Travel expert reveals the UK’s best staycation venues that rival trips abroad
Demand for holidays in the UK has been rising significantly over the course of the past few weeks, as Brits increasingly come to realise there’s actually a hell of a lot more to our homeland than we previously thought.
We should be on holiday right now. That’s what we keep telling everyone.
But, here we are.
Instead of striding into the airport at the crack of dawn, ordering a pint in the terminal (a rare isolated setting where it’s actually acceptable to sip lager at 7am) and leaving our stresses on the runway as we climb in the the clouds, we’re sat at home – staring longingly at our calendars, imagining what could have been.
As a nation, we spend a great portion of waking life looking to get out of the country – so being told to sit tight on our own island has been causing more than a touch of cabin fever.
It wasn’t until last week that we finally got some sweet relief.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Foreign Office confirmed they would be waiving their warning on avoiding non-essential international travel from July 6.
As lockdowns ease in Europe, overseas flights have started to take off again, and some countries have vowed Brits will be permitted to enter without being subjected to quarantining.
ADVERTISEMENT
It’s promising news. But understandably, some still aren’t comfortable with the idea of mingling in a crowded cabin of recirculated air at 38,000 feet. Even with masks.
Insurance companies are also reluctant to offer cover whilst pockets of coronavirus continue to erupt – a trend many experts expect to see long into the future as separate societies blend again.
But there’s another option. A staycation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Demand for holidays in the UK has been rising significantly over the course of the past few weeks, as Brits increasingly come to realise there’s actually a hell of a lot more to our homeland than we previously thought.
Charlotte Craig, owner of award-winning travel agency Paper Plane in Manchester, can vouch for that.
“A lot of people don’t travel in the UK,” Charlie tells The Manc.
“They’ll go down to London for weekends to see friends or visit their parents in the countryside, but a lot don’t travel within UK hotels as often as abroad.
“This has massively opened people’s eyes as to what’s possible.”
ADVERTISEMENT
According to Charlie, “the world and his wife” have settled on Cornwall as their UK holiday destination for 2020, and many locations in this neck of the woods are already fully-booked or have their hosts (who usually rent out their properties for summer) still inside enjoying their properties for themselves.
But whilst a trip to the Cornish country might be the default setting for domestic breaks in Britain, it isn’t necessarily the best.
Charlie says there’s a raft of incredible hotspots elsewhere – some of which are just a short drive from our doorsteps…
Group getaways
Certain places in the UK appeared to be tailor-made for reuniting with lapsed friends.
We’ve spent more than 13 weeks separated from pals dotted around the country. But there’s seemingly a number of superb spots in which to arrange a memorable rendezvous with the old gang.
ADVERTISEMENT
Suffolk, for instance, is a solution some might not have previously considered.
“Most people in the UK want a holiday where you’re not too far from the coast and have a pool… but those places are becoming more and more difficult to find,” Charlie explains.
“But I’ve had a few customers who’ve absolutely loved Sufflolk – which has a gorgeous coastline and isn’t as busy as going down to Cornwall. It’s also a slightly shorter drive – about 4.5 hours from Manchester.”
There are more than a few places in which to kick back with mates on the Eastern coast – but there’s one that comes highly recommended.
“Wilderness Reserve in particular is full of spectacular standalone properties and farmhouses,” Charlie tells us.
ADVERTISEMENT
“You can get a chef in if you want, there’s a pool on site, you’re in a massive forest area with bikes you can use, and it’s only 15 mins to the coast.
“It’s the perfect five-night stay with mates you’ve not seen for a few months or years.
“It’s all your own space for you to do as you like with.”
Exotic activities
For some, the great appeal of holidaying abroad is the prospect of clapping eyes on untamed landscapes and treating your palate to fresh food and drink.
As it turns out, you can do both just a few miles south.
ADVERTISEMENT
“There’s a wonderful spot in Hampton in Arden – towards Birmingham – that does a three-day package for midweek or weekend including wine tasting and farm to table food,” Charlie explains.
“It’s all authentic and feels like a real luxury experience.
“We might not be able to go to the Tuscan Vineyards right now, but you can still do wine tasting in a beautiful garden in the UK.”
As an added extra for booking Hampton Manor with Paper Plane, you’ll get a personalised cocktail each at the Maker’s Table, followed by cream tea included in your stay.
Getting pampered
Britain is brimming with cortisol right now. The past few weeks have placed an unimaginable amount of pressure on our minds and bodies – heightened further by the forced cancellation of our cathartic getaways.
ADVERTISEMENT
According to Charlie, though, there are places to get royally pampered in the UK – soothing the senses without the pressure-filled preamble of passport control.
“I’m desperate for a massage at the moment and I know I’m not the only one,” laughs Charlie.
“There’s a place just outside Ripon called Grantley Hall where you can enjoy complete relaxation.
“It’s a very classic building that’s been converted into a hotel. It’s ideal for spa lovers.
“Another great thing about this place is that their protocols are brilliant for COVID. They’ve got a spa and they’re working on slots so people can use areas at specific times. You’ve also got outdoor hot tubs, pools, saunas and steam rooms.
ADVERTISEMENT
“They’ve got the Shaun Rankin restaurant there and also an Asian restaurant which reminds me of Tattu in Manchester.
“A lot of my friends have booked to go and want to head back again. It’s 90 minutes from Manchester; an easy one-night stay or equally suitable for a long weekend.
“There’s lots of really nice walks around there, too.”
Out in nature
Ramblers and explorers have been dealt a big blow by having their trip-of-a-lifetime to far-flung foreign lands delayed.
In the meantime, however, there’s an enormous amount to discover in the British countryside. And you can even enjoy a bit of luxury whilst you’re at it.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The Cotswolds, I could talk about forever,” says Charlie.
“But there’s one particular place I really love called The Fish Hotel.
“They have these hilly huts with private hot tubs on the deck. There’s loads of spots in the surrounding area to go for nice walks and enjoy being in nature, but you can enjoy a bit of privacy and luxury as well.
“Some people don’t feel comfortable in larger spas, and this is a nice alternative.”
Family trips
Families, in particular, may want to remain in Britain in the summer.
ADVERTISEMENT
Thankfully, Charlie says the options for couples and kids in the UK are plentiful.
“For families, I’d really recommend the Lake District,” she says.
“There’s a spot called Another Place which is perfect for couples with kids.
“I’m also a big believer in the Yorkshire Dales. There’s some gorgeous places there that have proven very popular in the past four weeks; more so than hotels.
“The Malabar, too, is really good for family holidays.
ADVERTISEMENT
“You get your own barbie, there’s tonnes of fields around and it’s very popular with families for birthdays and stuff.
“If you’ve got your own place, you’ve got the cooking facilities and that type of thing so you don’t have to worry about anyone else using them.”
Let’s go glamping
Summer festivals have been wiped off the calendar almost entirely in 2020.
But you can still enjoy the good old Glamping experience regardless.
Just an hour away from Manchester is Gisburne Park – a popup glamping location which offers family-friendly holidays during the week and an adult-only space on weekends.
ADVERTISEMENT
Based in the Ribble Valley, Gisburne Park is tucked away inside a thousand acre private estate – with fully-furnished tents (double beds, king-sized duvets and electric power) alongside dining areas, BBQ pits and a swimming pool.
Jet-setting will technically be possible again in a matter of days. But if you aren’t quite ready to battle your way through busy airports, you can relax in the knowledge that Britain has more than enough to offer – no matter what sort of getaway you’d been hoping for.
“The UK is going to be massively popular this summer,” Charlie informs us.
“We cover every type of trip abroad at Paper Plane, but if a staycation is what you’re looking for, you can have a truly wonderful holiday here at home.”
Learn more about booking a staycation with Paper Plane Travel by visiting their website.
Feature
Five Manchester artists we’ve been listening to this month | March 2024
Danny Jones
How do, Manchester – it’s that time again, time to look back over another great month of new music and pick out some of the best local artists we’ve been listening to over the past four weeks.
Be them veterans of the Manc music scene by now, or more up-and-coming bands and solo artists that are just getting excited, there’s space for all on this monthly list.
We’re all here for the same reason after all: we just love finding new tunes and acts that we’ve not come across before and with so much out there these days, it can be tough to sift through everything.
That’s where we come in, so without further ado, here are the five Manchester music artists that we’ve been listening to throughout the month of March.
1. The Covasettes
First up on the list is a Fallowfield-formed quartet with roots in Hyde and various other parts of Manchester that many of you may have seen on festival lineups over the past few years. They also happen to have just announced their biggest tour yet in support of more new music on the way.
If you’ve been lucky enough to see them live before like us, then you’ll know these lads have a dedicated following already that just keeps growing and deservedly so. With an irresistibly defiant and uplifting indie sound, there’s something very late 90s/2000s British alt-rock about them and we love it.
Having been releasing stuff since 2018, you can’t start anywhere else other than their biggest tune ‘Be Mine’ but we’d highly recommend ‘Duvet Thief’ (great album artwork too) as your second play and their latest single ‘One Tear a Time’ has already become a proper earworm of ours.
2. James Holt
Moving out to the borough of Bolton, local singer-songwriter James Holt has something very old school about his sound that we can never quite place – sometimes it’s almost a bit Cat Stevens, other times it’s Jimmy Webb, Elvis Costello and even Beatles or Lennon at the very least. All we know is we like it.
There’s just lots of twinkly 1960s and ’70s throwback about it and he’s had some serious praise from legends like Brian Eno and as you sweep through his expansive style, it’s easy to see why. A vintage look and sound paired with a bloody great hairdo and what do you get? One of the coolest artists in Greater Manchester.
It’s hard to recommend one particular place to begin but we’ll do our best; start with ‘Pendulum’, then his biggest tune ‘Mystery Girl’ and then we have a soft spot for ‘Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?’ because the little melody in it sounds a bit like ‘Keep on Movin” by Five — we can’t unhear it and now neither will you.
3. Dr Dr
A bit of a whiplash turn now with Manchester post-punk outfit Dr Dr, who recently played a superb set at Disorder that we’ve not stopped thinking about for a while.
Led by charismatic and supremely energetic frontman Fred Farrell, they give off a little bit of The Blues Stones, Royal Blood and plenty of other contemporary British rock; it’s fast-paced, great to bounce to and there’s some great electronics and distortion at work that really helps hit their style home.
Still early in their career and with only five tracks out so far, we’re just going to go ahead and tell you to give them all a listen but we will say that their latest single ‘Uppercut’ has had love from XS Manchester, BBC Introducing, Radio One and more – let’s just say can firmly put us on that list if admirers too.
No-nonsense Manc indie at its finest. If you like fast rhythmic guitars, a great live BPM, reliable vocals and that instantly familiar feeling that only Northern bands like this can deliver, then M60 need to be in your rotation.
‘I Don’t Mind’ may be their biggest tune and it’s undeniably catchy no matter how many times we hear it, but our other two picks simply have to be ‘Honey’ and our day one favourite ‘Darling’. Honestly, that’s a sing your lungs out and jump up and down with your mates kind of tune.
They’re also currently spearheading a very funny campaign to keep getting their name out there and it involves Gary Neville. We sincerely want them to succeed and have every faith they will.
5. Everything Everything
And the last spot this week could be no other: Manc alternative legends Everything Everything, fresh off having sat with their latest record, Mountainhead, for a good month now and boy is it a belter.
These guys have set a pretty high bar when it comes to albums over the years and Raw Data Feel was one of our most-played albums of 2022, but this might genuinely have some of their best work to date. ‘The End of the Contender’, ‘Don’t Ask Me To Beg’, ‘Enter the Mirror’ – all absolute rammers.
Stockport locals were honoured with their presence at a very special gig at The Plaza earlier this month and we’re still kicking ourselves for missing the ticket window. If you haven’t listened to these extremely experimental and immensely creative musicians before, rectify that mistake pronto and thank us later.
And there we have it, another month and a handful of amazing local artists from around the region and the best part is, since we do music so well around these parts, you already know there’ll be plenty more to get stuck into next time.
Speaking of which, you can find the Greater Manchester acts we picked out for February down below and you best believe you’ll be seeing us back here same time again next month.
The prettiest walks around Greater Manchester and the north west to try this spring
Daisy Jackson
The weather is FINALLY warming up a little and it’s beginning to feel like we might finally have made it through winter – it’s time for a walk.
There’s nothing quite like the arrival of spring to (so sorry) put a spring in your step, especially after such a dreary few months post-Christmas.
Some of the green spaces that wrap around Greater Manchester are in their prime right now, and that’s saying something, as they’re pretty spectacular all year round – perfect for a spring walk.
We’re talking fields full of daffodils and bluebells and trees dripping with blossom.
Here are some of the prettiest walks to tackle this season around Greater Manchester to make the most of the north west in spring.
Loughrigg Fell, Lake District
It may be a bit of a schlep up the road, but Manchester’s relative proximity to the Lake District is something we should all be taking advantage of.
Although Cumbria is known for its big hills, you don’t have to climb high to get the best spring experiences at Loughrigg Fell.
The lower slopes are often ablaze with beautiful bluebells at this time of year.
Countryfile has pulled together a lovely walking route here.
Salthill Quarry, Clitheroe
This spot in Lancashire actually once lay at the bottom of the ocean, but it’s now a shining example of a northern nature reserve.
It’s home to an incredible array of wildlife and plant life, including masses of wildflowers in the spring and summer that makes for a dream walk for nature lovers.
All those blooms bring loads of birds and butterflies to the area too.
The Geology Trail is a circular walk that will show you all the best bits, with QR codes to scan for extra information on your way round.
Monsal Dale, Peak District
Surrounded by dales scenery, hiring a few bikes to cycle the Monsal Trail is an absolute Peak District must-do.
But for wildflower lovers, you want to duck off the former railway line and explore Monsal Dale instead.
This handy walking route from Countryfile includes viaduct views as well as encounters with all the new-season blooms.
Brockholes Nature Reserve, Preston
The Brockholes Nature Reserve spans a massive 250 acres and actually only opened around 10 years ago.
It’s drawn in more than one million human visitors and even more feathered and furry ones, including different species of deer, badgers, hares, osprey and red kites.
Tegg’s Nose Country Park really comes into its own in spring, when clambering around the rocky landscape isn’t such sweaty (or slippery) work.
From May, the meadows around this corner of Cheshire will be a blanket of yellow when the pansies bloom.
It’s not too far to travel from Greater Manchester either, so makes for a great spring walk.
This AllTrails loop around Tegg’s Nose and Macclesfield Forest is a real winner.
Quarry Bank, Cheshire
Ahead of the National Trust’s annual BlossomWatch event, the charity has pulled together a list of where to see the best blossom trees across the country.
In the north west it’s Dunham Massey, Speke Hall, Rufford Old Hall and Little Moreton Hall, as well as the grounds around the old mill at Quarry Bank.
The National Trust says: “The walled garden bursts into life in April with the blooming of the apricot tree, followed by the arrival of apple, pear, nectarine and peach blossom. The Apprentice House Garden is home to apple, plum and pears trees, making it the perfect place to enjoy a picnic under a canopy of blossom.”
Bloomtown Blossom Trail, Manchester city centre
Manchester never looks better than it does in the spring, so if you don’t fancy heading out in the countryside, there’s plenty of nature to admire with a walk in town itself.
The National Trust and Castlefield Viaduct have created a walking trail around Manchester that’s all about celebrating the blossom.
It loops from the Viaduct down Canal Street, through Ancoats, and back again, taking in landmarks like the Central Library, Parsonage Gardens, and the Rochdale Canal.