STAYCATION IDEAS

With the evolving travel restrictions that seem to be changing every week, rather than an overseas trip. Travel Supermarket have put together a comprehensive list of staycations in ol' Blighty. And why not, ey? Britain is blessed with some cracking coastline, world-class cities and spectacular rural regions. Plus, when the weather’s right (and it does happen occasionally!), it's hard to beat the UK as a holiday destination. Who needs the Med when you’ve got Cornwall on your doorstep? No, we’re not joking – if you think Cornwall (or Kernow as you might hear the locals call it) is just about pasties, then think again! England’s west extremity has the lot. Besides its many stunning beaches, Cornwall has a deep sense of heritage and a vibrant creative side to explore. For the latter, look no further than the incredible Eden Project or Tate St Ives. Hankering for some great food? Head to pretty Padstow, which boasts excellent restaurants including chef Rick Stein’s flagship fish venue. The surf’s up in Bude, Newquay and Perranporth, and, of course, no trip to Cornwall would be complete without a visit to iconic Land’s End.

The Lake District is famed for its high fells, mighty lakes and its infinite capacity to inspire – countless writers, from Wordsworth to Beatrix Potter, have fallen in love with the place.

Sixteen main bodies of water make up the park’s lakes, while England's tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, the second peak in the Three Peaks Challenge endurance event, is also located here. The area is renowned for its stunning walking routes, natural history and its quaint lakeside communities such as Keswick and Bowness-on-Windermere.

Where should I stay in the Lake District?

As Britain’s most popular national park, there’s a wide range of accommodation available in the Lakes. Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere are good options, while Buttermere is situated in-between the lake of the same name and Crummock Water. The town of Keswick is closest to Derwent Water.

Glennridding and Watermillock are good shouts for

Ullswater, while there are plenty of smaller villages in and around the Lakes, as well as campsites and caravan sites. Credit: TravelSuperMarket

Reknowned as one of the UK's beauty spots, North Wales has long been singled out as an area of stunning landscapes, from its rolling, rugged terrain to quaint chocolate box villages.

It’s here you’ll find one of Britain’s best loved national parks in Snowdonia, the stunning island of Anglesey, typically Welsh coastal towns like Conwy, and family holiday classics like Llandudno and Colwyn Bay. Thrillseekers not content with conquering Snowdon’s summit will also find the largest zipline in Europe, artificial waves at Surf Snowdonia, and epic wakeboarding in Conwy.

Where should I stay in North Wales? Dolgellau is a good base if you’re intent on climbing Snowdon, while Beaumaris is the perfect spot from which to explore Anglesey. Llandudno has all the charms of a classic family holiday, while nearby Conwy is smaller but much more picturesque. If you’d prefer to stay somewhere with more going on, Bangor offers more by way of decent nightlife, while the royal town of Caernarfon offers history and tradition in abundance.

This boundless area contains the Cairngorms, Britain’s largest national park; Ben

Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain; and Loch Ness, one of Britain’s most famous lakes. Phew – that’s a fair bit of epic scenery right there, and that’s not even the half of it. Vast and sparsely populated, it’s also known for its remarkable castles, traditional Scottish clan history and friendly, charming people. Love whisky and walking? Not only does the Scottish Highlands have some of the most breathtakingly beautiful scenery in all of the UK, but some of the world’s best malts are made here too. There’s nothing quite like cosying up by a log fire with a wee dram after a long, bracing walk. Where should I stay in the Scottish Highlands?

To call the Highlands big would be a slight understatement. At 30,659 km², the area is roughly the same size as Belgium – let’s just say there’s plenty of places to stay. Really it just depends on what you’re after: for mountains, there’s

Fort William, near Ben Nevis, or Aviermore in the

Cairngorms; for lakes, there’s Drumnadrochit on Loch

Ness; for cities, try Inverness; and then there’s the whole island of Skye to explore.

Really want to connect with nature? Pitch your tent where you like – wild camping is legal on most unenclosed land in Scotland (as long as you stick to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code).