UK & IRELAND SEASONS DESTINATIONS


I


t’s a common irony that you see less of your own country


than you do the rest of the world, especially when you’ve got the word ‘travel’ in your job title.


But while jetting off to exotic,


far-flung islands and picture- perfect beaches is still pretty dreamy, the UK and Ireland have their own prizes to offer up too – and it’s not only in the summer months that they come into bloom. From light shows in winter to flower festivals in spring, carnivals in summer to Christmas markets in winter, our home shores are radiant year-round – if you know where to go and when. To help you wise up on exactly


that, we’ve rounded up some of the best holidays across our glorious region, helping you sell it to clients in every season – starting with what’s still in store for the rest of this year.


w AUTUMN Experience Blackpool Illuminations: Crisp blue skies, red-leafed trees and bright green fields – autumn in the UK can be spectacular, and there’s plenty going on to help you make the most of it.


Among the highlights is


Blackpool Illuminations, a free event approaching its 140th year that sees the city’s six-mile promenade shine like a kaleidoscope with more than 500,000 lasers, lights and lamps. This year’s switch-on will see


Britney Spears entertaining crowds as the city’s key landmarks start to glow, with Shearings offering tours to experience it from £172 per person for five days, including an evening tram ride and a visit to Liverpool. Visit Tennerfest: It’s the food that really shines in autumn, with freshly harvested produce filling restaurants across the country. For the best way to experience it all, Premier Holidays recommends heading to the Channel Islands during Tennerfest – a six-week food festival that sees restaurants, hotels and cafes in both Jersey and Guernsey serve low-cost, fixed-price menus to showcase local cuisine. “From Jersey Royal potatoes


to fresh seafood, home-grown produce to delicious ice cream, you can try all sorts of local food, with menus from just £10,” says Beverley Scarr, short-haul general manager for the operator. Go foraging: If clients want to take things back one step and


see the origins of what they’re eating, suggest some wild foraging. It’s become something of a trend of late, with hotels offering experiences ranging from garlic-picking to mushroom- hunting. Haven has opened up the


experience to families on a budget with foraging trips led by rangers across its parks. The option joins several other autumnal activities on Haven’s Nature Rockz programme, including fire-lighting, nature trails and survival skills workshops, at several of its rural properties including Haggerston Castle in Northumberland and Allhallows in Kent. Cruise the Hebrides: Don’t overlook the more ‘summery’ activities. Autumn is an ideal time to get out there and explore the UK’s lush greenery without the crowds, and you can find some excellent bargains in the cooler months. St Hilda Sea Adventures


offers an autumn discount on its Scottish Castles and Sheltered Sea Lochs cruise around the Hebrides – taking passengers along the Sound of Mull via sea lochs, ancient castles and whisky distilleries – at a time when the hills are alive with colour and the


wildlife is at its most active, with prices for a five-night trip from £750 per person in September and October.


w WINTER Browse Christmas markets: Winter in the UK is magical, with colourful Christmas markets, cosy pop-up bars and heart-warming carol concerts giving you an excuse to sell a UK city break with a twist. Bath has become something of a go-to for December with its giant Christmas tree and German-style market huts selling quaint little handicrafts, drinks and gifts. Titan Travel packages it up with a visit to see the thousands of Chinese lanterns that illuminate the grounds of Longleat House over the Christmas weekend, with prices from £1,149 per person for five days (departing December 23). York is just as spectacular, with the annual St Nicholas Christmas Fair bringing even more charm to the city’s medieval, cobbled lanes – all spiced mulled wine, sweet treats and twinkling lights spilling out from traditional wooden chalets. Leger Holidays combines it with a visit to the Christmas- themed Dickensian Festival


26 July 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 53


TOP TIP It’s not too late to book the Terracotta Warriors exhibition, running until October 28 in Liverpool


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