Reborn on the 4th July
After three months of being stuck at home, we can finally book a change of scenery.. so go for it!
cycling trails. Much of the Broads cannot be reached by road, so trips here become real adventures, with hidden beauty spots and close encounters with wildlife along the way.
There are 30 Broads in total – the Trinity Broads and the slower-paced Thurne River at Martham are especially good for those keen to get out on the water, with options for rowing, canoeing and stand-up paddleboard hire.
With an array of waterside pubs, charming villages and market towns, there are lots of places to moor up or stop off to enjoy the atmosphere. visitnorfolk.co.uk visitthebroads.co.uk
CANVAS Glamp it up
Set off on a voyage of discovery around Britain’s 2,200 miles of navigable canals and rivers this summer. Narrowboat holidays offer a safe staycation option, while taking in some of the best landscapes and heritage this country has to offer.
Stretching 21 miles, passing 33 locks and taking around 16 hours to complete, the Droitwich Ring is ideal for a short break on the water. It features the Hanbury flight of locks and the historic spa town of Droitwich. The Four Counties Ring, meanwhile, travels 108 miles through Cheshire, Shropshire,
Staffordshire and the Midlands, with 94 locks, taking in the world-famous 8,778ft long Harecastle Tunnel and the flight of 15 locks at Audlem.
The epic circuit of the Leicester Ring leads boat-folk through 157 miles of the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire countryside, visiting the Foxton Staircase of Locks and the pretty canal village of Stoke Bruerne. canalrivertrust.org.uk, drifters.co.uk
Set on a smallholding in a corner of the Cambrian Mountains, Ceredigion, Canvas and Campfires is the first accessible glamping site in Wales and has sunset views, hot tubs, safari tents and wet rooms (for accessible tents). From £110-190 per night, minimum two-night stay. canvasandcampfires.co.uk
One of Britain’s finest stately homes, the Walcot Estate in Shropshire has 10 glamping hideaways across its 30 acres, including a wooden shepherd’s hut, a gypsy wagon, a vintage fire truck and canvassed yurts, with rowing boats on the lake. Four nights in July from £120
TIPI TENT Cornish tasty
glampingly.co.uk
The luxury TreePod at Wootton Park, in Henley in Arden, is a wool-insulated hideaway in the trees, with hot tub. Other pods of varying sizes are available, but only one family gets the top spot! From £130 per night based on four sharing. pitchup.com
PERTHSHIRE’S DUNALASTAIR HALL SUITES reopens on July 15. The elegant Victorian grey stone building has contemporary interiors. From the front door you can hike and bike in the mountains, cast a line for trout, perch and pike on the loch, go off-roading and have a falconry lesson. Nearby is Blair Castle. From £129pn (two sharing)
tudorfarmhousehotel.co.uk GORGEOUS JERSEY is open for visitors and The Club Hotel & Spa is home to Bohemia, the first Michelinstarred restaurant in Britain to reopen after the pandemic. Serving up seasonal specialities such as lobster, crab, oysters and, of course, Jersey Royals, there are also tasting menus on offer. The hotel sits in the capital St Helier and has a spa and great views. Three nights for two people from £535, DB&B including tasting menu. theclubjersey.com
CORNWALL’S TALLAND BAY HOTEL welcomes back head chef Nick Hawke, fresh from appearing in Bake Off: The Professionals. This is one of the county’s most serene spots, in a sleepy hamlet with stunning ocean views. You can self-cater in a Garden Suite or a bungalow at the bottom of the property. Three nights from £1,260 for two on half-board. tallandbayhotel.co.uk ALSO IN CORNWALL take the family camping in a yurt. This off-grid retreat sits in woods on the edge of Porth Reservoir near Newquay. Ten yurts (sleeps up to six) are spaced across the Fir Hill Estate. Each have firepit and barbecue cooking area with facilities. There’s a cool box and running water as well. Showers and loos are in a separate
wyndhamhotels.com
TAKE THE FAMILY TO BATH and follow in the footsteps of Jane Austen. Woolley Grange, a gorgeous Jacobean manor at Bradford-onAvon, caters specifically for families and is just 15 minutes away from Bath.
Children can embrace the hotel’s glorious surroundings by picking pears and collecting eggs from chickens and ducks. In the kids’ club they can build a tower and join a cooking class or try their hand at archery. From £159pn, B&B (two sharing) luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk THE PEAK DISTRICT ticks all the boxes for those craving wide-open spaces. Deep dales and walking trails await in Britain’s first national park.
From forested valleys to stone villages, this three-day Intrepid Retreats experience has you based in Castleton and you walk through the villages of Bamford and Bakewell, with pub stops along the way. From £350pp, which includes most meals and activities. intrepidtravel.com
JERSEY SPA Boho chic