Holiday cottages: Expert shares best UK locations for summer holidays this year

Simon Calder offers advice on booking staycations for 2021

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Holiday cottages are in plentiful supply in the UK but choosing where to go on holiday can sometimes be tricky. The UK has lots to offer holidaymakers but often Britons stick to the tried and tested favourites. Many are set to head to Cornwall this year.

“Cornwall has a whole host of beautiful coastal and countryside locations,” Martin Wickham, Sales Director for self-catering holiday cottage company Original Cottages, told Express.co.uk in his latest travel advice.

“As a staycation favourite, it is no surprise that the county has won the Best UK Holiday Region for 10 out of the last 11 years.”

If you’re keen to visit the region over the summer, crowds can prove a problem for some.

“More renowned hotspots including Padstow, St Ives, Newquay and Fowey are great places to visit out of season so as to avoid the busy summer months,” said Wickham.

“However, if you are tied to the school holidays, there are some more ‘secret’ undiscovered parts of Cornwall which are favourites with the locals including the picturesque Helford village, breath-taking Kynance Cove or the harbourside town of Porthleven.”

It’s key to not forget that the UK has many other stunning corners worth exploring.

Express.co.uk quizzed Wickham for his top suggestions.

The expert advised checking out Sussex, Yorkshire and North East Wales.

“We are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to explore in the UK,” he said.

“Sussex, Yorkshire and North East Wales are often the places people are less likely to think of when it comes to a staycation, but they can offer so much from a rich heritage, history, culture and spectacular natural scenery.”

So, what can holidaymakers do in Sussex?

“Visit the Hartfield and Ashdown Forest in Sussex, the home of Winnie the Pooh where you can take a ‘Pooh Walk’ through the forest, play Pooh sticks on the bridge and visit Pooh Corner in the village of Hartfield,” Wickham advised.

“Close to Brighton, the quaint town of Lewes has historic sites such as Lewes Castle and the Anne of Cleeves Museum nestled in pretty countryside and less than a 30-minute drive away from the coast.”

As for Yorkshire, the expert said: “The Yorkshire Dales has a whole host of places to visit and activities to do.

“Leyburn, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, is a fabulous spot for those wanting a walking or hiking holiday.

“If you’re also looking to witness nature in all its majesty there are lots of lovely waterfalls such as the Aysgarth Falls, a beautiful series of cascading waterfalls in a park setting with a variety of walks and woodland hikes.”

Wickham added: “There is also the picturesque town of Richmond which is home to a Norman Castle, Georgian architecture and some magnificent views and scenery, and some incredible countryside walks.”

North East Wales also has much to offer.

“North East Wales has many hidden gems, from seaside towns like Prestatyn with rolling sandy beaches to the spectacular Lake Vyrnwy, which boasts an RSPB centre, nature trails and a sculpture park,” recommended Wickham.

“There are plenty of great days out for all the family including Chirk Castle and the Llangollen heritage railway. There’s nature all around and the Mynydd Hiraethog area on the Denbigh moors is an excellent location for cycling, walking, sailing and fishing.”

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