Escape the city to the coast or country |
Today it would be called a “flash mob”. But in 1932, the gathering of hundreds of people to hike to Kinder Scout in Derbyshire became celebrated as a “mass trespass” – demanding access for city dwellers to the great outdoors. At the time, well-heeled landowners lorded over some of the nation’s most beautiful landscapes. Some of the leaders were imprisoned, but the event helped accelerate the right to roam freely. Within two decades the UK’s first national park was established in the Peak District.
This weekend, tens of thousands of day trippers from Manchester and Sheffield are converging on the scenic wonders of Derbyshire – most of them by road, though soon the picturesque Hope Valley should have much-improved public transport. The Peak District remains the most accessible wilderness for urbanites – for one of the finest one-day walks in Britain. For so crowded a country, the UK has a remarkable number of rural escapes: the Malvern Hills southwest of Birmingham, Bronte Country west of Bradford and the Mountains of Mourne south of Belfast.
For many city residents, during a heatwave the coast calls even more strongly than countryside. My test is: can I get there in under an hour by rail? From London, the tempting trio of Brighton, Folkestone and Southend just qualify. Start in Bristol, and Weston-Super-Mare is only half-an-hour away. From Liverpool Central, Merseyrail parallels the coast to Southport, with Crosby certainly worth a pause. Bridlington, Scarborough, Saltburn and Berwick punctuate the North Sea coast. Edinburgh has access to the sands and style of North Berwick as well as the shores of Fife, while Glaswegians can choose between Largs and Ayr. Residents of Cardiff and Swansea are blessed with alluring seaside just a walk away – with “Barrybados” offering another option from the Welsh capital.
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Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) national park, north of Cardiff, is the location for a fine one-day hike: north from Abergavenny along Hatterall Ridge, which parallels the English border. Then descend to Vision Farm – location for Bruce Chatwin’s brilliant 1982 novel On the Black Hill – and on to the Gothic arches of Llanthony Priory.
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Suncream at the ready: the heatwave is finally here. It’s set to be a bumper bank holiday for warm weather, which means my lack of overseas plans now seems like a savvy piece of foresight. Luckily, there’s no need to go far. Britain is positively bursting with fantastic days out, whether that’s a weekend of live music or a wildlife watching trip.
We’ve listed some of the greatest options in our guide to the weekend’s best activities. Among my favourites is Adventure Island in Southend, where thrill rides and flashing arcade games promise a nostalgic afternoon in the sun. The 70-minute boat journey to the wonderfully-named Puffin Island, near Anglesey, sounds particularly memorable, too.
In our cities, plenty of our most esteemed institutions are planning special events for the half term. Feel like you’ve done the Natural History Museum? Its Monsters of the Deep exhibition might make you see it in a new light. Been to Belfast’s The Mac a thousand times? Try Nick Cope’s Family Show, whose music-and-animation performances have legions of fans.
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A trip to Puffin Island promises seabirds galore (Greg Macvean) |
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Lots of us, though, will be heading well away from urban centres, despite the ominous transport forecast. The country is full of weird, wonderful, tucked-away places to explore. I’m thinking of places such as the Kinema in the Woods, a 1922 picturehouse in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire. Showing films every day of the year except Christmas, the hidden cinema must be one of the most remote in Britain – although it’s accessible via the B5 bus from Lincoln.
Or there’s the spookily-named Forbidden Corner, a bizarre collection of ghoulish sculptures and dizzying labyrinths, situated between Leeds and Middlesbrough in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Its follies and puzzles are ideal for mischievous members of the family, especially those who are slightly too excited by the prospect of time away from school.
Perhaps you’re looking for something more peaceful. Some of Scotland’s most beautiful beaches are remarkably easy to visit from the cities. Those in Glasgow can reach the expansive sands at Troon via a 40-minute train journey, while North Berwick is only half-an-hour from Edinburgh by rail.
In a way, it’s almost moot to suggest specific days out, as I’m sure you’ll have your own, secret, local favourites. Whatever you end up doing, make sure you’re out in the sunshine this bank holiday weekend.
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Relax at the centrally located Mercure Eastgate, a charming converted 17th-century coaching inn. |
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Nestled at the foot of Cadbury Hill near Bristol, enjoy breakfast, a glass of bubbly, plus leisure and spa access at this historic hotel.
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Discover Nomad eSIM’s new UK plans, offering seamless high-speed connectivity from the moment you land, so you can get more out of every trip. |
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Six months on from Hurricane Melissa, Caroline Gammell and her family found Jamaica to be full of life and determined to get back on its feet. |
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Forget airport queues and overpacked suitcases – this summer I’m planning to make the most of warm weather closer to home. And, whether you’re planning beach days, camping weekends or simply long afternoons in the garden, a good facial SPF is a must.
Dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen daily, even in the UK, and the latest formulas feel far lighter than the chalky creams of years gone by. Add a great pair of sunglasses and you’ve got the essentials for everything from pub gardens to coastal walks.
If you’re craving a little adventure without booking a flight, inflatable kayaks are having a moment. The newest designs pack down surprisingly small, inflate in minutes and are ideal for exploring rivers, lakes and sheltered coastline on sunny weekends. Pair one with a backpack on wheels and you can transport all your gear without wrecking your shoulders on the walk from the car park to the beach or campsite.
For overnight stays, comfort has improved dramatically too. Modern camping mats and raised airbeds are far more supportive than the wafer-thin versions many of us grew up with, making it much easier to sleep properly under canvas. Add a lightweight handheld fan – including John Lewis’s bestselling £12 version – and even stuffy tents become far more bearable during heatwaves.
And for slower days at home? Few things beat a cold supermarket bottle of rosé, a shaded spot in the garden and one of the best new books of the summer. Whether you’re after a page-turning thriller or an easy beach read, this season’s new releases are perfectly suited to lazy afternoons in the sun.
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