{"id":1047,"date":"2021-04-17T08:36:05","date_gmt":"2021-04-17T08:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chilloutlondon.com\/blog\/?p=1047"},"modified":"2023-01-28T06:10:39","modified_gmt":"2023-01-28T06:10:39","slug":"7-uk-destinations-for-a-quiet-staycation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/2021\/04\/17\/7-uk-destinations-for-a-quiet-staycation\/","title":{"rendered":"7 UK Destinations For A Quiet Staycation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We continue the theme with finding a UK staycation<\/a> that isn\u2019t swamped with tourists. If you still fancy a quiet and relaxing staycation<\/a> this year, we\u2019ve got just the thing. After hunting down some of the best coastal towns across the country, our list of charming coastal towns will give you some serious food for thought when booking a UK destination<\/a>. From pretty Victorian seaside towns with candy floss and arcades to places to hike that aren\u2019t as obvious as Mount Snowdon. There is nothing quite like the feeling of being close to nature, without the noise and chaos of tourists and crowds. So, if you\u2019re ready to virtually travel across the UK, from Norfolk to Northern Ireland, let\u2019s begin!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1: St David\u2019s, South Wales<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

St.David\u2019s in South Wales is actually the smallest city in Britain, with only 1,600 people calling this beautiful part of the country home. Within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, St.David\u2019s is a popular surfing hotspot. With white waves and soft sandy beaches, embrace the elements and try coasteering, sea kayaking, climbing, and surfing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UK<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wildlife fans will also be happy to hear that there are plenty of whale and dolphin watching trips from St.David\u2019s which sail out to Ramsey Island, an RSPB reserve. Or stay on land and spot wild ponies grazing on St.David\u2019s head. Since this area is protected, make sure to be conscious during your staycation and remove all traces of your visit when you leave. Rubbish from picnics on the beach, leftover rope from climbers, and plastic bottles dotted along the coastal paths can have a significant impact on the wildlife. So be responsible and respect this charming UK destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2: The Grey Mare\u2019s Tail Nature Reserve, Dumfries & Galloway<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Next, we\u2019re heading up north to visit one of Scotland\u2019s hidden gems. The Grey Mare\u2019s Tail Nature Reserve in Dumfries and Galloway<\/a> is home to a spectacular 60-meter waterfall that plunges into Loch Skeen below. Take in the breathtaking views as you trek the landscape etched out by glacial erosion over millions of years. Challenge your mind and body by scaling the peaks of Lochcraid Head. You\u2019ll be able to see as far as the Lake District from the summit of White Coomb.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"UK<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

This UK destination is best for the brave and adventurous, which means hopefully you won\u2019t find a lot of crowds gathering halfway up the mountain! Spot peregrine falcons, feral goats, osprey fishing in the loch, and one of Britain\u2019s rarest freshwater fish, the vendace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3: Rivington Terraced Gardens, Lancashire<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For an easier walk in the wilderness, consider Rivington Terraced Gardens in Lancashire. There is simply nowhere else like it, with an Italian lake, ideal for an open water swim, a Japanese Lake and garden with oriental pagoda style tea houses as well as winding paths and hidden caves to explore. There is also a tea room and cafe at the base of the hill for refreshments after an energetic day out.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"UK<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The walk is not too difficult and even young children will enjoy this adventure. However, sadly, many families are still not removing their litter after visiting Rivington Terraced Gardens and a team of helpers are trying to overcome the growing environmental issue. So consider turning your trip into an eco-friendly experience, by litter picking as you hike and teach young children about the importance of protecting and conserving places of natural beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4: Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Escape the chaos of inner London and book a staycation at Wells-next-the-Sea<\/a> in Norfolk. The best way to see this coastal town is to jump aboard the famous Wells & Walsingham Light Railway, a classic steam train giving passengers a relaxing journey around the area. As one of the largest nature reserves by the coast in England and Wales, Wells-next-the-Sea is a great UK destination for bird watching.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"UK<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t fancy watching the sky, why not go for a trek along the coast with an alpaca by your side! After burning off some energy, head to Holkham Hall, a stately home set in a 3,000-acre park with roaming wild deer. Although make sure to always watch from afar, and do not approach or attempt to feed these majestic creatures. This is a key filming location and can be seen in the film The Duchess (2008) starring Keira Knightley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5: Southport, Merseyside<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Experience a quintessentially British Victorian coastal town by booking a staycation in Southport<\/a>. With the country\u2019s second-longest pier, grab some candy floss and walk to the very end to visit a traditional penny arcade. If you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll find the old palm reader machine inside, which will tell you your fortune. After this, consider a speedboat ride on the lake, or pack a lunch and trek along Southport\u2019s golden sand and dunes. A natural workout, the rolling dunes offer panoramic sea views but you\u2019ll need to work up a sweat to scale them.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"UK<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Then take the kids to the Model Railway Village, a mini rail network that has intricately painted buildings and greenery helping to bring it to life. You can also easily access Formby Squirrel Reserve by train from Southport, as well as Royal Birkdale Golf Club.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6: Portrush, Northern Ireland<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Northern Ireland has plenty of coastal towns to visit but Portrush is a small fishing village that has been a popular staycation since Victorian times. With friendly locals and activities for all ages, Portrush is a peaceful sleepy village that offers plenty of things to see and do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"UK<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Explore the cliffs and practice your photography skills, visit the Adventure Park which has inflatable slides, or wander down to Portrush harbour, built-in 1827 and features lively bars and a handful of restaurants with fresh fish on the menu. But, make sure to be respectful when visiting this coastal town. People can easily forget that this is also home for many local families, who won\u2019t thank you for late-night antics and loud music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7: Yoesden Nature Reserve, High Wycombe<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Based in South Buckinghamshire, Yoesden Nature Reserve is ideal for anyone into herbal medicine. Home to rare butterflies and fields of wildflowers, park in Bledlow Ridge on Chinnor Road and take the footpath on the left to enter the reserve. Considered a UK hidden gem, there are 28 species of butterfly here thanks to the floral grassland, as well as berks, bucks, and oxon.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"UK<\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We continue the theme with finding a UK staycation that isn\u2019t swamped with tourists. If you still fancy a quiet and relaxing staycation this year, we\u2019ve got just the thing. After hunting down some of the best coastal towns across the country, our list of charming coastal towns will give you some serious food for…<\/span><\/p>\n

Continue<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1055,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,22],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-1047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hidden-gems","category-uk-destinations"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1047"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2118,"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1047\/revisions\/2118"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1047"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/oldsite.c1495594.myzen.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=1047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}