The UK’s top rated and sunniest outdoor staycations for 2020
2020 has been described as the year of the “Great British summer staycation”.
Right across the country, Brits are choosing to explore what’s right on their doorstep this year, in favour of jetting off for holidays overseas.
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have brought with it a lot of doom and gloom – especially as flights have been grounded, holidays cancelled and stricter quarantine measures introduced – but it’s certainly gifted us with the unique opportunity to get out and see the beauty that our country has on offer, right?
It’s no wonder staycations are on the rise.
Now, in order to help Brits decide on where next to pitch up this summer, HomeToGo – the world’s largest holiday rental search engine – has researched the UK’s Best Outdoor Destinations aimed at “cooped-up holidaymakers dreaming of spending some time out in nature”.
If you’re looking to get some fresh air and explore the most scenic areas of the country this summer, then the top 14 destinations in the UK have now been carefully selected and revealed.
HomeToGo’s data and insights on 14 of the most searched National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in the UK is based on the following factors:
- Affordability – Average nightly price of a holiday home.
- Availability – Booking rates for August and September 2020.
- Weather – Average daily hours of sunshine for the month of August.
- Walking Trails – Number of walking trails nearby.
Met Office climate data was used to calculate the average hours of sunshine for the month of August, HomeToGo used its own metasearch data to forecast the average price and booking rate for places to stay in each area, crowd-sourced data was collected from a leading trail map and navigation website for walking trail information, and then each of the factors were weighted and given a score out of 10.
So, what are the Top 5 Best Outdoor Destinations in the UK for 2020 then?
- Best Place for Sun-Seekers? Dorset – Average days with rain 7.5, average daily sun.
- Most Affordable Staycation? Suffolk – Average accommodation £116.48 per night.
- Best for Last-minute Travellers? Peak District – Forecasted Availability 66%.
- Best Spot for Active Travellers? Lake District – Over 380 walking trails.
Other interesting survey findings showed that since the beginning of June, over 60% of all domestic UK holiday bookings have been for trips within 300 miles from the origin, and more than 78% of bookings over July and August are in listings in rural areas, such as the Lake District or North Yorkshire.
Speaking on the survey findings, Mike Pearce – a spokesperson for HomeToGo – said: “We’re seeing an increase in demand for countryside getaways as more individuals and families are trying to make the most of their summer holidays,”
“We hope everyone has a chance to find a little more space this summer and spend some time outdoors, safely and responsibly”.
Want to check out the rest of the top 14 destinations? Head on over to the HomeTGo website here.