When there's no choice but to staycation at home

by Vanessa Anderson

Our world has been turned upside down. For the past seven years we've been full-time nomads and international travellers. We've explored the four corners of the earth, house sitting and combining slow travel. We found a way to experience as much of the world as possible, on a limited budget.

We sold our homes and changed our careers. Firstly becoming TEFL teachers and spending a year living and teaching in China, then developing an online community and magazine for the global house and pet sitting community.

Outdoor adventures are what we most enjoy, from hiking up mountains, mountain biking, canoeing, and more recently, sailing. We don't sit on beaches, frequent spas or spend evenings in upmarket bars and restaurants. It's just not our thing.

We love the outdoors. We live for change, and we relish a challenge. And that's just what we got in March 2020!

All travel and house sitting came to a rather abrupt end as the effects of Covid19 closed borders and confined us all to lockdown, mostly back in our home countries.|

Lockdown choices

Of course we were disappointed that our house sit in New York City, and our summer repeat sit in the Caribbean were both to be cancelled. But our initial concerns involved finding a safe place to live before lockdown took hold. It wasn't easy for those of us who have chosen to live a nomadic life.

But we were prepared – you have to be these days. You adapt to change quickly when you don't have the security of a home and a regular job! But we wouldn't want it any other way.

Through the help of friends we found ourselves with a long term lockdown rental in Cornwall.

Tucked away in a bubble of rural safety on the Lizard Peninsula, not far from the remote tip of western most England, at Lands End, we've been pondering the future of our travel and nomadic lifestyle. Instead of dreaming of far distant locations, we've looked closer to home for our travel fixes.

Looking closer to home for a travel fix

When lock-down began and we were allowed only a short trip out to exercise each day, we made the most of this hour. With the help of OS Maps, Ian found just about every countryside footpath and bridleway within a few miles of home. When limited to a few square miles you have to be creative. We realized that with a mixture of cycling, a good bike lock, and more off the beaten track hikes, we could extend our range. When we were allowed to drive, we ventured even further afield.

In two months we've gone no further than 20 miles and we have rarely repeated any of our routes.

We've cycled the shortest coast to coast route in the UK while learning all about Cornish mining history. We've walked the entire section of the South West Coast Walk between the Helford River and Land's End devising circular walks to complete it in 16 separate hikes, become experts at identifying wild flower and birds, and watching seals and enjoying sausage brunches along the way.

Last week we reflected on the fact that our 2 months in Cornwall rivalled some of our more adventurous road trips in the USA. It was a revelation!

Pretty Porthleven, Cornwall in the middle of lockdown

A new kind of holiday

It seems we have embraced the concept of a "staycation" or 'holistay' by default at a time when we thought our travel was on an indefinite hold.

Staycations certainly aren't a new idea. But Staycations are most definitely getting a lot of press right now as Brits find themselves unable, or unwilling to travel further afield.

Why would you? At a time when there's so much uncertainty around Covid19, with all manner of different regulations and quarantine rules, the need for mandatory mask wearing in some public places, and a lack of freedom to roam and enjoy sights as we did before.

Most inside spaces are now restricted to less visitors and you'll need to book in advance, even for many National Trust and English Heritage gardens and buildings.

That of itself, could be a good thing.

Over recent years we've seen more and more travellers scrambling to get the perfect Instagram picture, and to be honest we've found ourselves less drawn to the popular sightseeing locations. We were lucky to get tickets to the Alhambra in Granada on our last trip to Spain, but the queuing, and the crowds of people, large groups of overseas tourists, made it a less enjoyable experience than in years gone by.

Stonehenge at the point where travel was diminishing in the UK

Travel over the next year will be like never before as the world comes to terms with how to keep people safe until a vaccine is found. It's likely to involve even more queuing, social distancing, less relaxing café and lunch breaks, fewer social interactions, masks and higher costs.

That's not for us anymore! Our house sitting lifestyle has already introduced a slower way to travel, to enjoy a local area, to take less rushed between sit adventures. So we think adapting to the idea of that being in our own country for a while, isn't going to be too difficult. And we are enjoying thinking about new ways to create mini-adventures as part of a staycation.

What exactly is a staycation?

A staycation involves not venturing further than driving distance of your home, with or without accommodation. It's also become a more general term for taking a vacation in your home country.

My thoughts returned recently to friends, years ago, raising much laughter when they announced they were taking their caravan just 5 miles from home to enjoy an alternative perspective on their local environment. They woke up and cooked breakfast in a field, watched badgers at sunset, listened to the birds and enjoyed switching off from their normal routine, for just a couple of days before returning the caravan to the driveway!

Little did they know they were pioneering what we might now see as a normal way to take a vacation.

And think about it. Five miles from home requires no tiresome traffic queues, and no wasting a day each end of your holiday in the airport, on the ferry or train.

What about the anticipation of experiencing a new and different culture, language, food, and of course the promise of better weather? Nothing is ever perfect, even a trip abroad can have its disappointments. Maybe now is the time to embrace your local history and culture. There are lots of ways we think you'll find a staycation just as enjoyable as a vacation abroad.

Clearing stones ready to set up camp in the Grand Canyon

Alternative staycation options

A vacation at home doesn't mean you have to uproot and go to the most popular tourist destination in the UK, book a hotel and venture little further than the spa or indoor pool.

One thing we've learned is that there‘s much to be enjoyed in nature, away from crowds and busy tourist sites. We've distanced ourselves from people and replaced this with increased exercise, exploration and outdoor living. We've discovered the joy of supporting local suppliers, eating and experimenting with local foods.

One benefit of lock-down has been that many of us have found alternative ways to enjoy our life with simplicity – gardening, cooking, growing veggies, walking, cycling, running. And we've had much more quality time with our immediate families – time to chat, time to appreciate each other.

Will this all disappear as soon as lockdowns are lifted? Will we just gravitate back to the stress and pressure of a rushed package holiday? Or will we try to hold on to these new discoveries?

For many in the UK a staycation is the most we can expect this year. But that doesn't need to be seen as a disappointment. We want to inspire you with ideas to discover more remote areas of the United Kingdom. We'd like to help you take pleasure in simple things.

What might you do?

Have you ever taken a road trip?

Been foraging for wild foods in the countryside?

Explored the canal systems and waterways of your home country?

Stayed in a lighthouse in winter with the waves crashing round you?

Taken a mini-adventure overnight wild camping with a bivvy bag?

Trekked on horseback in the mountain foothills?

Stayed in a yurt or a gypsy caravan?

The options are endless, and with a little creativity we think you might find, like us, that some of your best staycations may rival your most expensive overseas vacations!

Now start dreaming!

Vanessa & her partner Ian are full-time British travellers and house sitters who have published the online publication House Sitting Magazine since 2016. They provide numerous resources for the community as they continue their explorations and slow travel adventures across the globe. You can find out more about their house sitting lifestyle here or at

LongTermHouseSitters.com