Five unique holiday ideas in Britain

Britain is often loved for its pub culture, pop culture and a handful of iconic landmarks. But there’s much more to the Isles than they’re often given credit for, with incredible mountain ranges, rainforests, and over 11,000 miles of stunning coastline. With that in mind, below are five travel ideas in Britain that you may not have considered before.

Walk through Neolithic Orkney

The Orkney Islands are something very out of the ordinary when it comes to the UK. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site, where a neolithic trail takes you through a 5,000-year-old ceremonial landscape. Skara Brae is an incredibly well-preserved prehistoric village. It surprises many people to learn that not only is it older than Stonehenge, it’s older than the Egyptian pyramids. 

In fact, it has something similar to Stonehenge in its ancient stone circles of Ring of Brodgar and Stones of Stenness. And, to top it off, there’s some Viking graffiti you can see at Maeshowe.

Canal boat holidays

Although many jokingly cite the fact that Birmingham has more canals than Venice, Britain does have an extensive and stunning network of canals. It’s a slow-paced trip, but it’s a good way to take you through the remnants of the Industrial Revolution. 

It’s quite easy to become the captain of your own narrowboat (you’ll learn a few skills), and it’s a good way to cut right through some great countryside and waterside towns.

Dark Sky Park Stargazing

One unique getaway is to escape the relentless glow of city lights and head to one of Britain’s designated Dark Sky Parks for an awe-inspiring celestial show. These are intentional areas that promise dark skies, which are needed to really get the most out of observing the universe. Galloway Forest Park in Scotland is the UK’s first Dark Sky Park, though there are others like Brecon Beacons (Wales) and Northumberland Dark Sky Park. This is your chance to catch the Milky Way and take pictures of constellations.

The West Highland Way

The UK is perfect for a hiking holiday, but Scotland has some incredible routes in particular, which are serviced by travel agencies like Orbis Ways. What’s unique isn’t going for a hike, but going for a week-long trail. Perhaps the most iconic long-distance trail is the West Highland Way, which is almost 100 miles, making it a physical feat to complete just as much as a scenic experience. The trail heads from just outside of Glasgow, all through the shores of Loch Lomond and the valley of Glencoe, until it passes Ben Nevis before finishing in Fort William.

Silent retreat by the sea

Many pockets of the UK offers tranquillity and quietness, making it perfectly suitable for a silent retreat. Leaving your phones at home, you can head to Cornwall to rent a cottage by the ocean, where you can hear the waves crashing into the shore and take sunset walks along the beach, facing westwards.

Bonus idea: Universal Studios Bedford

This is far from completed (construction doesn’t even begin until next year), but there is a Universal Studios coming to Bedford. This will be the first theme park of its kind in the UK, and the multi-billion-pound project will be another string to the UK’s bow of holiday ideas.

Conclusion

When looking for holiday ideas, it’s good to be unique, as these will leave lasting memories. Although it can be comforting to go to the same hotel each year in the Costa del Sol, staying home and experiencing the rugged, neolithic beauty of Scotland, or breezing through canals down south, you can find the perfect getaway.