Five Year-Round UK Holiday Destinations
Staycations are sooooo in.
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Itchy's had enough of gap yaaah tales. Why not embrace a bit of YOUR OWN country for a short break? No need to pack your passport or go through security... just throw a few jumpers (and as much liquid and metal as you like) in your rucksack and away you go!
Southwold, Suffolk
Like beach huts? Then you'll love this place. From cute quaint tearooms like Tilly's to chic boutique Collen & Clare, Southwold is about as unspoilt as any seaside town can be in 2012... it even has its own brewery, which is definitely worth a tour. Whatever you do, don't miss out on the pier - Itchy's favourite seaside attraction in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD. Fact. Legendary artist Tim Hunkin has done an amazing job creating some pretty weird and wonderful arcade machines and games, from the Autofrisk (exactly how it sounds) to the Expressive Photobooth. Seriously, go there.
The Lake District
Mountain biking. Hiking. Gorge walking. Abseiling. Diving, Water-skiing... it's all here. Itchy likes to imagine that we're a character from some sort of action film, traversing the dramatic landscape while humming a vague sort of theme tune under our breath. Obviously there's other stuff to do, but if you come to a place with five groups of hills and over fifteen lakes, you sort of need to embrace the great outdoors.
Bournemouth, Dorset
From the moment we arrived and saw actual palm trees at the train station, we knew we were in for a treat. Bournemouth has a massive sandy beach, incredible nightlife and loads of places to explore. It's also the home of milkshake bar chain ShakeAway, so make sure you visit the original bar for one of their milky creations. Itchy can't wait for Boscombe Surf Reef to reopen so we can pretend we're from 90210...
Dartmouth, Devon
Itchy enjoys a bit of Dartmouth. We like the crepe shop, the ice cream booth, the band stand which always seems to have a slightly crazy busker performing inside it... but most of all, we love the harbour. Itchy's heard that you can canoe around the harbour with a little help from the local canoe club - just prepare to embarrass yourself when you fall in and can't get back into your boat again. (Not that we know this from bitter experience...)
Norfolk Broads, Norfolk
Another opportunity to get wet, the Norfolk Broads offers a brilliant short break for all the family. Itchy personally enjoys getting an old-school sailing boat from one of the many boat yards and pretending that we're from Swallows and Amazons... but there are also motor boats, dinghies and all manner of floaty things available. Don't miss Lathams at Potter Heigham, the ultimate independent supermarket - you can literally buy ANYTHING here, from emergency pants to books about S Club 7 (oh, and obviously all the tasty sailing rations your heart desires).
It's all out there, in your wonderful country. Why not make a tour of it? Just don't forget your raincoat...
Tags
outdoor |
British |
best |
alternative |
action |
adventure |
