Late breaks
GREAT DEALS ON LAST-MINUTE HOLIDAYS
ENJOY SOME IBIZA VIBES
BESIDES its bohemian vibe and picturesque beaches, Ibiza is also known for its charming villages and characteristic whitewashed buildings.
One of the smallest villages of the island, nestled in the southwest among scenic olive groves and citrus orchards, is Es Cubells.
With fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, this isolated gem offers charming authenticity and spectacular views over the neighbouring island of Formentera from a dramatic cliff located in the village’s centre. Located only an 11-minute drive from Es Cubells, Los Jardines de Palerm Hotel (jardinsdepalerm. com) is a an idyllic 400-year-old finca offering two swimming pools and nine bedrooms, most of which have their own private terrace.
A one-night stay in a standard double room during the summer season is priced from £243 based on two adults sharing.
For more on what to see and do in the Balearic Island, visit illesbalears.travel
CHILL OUT IN MIAMI
THREE nights at the Nobu Hotel Miami Beach, on prestigious Millionaire’s Row, costs from just £611 per person for departure on November 23. Price is based on two adults sharing a Deluxe King Bed Hotel View Room, room only, and includes return economy flights from London Heathrow with British Airways. To book visit ba.com/nobumiami or call 0344 493 0124.
GREEK ISLAND GETAWAY
JET off for a week to Zante staying at four-star Belvedere Hotel & Luxury Suites, Vassilikos, on a bed and breakfast basis. Depart September 16 from Luton for seven nights, based on two adults travelling together, from £312pp (reduced from £419pp) via travelsupermarket.com
parks. A funfair and golf course provide man-made entertainment, although farmland and nature trails occupy most of the secluded spot.
Highlights year-round are the Blue Flag beaches and breezy Solent water, ideal for sailing and windsurfing.
A three-night caravan stay (sleeps six) at Parkdean Resorts Holiday Park (parkdeanresorts.co.uk; 0330 123 4850) costs from £199.
WEST HIGHLANDS:
A TUMBLE of rugged mountains and glassy lochs, largely unfettered by human habitation, the Scottish Highlands is the UK’s wild corner.
Popular spots Ben Nevis and Glencoe will inevitably attract crowds once restrictions start to lift, but retreat to Assynt and Coigach in the West Highlands and there’s no-one around.
Waves crash against sea stacks and golden sands along the coast; inland, the remote mountain Suilven rewards climbers with astounding views if they make an ascent. Wilderness Scotland (01479 420 020; wildernessscotland. com) offers the six-night Wilds of Assynt tour from £1,625pp (two sharing), starting and finishing in Inverness. Departs August 1 or September 26,
2020.
CEREDIGION:
IMAGINE having the idyllic beaches and captivating wildlife of Pembrokeshire all to yourself? It’s possible in neighbouring Ceredigion, which shares the same superb scenery. With no motorways and few rail links, it’s harder to reach, but the journey along winding countryside roads is an adventure in itself – and well worth driving once Wales is more accessible to visitors. Walk the Ceredigion Coast Path, looking out for resident dolphins in the waves below, or explore the sandy beach at National Trust-owned
Penbryn.
Close to rural coastal village Llangrannog, Great Tree House is a six-person holiday cottage specially adapted for those with disabilities and limited mobility. Book it for a multigenerational break. Quality Cottages
offers seven nights in August from £1,706 per week.
WICKLOW WAY:
MOST tourists are tempted by Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, but a quieter and no-less-pleasing option would be a hike along one of the Republic’s greatest walking trails, the Wicklow Way.
Dublin day-trippers often head to sections straying from the city, but venture a bit further and any sign of human footprints disappear.
Explore the ruined monastic city of Glendalough, or marvel at the dark waters of Lough Tay, dubbed the Guinness Lake.
Wilderness Ireland (wildernessireland.com; +353 (0)91 457 898) offers a six-night Hiking The Wicklow Way tour from €1,870pp/ approx £1675 (two sharing).
DURHAM HERITAGE COAST:
WHEN it comes to sunny summer breaks, crowds tend to head south, but with temperatures across the UK rising this year, it would be a mistake to leave other areas in the shade.
Although often associated with its industrial past, the north east has a wild, unspoilt coastline of towering cliffs and dunes. Ramble along the Durham Heritage Coast, looking skyward for kittiwakes and cormorants, and gaze out to sea for a chance to spot bottlenose dolphins and minke whales.
Set in the village of Murton, OYO The Village Inn (oyorooms.com) is offering doubles from £30 per night in July (originally £54).
RUTLAND:
BEST known for its Birdfair in August, England’s smallest county has all the elements of a quintessential countryside break: picturesque trails, quaint pubs and historical attractions.
Rockingham Castle is a fine example of Norman architecture, while Rutland Water and Rutland Water Nature Reserve offer options for water sports and wildlife viewing in the otherwise land-locked region.
Visit the fairy-tale Normanton
Church, which appears to float on water when the reservoir is full. The Wisteria Hotel
in Oakham, which completed a £150K refurbishment just before lockdown, has rooms from £65 per night.