As we head towards summer – summer, who said summer?? Hands up how many of you are still wearing a vest and/or have the central heating on in your house?
Me too! Where is the summer?
Anyway – when summer finally makes an appearance and various forecasts predict a heatwave sometime in June – we await it with bated breath and our shorts at the ready (and our fingers crossed!)
And with the warm weather comes thoughts of a holiday and like many people I have ruled out a trip to the airport and a 5 hour check-in/security outing even before boarding the plane. I think it’s time to support the British economy and have a staycation this year. Now I know we cannot guarantee the weather but we live on a beautiful island and we should make the most of it.
Many of you have your favourite places to visit be it a city like York, Bath or Oxford and who could overlook an afternoon tea in Harrogate. Or maybe you’ll head to the capital and visit the sights and museums of London.
Many like the mountains of North Wales or Scotland, a bit of wild walking or climbing or maybe like me you love the seaside.
Here are my top 5 places to visit:
1. Tenby, South Wales
2. Lyme Regis, Dorset
3. Lake District, Cumbria
4. Hastings, East Sussex
5. Devon
1. Tenby: I’ve been visiting this part of the world since I was about 7 or 8 years old and have been returning time and time again for, shall we say, decades and still it has the power to bring me a sense of peace and calm. I love the harbour and the beaches, the brightly coloured Georgian terraces, the castles and the big skies. I am half Welsh on my mother’s side of the family and it feels like home and I love it. I also like the village of Saundersfoot just around Monkstone Point and the even smaller village of Wisemans Bridge.
2. Lyme Regis: Dorset is a stunning county, and the small town of Lyme Regis is the jewel in it’s crown. A typically quaint seaside town with a working harbour, beach huts and lots of unique local shops and bars.
3. Lake District: If I can be tempted away from the shore then this is my go to place, probably because there’s water there too! We always stay at the Angel Inn, Windermere where there is a warm welcome, beautiful rooms and delicious food. They also let you read the Sunday papers in the lounge in front of a log fire with rugby on the TV – doesn’t get much better than that on a cold November afternoon. The mountains are great for a short ramble of a long hike, the lakes have boat trips to take in the scenery. Love it!
4. Hastings: Venture away from the new town to the old town and you will be rewarded with pretty houses and shops galore. The old harbour has fresh fish for sale and though the beach is pebbly it is pretty and there is an exceptionally long prom to walk along. Georgian and Victorian terrace abound and it’s quieter than neighbouring Brighton; a great base to view this part of the country.
5. Devon: anywhere on the North Devon gets my vote, Bideford, Woolacombe and Illfracombe. Then on the south coast you have some seriously stunning places to visit. The county has everything you could want for a staycation, National parks, beaches, cream tea’s, you name it – it’s there. I can’t wait to visit again. Spoiled for choice.
So wherever you decide to go on your English Summer Holiday this year, a strange almost post-covid year (still with social distancing and masks) enjoy it. Make the most of it and have fun.
Comments