Winter holidays in the UK can be surprisingly restorative, as you’ll have the opportunity to completely unwind and relax. If you don’t want to spend all week relaxing, there’s no end of ways to spend your time on the activities that get forgotten about in summer, when you want to be outside all the time.
The best winter breaks combine the cosy experience of staying in front of a warming log fire with getting out and about to keep your circulation going, so here’s a plan for a perfect winter retreat.
Luxury accommodation
Stay somewhere luxurious, where you’ll be warm, dry, and pampered. It could be in a quality hotel, a luxury B&B, or a catered chalet, whichever appeals to you most. Pick a place that has its own spa facilities or is near to a health spa, because spending one of your days at a spa is a perfect way to relax and not have to worry about what the weather’s doing.
The right clothing
Make sure you take the right clothes and equipment with you. Getting wet and cold isn’t just a miserable experience, you could also end up becoming ill; which doesn’t make for a pleasant holiday. Take spares of everything, including warm jumpers, lots of thin layers, thermal underwear, and both unlined and fully padded waterproof outer clothing, so you’re ready for whatever the weather throws at you.
Plan your activities
This is the time to indulge in all the indoor activities you don’t get time for in the summer. It could be that you like to stay active, so look for the kinds of activities that you can do indoors, such as:
- Indoor wall rockclimbing
- Laser quest
- Escape rooms
- Badminton and squash
- Trampolining
- Swimming
If you like to explore the more cultural side of life, scope out the museums, galleries, libraries, exhibits, and historical buildings in the area where you’re staying. Don’t forget all the evening entertainments such as shows, films, plays, and live music, too.
Outdoors can be good fun too
A brisk winter walk or bike ride clears away the cobwebs and energises your body, and if you choose a bright, chilly day, there’ll be a great deal to take in with a winter landscape. The shapes of trees and branches, frost on the plant life, berries and nuts, and the increased visibility of not having leaves in the way can make a walk highly enjoyable.
The beach can be a lot of fun in the winter too. Some resorts, like Barmston Beach in North Yorkshire, allow dogs all year round, but many beaches are closed to dog walkers in the summer and are only open in winter. You might see some spectacular waves crashing on the beach, and winter is a great time for beach-combing as the waves bring up lots of debris, and there are far fewer people around to find the treasures amongst the flotsam and jetsam.
If you’re fed up with winter already, why not think about booking a holiday and treating yourself to a relaxing week or long weekend away from the commuter slog and the struggles with the winter weather? Holidays aren’t just for the hot summer months; in fact, a winter retreat can be a perfect way to recharge your batteries and lift your mood.