Picnics signal a return to a simpler life, when there was plenty of leisure time to spend lazing about in a bucolic, pastoral setting, stuffing yourself full of delightful food and drink in the sun-dappled company of family and friends.
21.07.2023 - 07:49 / roughguides.com
Check our guide to the best UK winter breaks. Forget grim weather, ignore long, dark nights and have fun instead. Discover picturesque destinations that are even more beautiful during winter.
This article is inspired by our Rough Guides guidebooks — your essential guides for travelling the world.
Visit Cairngorm Reindeer in the Cairngorms, close to Aviemore. Established in 1952, it's home to the UK's only free-roaming winter herd. The herd's now 150 reindeer strong and winter tours are available with expert herders.
The name Cairngorm comes from the Gaelic An Carm Gorm, meaning “the blue hill” after the blueish-tinged stones found in the area. The conservation of the landscape’s unique flora and fauna is, of course, one of the principal reasons national park status was conferred.
The Cairngorms National Park covers almost 1750 square miles and incorporates the Cairngorms massif, the largest mountainscape in the UK. It is the only sizeable plateau in the country over 2500ft. It’s the biggest national park in Britain. Crossing the range is a significant challenge: by road, the only connection is the A939 Tomintoul to Cock Bridge, frequently impassable in winter due to snow.
On foot, the only way to avoid the high peaks is to follow the old cattle drovers’ route called the Lairig Ghru. It is a very long day’s walk between Inverdruie at the edge of Rothiemurchus and the Linn of Dee, near Inverey.
If you are planning a winter trip to Scotland, take a look at our Christmas tailor-made tour in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.
See reindeer on UK winter breaks in Scotland @ A D Harvey/Shutterstock
Set in Aviemore, 48 km from Inverness Castle, Ravenscraig Guest House offers accommodation with a shared lounge, free private parking and a garden. Featuring family rooms, this property also provides guests with a sun terrace. The guest house has ski storage space.
Surrounded by woodland, Aviemore Youth Hostel is situated on the boundary of the Cairngorm National Park and a short walk from Aviemore town centre, offering an ideal location for outdoor activities.
Cairngorm Lodge is set in Aviemore, 13 km from Boat of Garten Golf Club and 13 km from Highland Wildlife Park, in an area where skiing can be enjoyed. Situated 48 km from the University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, the property features a garden and free private parking.
York is the North’s most compelling city, a place whose history, said George VI, “is the history of England”. This northern city has a lot to offer in terms of how to spend UK winter breaks:
York, Shambles alley in sunset dusk © Shutterstock
Situated in the heart of York, The Bar Convent is only a 15-minute minute walk from the city centre and just over 300 m from York Railway
Picnics signal a return to a simpler life, when there was plenty of leisure time to spend lazing about in a bucolic, pastoral setting, stuffing yourself full of delightful food and drink in the sun-dappled company of family and friends.
Nestled in the north-west corner of Ireland, the city of Derry-Londonderry (Northern Ireland) and the county of Donegal (Republic of Ireland) sit snugly side by side. Taken together, this pair have every ingredient you could want from a short break: a dollop of history, a splash of culture and immeasurable quantities of nature and adventure. Better yet, it’s a combination that few have yet to put together.
The first thing that strikes me about Kalma Saun is that there is nowhere to hide. Brilliant white tiles stretch from floor to ceiling and buffed steel faucets reflect the glare from fluorescent lights—as if I am standing in an interrogation room rather than Tallinn’s oldest public sauna.
A recent report released from travel marketing engine Sojern, analyzed travel trends from January 2015 to April 2016 and found the top international destinations for U.S. travelers as well as the top emerging and declining international spots.
Fall is often referred to as the sweet spot of travel for many destinations because you’ll encounter fewer crowds and pleasant weather, post summer’s high season.
Summer, also known as high season for travel, is almost here. And according to AAA just about everyone is poised to hit the road. The organization predicts two-thirds of what it categorizes as “leisure travelers” plan to take vacations this summer, meaning millions of Americans will be hitting the road.
Italy’s Riviera di Ponente, or Western Riviera, has long attracted travelers—in the late 19th century new rail connections made it easier for well-heeled and titled English and Russians to escape their dreary winters, but before and after WWII, destinations on the Côte d'Azur and Riviera di Levante (the Eastern Riviera), like Rapallo, Portofino, and later, Cinque Terre, stepped into the spotlight, drawing celebrity names and eventually flocks of tourists.
If you’re dreaming of long days soaking up the sun, ice-cold drink in hand, soaking up the scenery, the National Geographic Traveller (UK) team has just the ticket. Here are our 10 favourite pubs in the UK for summer drinking, from a remote beachside boozer to an urban brewery bar.
I’m lost in a glorious meadow, amid tall grasses and vibrant cornflowers. It’s as if time has stood still. All around me scarlet poppies and yellow Rudbeckias sway and dance, the mid-summer sun adding to the colourful haze. It’s like something out of a picture book – a quintessential English scene.
California's Death Valley has long been considered the hottest place on Earth.
A 71-year-old man died after going for a hike in Death Valley, California, on Tuesday after the area received numerous extreme heat warnings, with temperatures soaring to over 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Disneyland Hotel is the flagship resort located just steps from Downtown Disney and the two California theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.