posted by Travel Cat on Jan 17
With their economy at an all time low at the moment - why not take advantage! The UK£ is very low compared to a lot of currencies - including the US$ - so why not hop on over to the little ‘vacation island’.
Accommodation will be cheap at the moment as so many people are trying anything to get the customers - including the stores - they have gone ‘discount crazy’ - even some of the great big companies like Marks & Spencer, a cornerstone of any British High Street.
Although you may have to search around for a cheap flight anywhere at the moment, they are out there. Sometimes it is cheaper to get 2 singles - or stop off somewhere on the way over - but it’s worth it if you want to see this wonderful little country.
What’s the UK like?
It is currently winter at the moment, so don’t expect to be wearing T-shirts around, but this means that you can snuggle up in a little cottage on a river with a real wood-burning fire warming the timber framed cosy front room!
You could be waking up to the view of a snow covered landscape or reading a great book while the rain and wind howl around your lodgings with you nice and warm inside. On the clear days, there will be plenty to keep you busy with horse-riding, hiring a canal boat, touring an ancient city with it’s castle or just wandering through cobbled streets and stopping for lunch in a quaint ‘tea shop’.
Scotland has plenty of winter sports to offer, including skiing, snowboarding, dog-sledding, reindeer tours, whale watching and even hunting with eagles! There is plenty of rare wildlife in these parts too, including seals, dolphins, red squirrels and of course - the Loch Ness Monster! Stop off in the historic hill-side city of Edinburgh to hear the cannon salute on your way past.
What about Wildlife?
Nature-lovers will love the coastlines of the British Isles for birding around this time. The Norfolk coast of England, the whole coast of Northern Ireland and estuaries of Scotland are all great locations for migrating birds - like the Barnacle Geese in the Solway Firth - and seabirds alike.
In more northern regions you will need to be on the look-out for bottle-nosed dolphins and whales as they hunt for food in these winter months - and the Scottish highlands hold reindeer, red deer and wildcats!
Man Made Fun?
Many theme parks are closed for the winter, but there are plenty of free museums in London and other main towns, and of course there are places that need to be seen to be believed. Take the Isle of Wight in the English Channel. This little island is filled with dinosaur bones - and you have every chance of finding your own while you are there. It also has brightly coloured sand making up one amazing cliff-line.
Many Zoo’s and Safari Parks are still open through the colder months, but you may not see many animals - they are no doubt hiding in their heated houses! On the other hand there are many native animals, like otters and wild ponies that can be seen better in these months as they depend on certain sources for food.
Ancient man-made landscapes are also amazing to see covered in snow, or on a frosty morning. The Tarr Steps in Exmoor cross a fast icy river, Stonehenge catches the low sunlight, and ancient castles and forts hide in a curtain of mist. You can even take a walk out across the sea bed at low tide to several islands on the south-west coast if it’s not too windy!
What Else:
Take your vacation in the UK and not only can you enjoy what it has to offer, you are also within touching distance of the whole of Europe. You can drive to Paris for lunch or have a weekend vacation in Italy. Many tour holidays are on offer if you want to go further.
If you only have 2 weeks then don’t even look at Europe - it will only tease you with it’s variety and make you consider ‘hopping’ around to destinations for a few days here and there. This won’t do any of them justice! Just select 2 or 3.
Consider at least a month, if you really want to soak up the atmosphere of several countries - and consider a flexible train or coach ticket. There are 60 or so countries in Europe - and there really is no need to rush them! They aren’t going anywhere!
Oui?
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