Local luxury
As travellers look to reduce their carbon footprints by cutting back on air travel, luxury trips around the UK are becoming increasingly popular. From sampling seafood in Ireland to exploring Leicestershire’s waterways, here’s how to get a dose of luxury closer to home. Words: Tamsin Wressell
TA S T E IRE LAND The Irish culinary scene has leapfrogged traditional expectations of stew and pies to stand at the vanguard of the food world. Innovative restaurants like The Saddle Room and the Michelin-starred Greenhouse have established Dublin as a premier foodie destination, with chefs capitalising on the excellent local ingredients. Its seafood is world-beating — salmon, crab, oysters and mussels — while its rich variety of agricultural produce has gained international recognition. Taking a tasting tour of Ireland is sone of the best ways to get a comprehensive picture of all the kinds on dishes on offer, from the eastern pastures of Wicklow to the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way in the west. HOW TO DO IT: Abercrombie & Kent offers a nine- day tailor-made, self-drive itinerary that includes a private tour of The Burren Smokehouse to sample local salmon, plus classes at Ballyknocken House, Farm and Cookery School, oysters and mussels in Connemara National Park, a lesson in preparing fish at Ballymaloe Cookery School, followed by lunch. The trip starts in Dublin before continuing to Wicklow Mountains, West Cork, Cork, Connemara and Galway, before returning to Dublin. Accommodation included, from £3,929 per person.
abercrombiekent.co.uk
E XP LORE THE WAT E RWAYS Slow travel has gained increasing traction over the years, with a focus on the present that incorporates a sustainable approach to communities and the environment. Planning a narrowboat trip along the UK’s waterways is a great example of slow travel. Over 2,000 miles of canals and waterways are threaded throughout the country, once serving as essential arteries of business during the Industrial Revolution. These canals and towpaths wend their way through beautiful countryside and have been repurposed for public use. Some of the best routes loop through several canals, of which the Grand Union is arguably the most scenic, connecting urban and rural landscapes in Warwick, Foxton, Oxford and Coventry, among others. From here, you can opt
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nationalgeographic.co.uk/collection
for a slower, more scenic approach, or focus on completing the loop within a week. HOW TO DO IT: Boutique Narrowboats has a selection of canal boats (complete with luxury touches like rainfall showers) available to hire, with set or bespoke itineraries available. Training is included for anyone new to narrowboating, with routes centring around the Grand Union Canal. Starting off at Union Wharf marina near Foxton Locks, the routes can head towards Leicester for a short city break, or for a gentler experience, there’s the countryside of the Leicestershire canals. Towpath pubs and restaurants are scattered along the canal routes, but trainers are available on the first day to recommend the best route to suit. Narrowboats are available to rent for three, four or seven days, starting from £504 for three days off-peak.
boutiquenarrowboats.co.uk
ADVE NTU RE IN P EMB ROKE S HIRE Volcanic, rocky hills, inlets sourced from glaciers and craggy limestone dot along the coastline in Pembrokeshire, on the southern coast of Wales. Walking, kayaking, coasteering and surfing are all popular here, and there are more blue flag beaches than in any other Welsh county. There’s also 14 national reserves; the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, meanwhile, is the only coastal park in the UK, while the Pembrokeshire Coast Path takes in over 186 miles of ascents and descents along sea cliffs, lush hills and golden beaches. Rock hopping, wild swimming and cliff jumping all allow visitors to make the most of the points where the rocky cliffs meet the ocean, while nearby Skomer Island is a great spot for nature watching. There’s the Celtic Trail for cycle enthusiasts, diving sites (like the 350 wrecks in Skomer Marine Reserve) and surfing in Freshwater West. HOW TO DO IT: Pelorus focuses on adventurous travel. Its Peaceful Pembrokeshire itinerary runs year-round for seven nights. Over the course of a week, there’s abseiling, cliff jumping, surfing, kitesurfing, rock climbing and scrambling. Suggested accommodation includes Roch Castle Hotel and Penrhiw Priory, in secluded woodlands. From £6,000 per person.
pelorusx.com
Hiking trail at the top of Diamond Hill in Connemara National Park, Ireland
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