Inspiration

Where our team want to visit this Spring

Sawday's Expert

5 min read

As spring begins to peek its head out of the frosty ground, our team are looking around for their first trip in the sun, or whatever the UK weather will do in the next couple of months. Here, from a wander around Norfolk’s historic coast and a restorative break in Cornwall, to bumpy boats between the western isles, are the places we’re excited to be visiting soon.

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Norfolk – Beth, Senior Marketing Executive

This year I want to explore more towns and cities in the UK outside of the normal Devon and Cornwall, which are where I most regularly head when I’m looking to get away. Being by the coast still, Norfolk tickets that box straight away. I love wandering around castles and stately homes of which Norfolk has plenty and I’m excited to see Blickling Hall – the home of Anne Boleyn. I’ve also seen Norfolk is the home of some tulip farms and lavender fields, both of which I’ve always wanted to visit in Holland or Provence. A visit would provide the chance to fulfil that goal of frolicking in a flower field without having to head overseas!

Explore our special places to stay in Norfolk >

Western Isles – Chris, Copywriter

A recent trip for the Canopy & Stars podcast gave me a little taste of Scotland’s west coast. We walked on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, visited the Nc’Nean distillery, took the ferry over to Mull and I was totally hooked. After only a couple of days, I could imagine how relaxing a long stretch of island hopping would be. Some of the smaller ferry connections are first come, first served, but that just makes you slow down. Get to the pier early with a flask, have a coffee and watch the water. The scenery is some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, and I got the feeling that there was so much more to discover if we pushed on to the outer islands. So we will!

Explore our special places to stay in Scotland >

Rome – David, Marketing Manager

Once a year my partner gets sent to a random European city for work. Whilst in principle that sounds great, the reality is three days stuck in a stuffy conference centre, seeing very little of the city itself. I doubt that is what Saint Augustine had in mind when he coined the phrase “when in Rome…” so this year we’ve decided to tack on a long weekend and make a proper holiday of it. We’ll do the obvious sights, but what I’m really looking forward to is eating loads of pizza, particularly pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice). Apparently one of the best spots is CasaManco (in the famous Testaccio Market). You can order as many varieties of pizza as you like, indicate how big you want each slice to be and then pay by weight.

Explore our special places to stay in Rome >

Catalan road trip, Collioure – Carolyn, Copywriter

I’m longing to take a road trip through French Catalan country, following the coast road from the Collioure down to the Spanish border at Cebère. The sinuous route skirts the so-called Côte Vermeille (vermillon coast), past steep vineyards where the green vines line the red soil towards the sea. I often stop and buy the vintages at roadside booths or wineries. Like Collioure, the town of Banyuls-sur-Mer is known for its anchovy fishing and I’ll put a stop in there, too, as well as many of the coves and beaches along the coast as I can fit in. I’ll try and stay at 14 Rue du Mirador in Collioure, a lovely bijou gite with the facilities and setting to make a feast of whatever local produce I pick up as I go.

Stay at 14 Rue du Mirador >

Watergate Bay – Laura, Digital Marketing Executive

It’s been a busy time for my partner and I recently so, as cliched as it might be, we just need somewhere we can completely switch off. Cornwall was our first choice because we’ve both always loved going there, but Millie, our 10-month-old cocker spaniel, really doesn’t like the car. Watergate Bay is the sort of place you can park up at and not have to drive again for days, so it was perfect for us. Millie has never been to the beach so having one right outside the door means we can introduce her to it while not having to get back in the car or worry about missing out on Cornwall’s standout feature. We can also try and tire her out enough to enjoy the spa facilities and I’ve heard rumours that there’s a waffle machine at breakfast, so there’s lots to be excited about.

Stay at Watergate Bay >

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Christopher Wilson-Elmes

Sawday's Expert

Chris is our in-house copywriter, with a flair for turning rough notes and travel tales into enticing articles. Raised in a tiny Wiltshire village, he was desperate to travel and has backpacked all over the world. Closer to home, he finds himself happiest in the most remote and rural places he can find, preferably with a host of animals to speak to, some waves to be smashed about in and the promise of a good pint somewhere in his future.

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