The HOT List
GREAT BRITISH BREAKS ABOUND
PACK YOUR BAGS
As travel slowly gets back into gear, consider sprucing up your luggage – enter new company Stubble & Co, a British brand crowdfunded via Kickstarter. It has created a collection of stylish, durable, all-weather bags, able to adapt to any adventure. From an everyday backpack to a spacious weekender, they should cope with any rough treatment from over-eager baggage handlers.
From £95, stubbleandco.com
SEE S THE SEASIDE IN G GOLDEN AGE STYLE
Hark H back to the golden age of travel when taking ta a train meant plush seating, proper table tab service in the dining car and the fantasy fantas of bumping into Hercule Poirot. This summer, summe luxury company Belmond is introducing intro a range of four journeys to a selection se of seaside towns on board the British B Pullman train. After settling into your y vintage art deco carriage at London Victoria, you’ll enjoy a sparkling Bellini and brunch before stopping to explore yo your chosen town. And on your way home, yo you’ll tuck into a delightful three-course dinn dinner. Whether you want to visit Whitstable’s colourf colourful beach huts, stroll Broadstairs’ sandy beaches, take in contemporary art at the Turner gallery in Margate or see historic Hastings, this is certainly one of the best ways to do it.
From £360pp, belmond.com
TIME FOR AN ADVENTURE
Are you seeking thrills on your doorstep? Holiday company Much Better Adventures has launched seven mini-adventure trips around the UK. You could be bikepacking from London to Brighton along quiet back roads and staying in a woodland bunkhouse (above, from £275pp), kayaking and wild camping around Moidart on the west coast of Scotland (pictured, from £560pp) or even iceclimbing up Ben Nevis (from £700pp). All the trips are guided by specialist instructors – who needs Machu Picchu? muchbetteradventures.com
HOW TO CAPTURE THE CORNISH COASTLINE
Two new creative UK stays give budding artists the chance to test their talent on some of the country’s most beautiful scenery. Firstly, talented painter Kit Johns has just launched an outdoors Sea And Coast painting course in West Cornwall, from the base of the renowned art school in Newlyn. You’ll explore dramatic coves and coastlines using a variety of painting and drawing techniques.
Three-day courses for all levels, £395pp, newlynartschool.co.uk
Stay at nearby Chapel House, rooms from £150pn
chapelhousepz.co.uk
If photography’s more your thing, try Frui Holidays’ trip focusing on the landscapes and culture of Newquay. You’ll learn how to compose beautiful images of cliffs, beaches, moorland, tin mines, fishing boats, surfers and more, with help from an expert tutor.
The six-day course, including accommodation at Porth Beach Hotel, costs £1,999pp, frui.co.uk