July 25th 2023.
After years of camping holidays with my parents and never fully appreciating the beauty of the UK, I’ve come to realise that heading for the hills is the best way to make the most of the sunshine. Sure, a 99 with a flake on the beach might be the first choice for many, but with the rise of the staycation in recent years it might be worth looking for a woodland adventure instead.
When I was a kid, I spent my holidays camping all over the UK with my parents and my younger brother. But I would always ask them ‘why can’t we go somewhere hot instead?’ It wasn’t until I reached my late 20s and I was fed up of battling for a spot on a beach on sunny breaks around Europe with my friends, that I started to appreciate what we have on our doorstep. Suddenly I understood why my parents had chosen the UK for our holidays all these years.
The wonderful morning views are far better than looking at lines of sun loungers. Spending time in the countryside doesn’t have to just involve tents and pegs. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of tent trips with the family, where I would be wondering why I wasn’t just sat on a sun-lounger with an ice-cold Coca-Cola. But now I’m ready to go out and enjoy the beauty spots of the UK and embrace whatever the seasons throw at me.
The Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, the Norfolk Broads, and the Brecon Beacons are all just a few hours drive from the capital. And if you’re lucky enough to live even closer, then you may already know just how wonderful they are.
These days, you don’t even have to worry about getting muddy hiking boots in your tent. There are a range of all sorts of different bouji lodges, luxury treehouses, and glamping sites, that give you the best of both worlds. You can enjoy the countryside and the fresh air away from the big cities, while also having a hot tub, stove, and a comfortable bed.
After enduring lockdowns and travel restrictions over the last few years, anyone who wanted to go on holiday was forced to look closer to home. This has led to a huge rise in the number of far more accessible spots in the UK, that some savvy businesses have turned into luxury camping sites.
My first venture to the south was to Ewelme. It was just one train from London Paddington and I was there in just over an hour. I stayed in the Chilterns View Lodge and it was the perfect place to get away. The lodges there were incredibly secluded and had picturesque views of the Chiltern Hills and 324 miles of glorious spaces to get lost.
The cabins had just what you need to rest your feet up after a long day of exploring. There were books to help you plan your trip, a kitchen if you wanted to cook up breakfast or dinner with a view, and a hot tub to enjoy a glass of wine in.
Sometimes people forget just how stunning the countryside is on their doorstep. Instead of breakfast without a view, why not enjoy your morning meal in front of rolling hills? And don’t forget, you can still enjoy ice cream in the countryside if you really want to!
The idea of the packed beach with windbreakers lining the sand isn’t as appealing as it might sound. So when you’re looking for a big summer holiday, why not avoid the beaches and head to the hills?
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