The UK’s hotpots for domestic travel are well documented, from Bath’s Roman baths to country walks in the Lake District. But with staycations set to be huge this summer, how do you get off the beaten path – and experience parts of the UK that only locals usually get to? Luckily, that insider knowledge has come to you. Our local Skyscanner writers have revealed the UK hidden gems that you never knew about, but that after this year will be your favourite spots, too. We’ll keep it a secret if you will.
Best UK hidden gem for walkers
If you’re in the west country and staying in Bath, it’s just a 10-minute train trundle to one of the region’s most beautiful spots: Bradford-on-Avon. Less populated by tourists but equally picturesque as Bath, this historic town nestles on the hillsides that rise from the banks of the River Avon and is a beautiful starting spot for walks in the area.
Start by arming yourself with a Bradford on Avon Walking Wheel – a map that will guide you through the area’s 42-mile network of interconnected walks – then set off on a short or long ramble, or a hilly climb. The village of Avoncliff is a mile and a half’s walk away along the River Avon – you’ll be welcomed by a view of its pretty aqueduct when you arrive. Grab a slap-up lunch and a local ale at the Cross Guns pub, before making your way back to Bradford-on-Avon.
Eat: a venison burger with chorizo mayo from the Bunch of Grapes, one of Bradford-on-Avon’s go-to gastro pubs.
Sleep: at the top-rated Timbrell’s Yard, also celebrated for its on-site dining.
Don’t leave without: a soak at the thermal baths in nearby Bath – it would be rude not to.
Best UK hidden gem for camping
Tucked away by Wells-next-the-Sea in north Norfolk, Holkham beach is one of those spots that those in the know want to keep a secret. With sweeping expanses of white sand framed by pine forests and dunes, this is one of England’s most unspoilt beaches, immortalised (with the help of Gwyneth Paltrow) in the closing scene of romantic drama Shakespeare in Love. Wildlife abounds in the surrounding Norfolk Coast AONB, and activities like horse riding and canoeing are on the doorstep.
Where better, then, to set up camp for a staycation in the wild? Especially when Holkham Hall – a glorious country house complete with walled garden, cycle hire and boat hire – is a stone’s throw away.
Eat: at the Victoria Inn, in the middle of the Holkham National Nature Reserve, where all produce is beautifully fresh and local – whether it’s Norfolk samphire, local shellfish, beef from Holkham Estate or venison from their own herd of fallow deer.
Sleep: at Whitehall Farm Accommodation, recommended by travel industry expert Rachel Johnston: “They have lots of tent pitches, two yurts and three wood cabins with stretcher beds, heating, a fridge and TV. The whole site is gorgeous, so peaceful and only 10 minutes’ drive from Holkham Beach.”
If you prefer a hotel, The Quay B&B is nearby in Wells next the Sea.
Don’t live without: donning Holkham tweeds and testing your skills on the virtual tractor driving experience as part of Holkham Stories…
To read the full article, visit the original article on UK gems for a post-lockdown break on the Skyscanner website.