After years of camping holidays and never fully appreciating the beauty of the UK, I now think you should head for the hills (Picture: Getty / Liam Coleman)
It is an age-old British tradition to stick on the Speedos and head to the seaside when warm weather arrives here, but is it really the best way to make the most of the sunshine?
A 99 with a flake on the beach might be the first choice for many, but with the rise of the staycation in recent years it might be worth looking for a woodland adventure rather than being let down by an overpriced ice cream.
I spent my holidays as a kid camping all over the UK with my parents and my younger brother, but I also never stopped asking my mam and dad ‘why can’t we go somewhere hot instead?’
It wasn’t until I reached my late 20s and I was fed up of battling for a spot on a beach on sunny breaks around Europe with my friends, that I really started to appreciate just how good we have it on our doorstep.
And that my parents were right all along.
The wonderful morning views are far better than looking at lines of sun loungers (Picture: To Wander UK)
Spending time in the countryside doesn’t have to just involve tents and pegs (Picture: To Wander UK)
Just one of the family holidays that I found myself walking up huge hills and wondering what I had done to deserve it (Picture: Liam Coleman)
You can really escape the hustle and bustle of seaside resorts (Picture: To Wander UK)
For years I would be questioning why I was sitting in a tent in the Lake District as it bucketed down outside, while my other school friends would be getting a tan and basking in the sun somewhere hot.
Or wondered why I was wandering up a big hill or in a pencil factory in the middle of nowhere and not just sat on a sun-lounger with an ice-cold Coca-Cola.
But now after initially feeling like that part of my life was over, I am feeling ready to go out and enjoy the beauty spots of the UK and embrace whatever the seasons throw at me.
The Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, the Norfolk Broads, the Brecon Beacons are all just a few hours drive from the capital, and if you are lucky enough to live even closer then you may well already know just how wonderful they are.
And as daunting as it may sound to spend a long weekend in a tent, it would be safe to say that isn’t always the case.
Years of camping trips have helped me rediscover a love for the countryside and the outdoors (Picture: Liam Coleman)
The stunning views mean you can see nothing but fields and hills on all four sides (Picture: To Wander UK)
Sometimes people forget just how stunning the countryside is on their doorstep (Picture: Getty Images)
You can have the best of both worlds enjoying the sunshine but also being in total seclusion (Picture: To Wander UK)
The Chiltern Hills are surrounded by 324 miles of square land (Picture: To Wander UK)
There are a range of all sorts of different bouji lodges, luxury treehouses and glamping sites that give the best of both worlds. Spaces where you can enjoy the countryside and the fresh air away from the big cities, but don’t have to fear about getting muddy hiking boots in your tent.
How does a day of walking in the hills in the glorious sunshine rounded off with a barbecue over a stove and a dip in the hot tub sound?
Suddenly those not-so-sandy beaches just aren’t as appealing.
After enduring lockdowns and travel restrictions still in place over the last few years, anyone who wanted to go on holiday was forced to stop looking further afield and there was a boom in breaks in the UK.
This has led to a huge rise in the number of far more accessible spots in the UK that some savvy businesses have decided to turn into luxury camping sites.
Sometimes you just need to hang out in a hammock and enjoy the fresh air (Picture: To Wander UK)
During the day and at night you can feel that you are in the middle of nowhere and have the space all to yourself (Picture: To Wander UK)
After a childhood spent in the north, exploring the beauty spots of the south has always been something I have wanted to do. For the first venture in the south I ended up travelling to Ewelme (Yoo + Elm as I was told every time my Geordie accent got the better of me.)
It was just one train from London Paddington and I was there in just over an hour, and it was the perfect place to get away. I stayed in the Chilterns View Lodge with picturesque views of the Chiltern Hills and 324 miles of glorious spaces to get lost (or enjoy hilly views).
The lodges there are incredibly secluded, and when you first step into them you can feel like you’re already starting to relax.
The four lodges each have their own small kitchen if you want to cook up breakfast, dinner or tea with a view, and there is one main bedroom with huge glass windows so you can take it all in.
But the icing on the cake has to be the covered hot tub outside which was already warm enough to go for a dip when I got there, and if in classic British holiday style, you end up going to visit during one of the UK’s cold snaps… there is a wood burner to keep you toasty.
It is the best way to just settle down and enjoy a bit of countryside bliss with a glass of wine in your hand.
The cabins have just what you need to rest your feet up after a long day gallivanting.
There are lots of great local books to help you plan your trip, but as it seems many a couple who had left a review hadn’t left the lodge for their whole stay, there is more than enough to help you enjoy some time together.
What I was most looking forward to was just getting out in the fresh air after 12 months bunged up in the capital, no longer having to wrestle for a seat on the tube, and just letting my legs go.
It was wonderful and exactly how I had hoped it would be. Even just a few nights meant that I could escape and have a bit of bliss.
The idea of the packed beach with windbreakers lining the sand isn’t as appealing as it might sound (Picture: Graham Hunt/BNPS)
Instead of breakfast without a view why not enjoy your morning meal in front of rolling hills(Picture: To Wander UK)
But also don’t forget because you can still enjoy ice cream in the countryside if you really want to (Picture: Liam Coleman)
I stretched my legs to adequate satisfaction taking in the small local pubs and the charming views, but also got to just hang out in a hammock and take it all in.
Returning to the capital brought that full frontal doom of the hot underground and my morning views of flats and skyscrapers and not just glorious rolling fields.
The best part was that when I got home I didn’t have to dry out a tent or worry about what creepy crawlies had wriggled into the bag of pegs – leaving me stress-free before going heading back to work.
So basically, when you are looking for a big summer holiday you don’t have to think about going further afield, and sometimes you need a reminder of what you have on your own doorstep.
There is a huge range of quirky and unique different types of accommodation out there to make the most of the UK, from converted campers to huge bell tents or private lodges, so why not avoid the beaches and head to the hills?
Getting there:
Chiltern View Lodge is overlooking The Chiltern Hills and is surrounded by countryside views. Each separate lodge includes an individual hot-tub and a fire pit. Cholsey is the nearest train station and is around six miles away. Rooms start at £225 per night.
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Have you thought about heading for the hills instead of battling over sun-loungers this summer?
