Passport expiring? Have a staycation – top UK destinations

British equivalents to the ultimate European attractions – top staycations for a post-Brexit holiday

With Brexit fast approaching and no-one really knowing what’s going on, naturally people want a holiday. However, Brexit has made that a little trickier. Lengthy border control processes, complicated paperwork and nasty exchange rates make the prospect of a relaxing European holiday far more frustrating.

A solution to this problem would be stay in the UK – with its vast countryside, beaches to rival those of the Med and a city for every occasion, there is no need for a stress-inducing holiday abroad.

Fiona Macrae from consumer awareness campaign, Travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk has some British gems for travellers to consider:

 Wine-lovers vineyard holiday

France and Italy arguably have some of the most beautiful vineyards in the world, with regions such as Bordeaux and Tuscany producing world class wines and landscapes to match. While the UK may not be particularly famous for its wine, there are some fantastic vineyards that give its European competitors a run for their money.

Camel Valley, Cornwall

Camel Valley is one of the UK’s most celebrated vineyards with an impressive résumé of awards and an even royal warrant. They offer vineyard tours, accommodation overlooking the vineyard, and a private stretch of the river for fishing enthusiasts. The surrounding Cornwall area is also exciting to explore with picturesque scenery, golden beaches and bundles of activities, including the Eden Project.

Beach holiday:

Italy, Greece, Spain – all countries that are synonymous with sun and golden beaches. Similar to vineyards, the UK is not on this list, but it certainly should be. With numerous beaches scattered along the coast the only concerning factor is the British weather. So, on a sunny week this summer where is the best destination to go?

Salcombe, Devon

Salcombe, voted the UK’s favourite seaside town, is located on the south side of Devon. While its town centre retains a British charm, the surrounding countryside has an exotic, Mediterranean feel. In summer, the estuary fills with boats and yachts and becomes a mirror of the French Riviera. Salcombe offers pleasant walks, delicious eateries and of course, beaches.

Fishing holiday:

The UK’s fishing facilities could already be better than Europe’s. Britain’s overcast skies provide ideal weather for fishing throughout the year and its vast range of locations means there is somewhere for every type of fisherman.

River Spey, Scotland

The Spey is famous for its trout and salmon and is revered amongst anglers in the know. The river is fantastic to fly fish in, and the scenery around the river is remarkable. Among many of the great spots on the Spey lie some of the world’s finest whisky distilleries – which alone are reasons to visit this area of Scotland!

City break:

When considering a city break some may automatically veer towards Paris or Barcelona for a long weekend away, but could be forgetting that the UK is home to some amazing cities.

Bath, located in the county of Somerset, is named after its ancient baths that were built when it was inhabited by the Romans. The baths have been preserved up until this day and are open to the public to visit (unfortunately not for swimming in though). Bath is rich with history, originally founded by the Romans as a spa town; it was then built up in the 18^th century under King George producing some of the UK’s best examples of Georgian architecture incorporating a Neoclassical style. The King’s investment kick-started its era of famed art and literature, with a trail of museums to document what once was in the city.

Mountain Hiking

Those who want a sweat-inducing holiday might consider a hiking or walking trip. Top contenders for destinations in Europe are Iceland and the Alps, which both boast gruelling trails with a reward of breath-taking views.  However, to the less experienced hiker these trails could potentially be dangerous with the trails being too long, the hills too steep, or the weather too extreme. If this is the case it may be worth considering replacing Europe with Wales.

Snowdonia

Snowdonia is a national park and mountain range in Wales. While it can provide tough hikes for those who like a challenge – with Mount Snowdon standing at 3,560ft – it can also provide a milder trail for those who are ambling aficionados. The mountain range is a haven for nature and birds such as buzzards, peregrine falcons, goshawks and black grouse are often spotted here.

Fiona Macrae, head of consumer awareness campaign Travel Insurance Explained, gives advice to those looking for a staycation this year: “Travel insurance may not seem necessary when holidaying in the UK. However there are still instances that arise where you will be left out of pocket without the right protection. Although we have free medical care in the UK, travel insurance will cover you if you need to cancel your holiday or return home early and cannot claim back the cost from elsewhere. In addition, some travel insurance policies will offer to cover the cost of pre-paid, non-refundable excursions and car hire if you are unable to make your trip.

“When looking for a policy, most travel insurers will only cover UK holidays if they are more than two nights in duration and you are staying in pre-booked accommodation. There are a few policies out there that do not have a minimum duration so this is cover worth looking for if you are only going away for a weekend, plan to stay with friends and family or pay for your accommodation on arrival.

“With the cost of some UK breaks costing the same as heading abroad, travel insurance should still be a travel essential.”