10 Amazing Outdoor Getaways in the UK

Windermere town and its sister town, Bowness, sit on the eastern side of Lake Windermere. This popular Victorian town offers a wide variety of in-town attractions as well as easy access to the hiking trails that the Lake District is famous for.

If you’re in the mood for a brisk walk, take the 2-mile trail from Windermere to Orrest Head viewpoint. It’s a circular route that can be completed in an hour. For families, The World of Beatrix Potter is a popular in-town attraction that combines 3D exhibits of the writer’s famous characters with some interesting lessons on conservation. For boat trips out onto Britain’s largest lake, head to Windermere Jetty. You can enjoy a pleasure cruise, a morning fishing trip or a day of learning to sail. To explore more of the area, take a ferry to nearby Ambleside.

The secluded Scottish Highlands contain some of the UK’s most awe-inspiring views. The drive from south of the border may take several hours, but the misty lochs, crumbling castles, and expansive wilderness found here make the trip north worth the effort.

Use Inverness as a hub when exploring the eastern part of the Scottish Highlands. Nearby Loch Ness combines ancient ruins with plenty of active pursuits like hiking, sailing and cycling. The western area of the Highlands is dominated by Ben Nevis – the UK’s tallest peak – which is surrounded by quaint villages like Glencoe and Fort William.  The western coast is also home to fantastic sandy beaches. The summer window may be just a couple of months this far north, but on a sunny day, beaches like Camasdarach Beach are among the finest in Europe.

The Norfolk Broads, also known as The Broads, is a low-lying area of England that stretches across Norfolk and Suffolk in eastern England. It contains a network of waterways that link several quaint villages, with peaceful woodland and marshes in between. Most of this area belongs to native wildlife like kingfishers, cranes, and otters.

The River Bure – around 20 minutes from Norwich – is where pleasure boating began in the region, which has now expanded to over 125 miles of rivers and lakes. Use the village of Wroxham as your starting point before taking to the water. For nature lovers, be sure to stop at the Broads Wildlife Centre in Ranworth. Trips on the Norfolk Broads range from 1 day to overnight trips with plenty of stops along the way.

Salcombe is a beautiful coastal town in South Devon that’s known as a sailing hotspot in the UK. The pretty, whitewashed village sits on the banks of the Kingsbridge Estuary and combines ocean views on one side with gently undulating hills on the other.

You have a choice of several sandy beaches close to the town. North Sands is best for families who want to lounge on the beach, search for crabs around the water’s edge, and splash about in the shallow sea. South Sands is better for active groups who want to rent a kayak or paddleboard for a few hours to explore the shoreline. Popular with hikers, the South West Coast Path skirts past Salcombe and over some dramatic cliff tops.

Snowdonia is a national park in central Wales that is most famous for Mount Snowdon – one of Britain’s tallest peaks. On a clear day, you can see the coast of Ireland from the summit. It’s popular with hikers and you can walk to the top of the mountain and back in around 6 hours.

If a full day of hiking seems like too much effort, take the Snowdon Mountain Railway most of the way and walk the last leg. This is a popular option for families, as you can sit back and enjoy the view. This whole region is also popular with cyclists who tackle steep inclines in packs. It’s a real test of endurance but a lot of fun.

The Scottish Borders is an area ripe for exploration, either as a family or a large group. Plenty of secluded spots line the border on both sides, so you can enjoy the countryside and learn more about the turbulent relationship between England and Scotland through the centuries. The River Tweed runs through much of the region, with riverside towns like Peebles providing hubs of cycling and fishing. Head to the towns of Melrose or Kelso to explore ancient abbeys and learn more about the origins of the nation.

Hikers will enjoy tackling part of the Sir Walter Scott Way, a 90-mile footpath that runs north to south through the Border region. This rural area is stunningly beautiful but not as rugged as northern Scotland, which makes it more accessible for the less able. READ MORE…

County Antrim is home to many of Northern Ireland’s most famous natural landmarks. It’s also a place of rugged and windswept beauty that makes a memorable remote getaway. Most famous of all, the Giant’s Causeway is a bizarre and spectacular rock formation that spills out into the sea. Northern Ireland’s most famous natural attraction is made up of 40,000 basalt columns. Nearby, Ballintoy is a small village and popular stop for those travelling on the Causeway Coastal Route – it’s home to some fantastic local restaurants.

The Dunluce Castle ruins in County Antrim is one of the finest medieval monuments in Ireland and makes a popular day trip. For even more historical wonder, Lough Beg is a small but picturesque freshwater lake on the border between Country Antrim and County Derry. The lake’s main draw is Church Island, where visitors can see the site of a pre-Viking monastery.

The rolling green hills and stone cottages of the Cotswolds have adorned many biscuits tins and postcards due to their timeless charm. A road trip around this rural area of central England makes the perfect antidote to the pressures of city life. Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Cotswolds cover around 800 square miles across 5 counties, though the villages found in Oxfordshire are most convenient for anyone travelling from London.

Burford is a quaint tourist town with plenty of souvenir shops, country pubs and green spaces. The village high street sweeps down to the River Windrush but can get busy with day-trippers in the peak summer months. For a more remote area of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds, head to the market town of Charlbury on the edge of the Royal Hunting Forest. READ MORE…

Rhossili is a charming coastal village on the Gower Peninsula. Expect to find nothing more than wide-open beaches, rocky headlands, and flocks of grazing sheep. As part of the UK’s first Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the views in this part of South Wales are a joy for photographers.

The village of Rhossilli is around a 45-minute drive from Swansea but feels far more remote. There’s not much in the way of manmade attractions here, other than a few cafés and restaurants to feed the hungry hikers and beachgoers that pass through on the way to the coast. Rhossili Bay is a long stretch of sandy beach that’s ready-made for lounging, although the Atlantic Ocean can be quite rough so it’s not the best place for paddling with toddlers. It’s also quite a steep walk down to the beach.

The small town of Deal on Kent’s far eastern coast combines romantic coastal vibes with some interesting cultural attractions. The well-preserved Georgian architecture is ripe for exploration, with plenty of boutique shops, restaurants and cafés to fill a weekend trip. Often touted as one of the finest seaside villages on the south coast, Deal is more relaxed than nearby towns like Margate and Ramsgate.

Deal Beach is a mix of sand and shingle, but it’s wide open and runs for miles – perfect for long walks with your loved one. For a touch of culture, Deal Castle is one of the UK’s finest Tudor castles and brings the past to life thanks to well-preserved rooms and fortifications.