Holidays and Short Breaks in the UK by Sawday's

It may be extremely famous, but it has to get a mention for the dramatic scenery. The crowds can be avoided if you favour lesser known trails over Scafell and Catbells, while there are wild swimming spots, caves and culture hidden in the folds of the hills.

The Hebrides might be a byword for remoteness and seclusion, but the inner islands are easier to reach than you think. Just a few hours from Glasgow can take you to Mull, Arran and the distilleries of Islay, while spectacular Skye is further north but definitely worth the trip.

There’s endless potential for long days at the beach and cliff top walks, but look beyond seaside, pasties and cream teas to discover a region of rich culture, ancient traditions, fine food and wild moorland.  

Suffolk has seen a remarkable foodie revolution in recent years, with artisan growers and producers springing up alongside some seriously old institutions and supplying a host of new eateries across the county.

Explore miles of trails across the Dales and the North York Moors, where the landscape has shaped the culture, visit the tiny coastal artist commune of Staithes, or drop into York itself, a city at once historic and fashionable. 

Some people call Pembrokeshire “the new Cornwall”, for the abundance of small surf towns strung along the rugged coastline. Take on the waves at Manorbier or Freshwater West or explore inland to trendy market towns and a specialist bug restaurant.

Malton is a town saved by food, having been turned into a showcase for fine produce from all over Yorkshire by a group of passionate people lead by Tom Naylor-Leyland. A visit is literally nourishing, if not downright fattening in the best possible way.

The sort of characterful, community-run place that makes you fall in love with the south west. Follow the drift of people up to the square on market day, browse the craft stalls and artisan shops, or head over to Dartington Hall to have your mind blown in any number of ways.

The village of Broadway is one of those places that you simply stroll around. It’s a picture perfect collection of sandstone houses and old inns with wonky roofs, and the view from the bizarre and beautiful Broadway Tower is beautiful.

The tiny town sits in a crack of coastline on the eastern edge of the North York Moors. Once favoured by a group of Victorian impressionists, its artistic heritage was revived in 2012 by Alison Milnes and it is once again a small but bright beacon of the arts.

Tenby’s classic seaside vibe almost strays into kitsch, with colourful houses above a bustling harbour of fishing boats and flapping sails. There are gorgeous coastal walks out along the Pembrokeshire cliffs and cosy pubs to hole up in if the weather turns.

The tiny harbour town clusters above the turquoise bay and stunning hikes lead off round the deserted coast, all the way to Land’s End if you’re feeling energetic, with stops at beautiful beaches all along the way..

The UK’s climate is rarely extremely hot or cold, which means not having to buy new clothes for a visit, but makes our obsession with discussing the weather all the more mysterious. Pack for all seasons, all the time, and ignore the weather forecast unless you’re prepared to check it every five minutes. 

Cornwall and Devon get most of the press for sweeping strands like Newquay and Woolacombe, but the south-east has some lovely spots like Camber Sands, there’s stunning Bamburgh castle on the shore in the north, Pembrokeshire has miles of rugged coastline and you can horse ride through the surf just outside Edinburgh     

You really can have any kind of holiday in the UK. City breaks full of history, music, art and culture; hiking, climbing, surfing, canyoning and more in 15 National Parks, idle fossil hunting on the south coast and delicious foodie adventures in Aldeburgh and Malton, to name just a couple.

Perhaps we can’t boast the culinary heritage of Italy or France, but there are superb restaurants and innovative pubs, artisans and producers to be proud of, as well as Yorkshire puddings, fish & chips, more cheeses than you can count and the great Devon vs Cornwall scone debate.

British wine is long past being a joke, with some fantastic whites and sparkling wines in the south and a wealth of wonderful Welsh wineries (say that after a glass or two). Then there’s the long tradition of brewing great beer and making world-class whisky, as well as the second great gin craze  

Fascinating communities, wildlife and scenery are found on the scraps of rock that surround the main islands. Skye is famously beautiful, Anglesey bursts with incredible bird life, and there are stunning island buildings from Cornwall’s St Michael’s Mount, to Scilly’s Tresco Abbey Gardens and Northumberland’s towering Lindisfarne.