   

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