Autumn Coach Holidays In The UK

While foreign holiday bookings have risen since the government announced the travel rules were being simplified in England, lots of people are still feeling safer staying on UK soil in the current climate, with luxury coach hire and minibus hire staying strong as people book their autumn holidays closer to home.

Whether you’re interesting in foraging, festivals, stargazing or glamping, The Guardian has recently released a list of the best autumn escapes around the UK for families, friends and couples. Here are seven of our favourite UK destinations:

1.       Pembrokeshire

Little Retreat in Lawrenny is the ultimate setting for a long weekend of relaxation in nature. It’s surrounded by ancient woodland, and the Cleddau estuary is perfect for dips and kayaking.

2.       Dumfries and Galloway

This is the perfect spot for some romantic stargazing. Galloway Forest Park, in the south-west of Scotland, is an international dark sky park—it has more than 7,000 stars and planets visible to the naked eye, and you can often see the Milky Way often as well. Dreamy.

3.       Malvern, Worcestershire

We’re not sure anything says autumn quite like a giant vegetable competition! The Malvern Autumn Show is on at the end of September, featuring artisan food and drink stalls and talks by gardening gurus, and there’s fun for all the family.

4.       The South Downs

This is a hiker’s dream, with rural routes buzzing with wildlife and alive with autumnal colour. The 65-mile Serpent Trail may not be for the faint-hearted, winding through the South Downs national park and finishing in Petersfield, but your efforts are rewarded by nature—you can spot green tiger beetles, black darter dragonflies, and birds such as stonechats, woodlarks and Dartford warblers.

5.       The Inner Hebrides

The island of Islay, which is south of Skye and Mull, is famed for its peaty whiskies. You could choose to go on a Hebrides autumn wildlife tour, with one of the days dedicated to a coastal pathway that links three whisky distilleries, Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg, with seal viewing—and “a wee dram or three to warm the cockles” at a local distillery tour.

6.        Sussex

If you’re feeling studious and want that back-to-school feeling, West Dean offers a range of short courses in arts and conservation in a beautiful rural setting in South Downs National Park, including an eccentric range of botanical drawing classes, pottery courses, a leatherwork masterclass, and even how to make 15th century armour (as you do!)

7.        Northumberland

The National Trust estate at Wallington is alive with fiery displays of autumn colour, which you can explore on a heritage tree trail. If you find yourself in the city of Newcastle, make sure you take a trip down to Jesmond Dene at this time of year; an inner-city park set in a deep valley, with winding paths, streams, and a secret restaurant.

If you’re holidaying in the UK this autumn and would like to find out about luxury coach hire and minibus hire, please get in touch with us today.