The Most Relaxing Places in the UK Holidays do not have to always be about how much can be crammed into as short a time as possible; sometimes holidays can be relaxing too. Where better to relax and let it all hang out than on the Norfolk Broads?
There are many holiday cottages and lodges available to hire in Norfolk, but a novel and rather wonderful idea is to hire a boat for the duration of your visit. Barnes Brinkcraft in Norwich has a wonderful range of boats, sleeping from 2 to 12 people, as required. On a boat it is possible to fish, explore and bird-watch to your heart’s content; all without having to step outside your ‘door’! Norfolk has so much to offer the visitor, from solo travellers to families with many children, and even the family dog! A lot of pubs allow dogs inside; and many of the lodges have accommodation for pets too. The Norfolk coast features award winning beaches, glorious coastal walks and birdlife from all over the world, lying as it does on one of the main migratory pathways.
The Islands of Scilly offer big skies, white sandy beaches and acres of beautiful unspoiled landscape. For those visitors who so desire there is a wide range of physical activities to try. Boat tours hosted by local boatmen, experts in the area and willing to share their knowledge will pass an afternoon very pleasantly. Walks and guided tours on land are also available, led by enthusiastic locals, who will display the key highlights – and some of the hidden treasures too – of their beautiful home. Designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the islands cry out to be explored at leisure. Bicycling and walking paths snake over the landscape, inviting use. In the summer months the beaches promise a perfect sea-side holiday to families and couples alike. Whether you like sailing, walking, playing golf, taking photographs, bird watching or have an interest in marine life, the Islands of Scilly are bound to offer superb opportunities for a relaxing, yet memorable holiday.
The Lake District has long been on the tourist trail; stunning pretty scenery is off-set by the wide range of activities and sights available to the visitor; from Beatrix Potter’s house, where the wonderful characters first came to life, to the World of Beatrix Potter, and entertainment attraction and the Beatrix Potter gallery, fans of Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddleduck can immerse themselves to the full. A ‘proper’ English tea with cream scones and jam is a must-have in this quintessentially English area. Weather permitting the visitor can hire a canoe, or even take a flying lesson: but if the weather is not amenable jewellery-making and other handicrafts can be learned, and there are a multitude of stately homes awaiting exploration.
The Orkneys offer almost everything the relaxation seeker desires – leisurely walks that are not too taxing, and enough points of interest and highlights to prevent boredom taking over. Neolithic monuments can be found here, proof that man has long lived on the Orkneys. Skara Brae, uncovered in the mid-1800’s by the vagaries of a storm, proved to be a remarkably well-preserved Neolithic village and the stone circles at Stenness and Brodger, which feature tombs, monuments and settlements have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Wildlife is abundant on and just off the island, particularly birdlife. The RSPB managed about 8000 hectares of the island in order to protect breeding sites and habitats. Otters, seals and voles can be spotted by the careful watcher and seals will even come to investigate if a visitor is quiet and patient. Whales and dolphins can be spotted just off the coast, and this is sufficiently rare for it to be a very exciting occurrence when it does.
Kent is known as ‘The Garden of England’ and this soubriquet is appropriate, beautiful gardens abound, whether attached to castles or stately homes and many are open the public. Beautiful, leisurely walks or cycle rides, followed by cream teas in one of the many tea-shops can be followed by a luxurious spa-day. Pottery painting is a wonderful way to learn a new skill and create a unique memento of the holiday.
Cornwall offers the longest continuous stretch of coastline in Britain along which can be found quaint tiny fishing villages, smugglers coves, cunning bays and beaches and tall cliffs. Moorland countryside hides a wide array of wildlife, especially birds from all over. Steam railways offer something a bit different, a glimpse into the glorious past of transportation; while the East Pool Mine harks back to the industrial age of Cornwall’s mining era. Take a picnic, go boating or cycling, or simply walk your way through the beauty of the English countryside.
Attached Images:
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.sxc.hu/
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.sxc.hu/
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.sxc.hu/
- License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.sxc.hu/
Colin McDonald writes on behalf of Norfolk weekends away from www.pottersholidays.com