With miles and miles of glorious coastline and countryside, we’re spoiled for choice in the UK when it comes to choosing a destination for our next break. The Peak District and Lake District are popular favourites for walking holidays.
Some people prefer natural coastal holidays with walking and such while others prefer resorts like Blackpool. How do coast and country breaks compare?
Do we as a nation prefer to feel the sea breeze in our hair and sand between our toes, or is the peace and quiet of the countryside much more appealing? There are so many historical places to visit in the UK.
The team at Cottages in Northumberland, a coastal cottages and country break holiday lettings agency based in Northumberland, is here to reveal the pros and cons of being beside the seaside and escaping to the country.
Coastal breaks
With breathtaking sea views, delicious food and plenty of family-friendly things to do, it’s no wonder that a staggering 38% of the top ten holidays involved trips to the beach last year, according to research compiled by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).
And these aren’t the only things that the coast has to offer holidaymakers. A coastal break is also therapy for the mind, body and soul: relax by listening to the sound of the waves crashing against the coastline, sleep well from fresh sea air, and soften your feet with a walk along the beach.
Heading to the coast is also a chance to relive happy memories. From eating takeaway fish and chips, making sandcastles on the beach, and rolling up trousers and sleeves to paddle in the sea, the percentage of trips to the beach last year shows that all the way through life, people love heading to the coast.
Coastal breaks do, however, have their drawbacks. More expensive than their countryside counterparts even in the off-peak season (from around £450 for seven nights, compared to £360 in the countryside), taking a coastal break in peak time also means that the town or village where you choose to reside will be much busier people-wise than a stay, at any time, in the vast, open countryside.
Country breaks
While seaside breaks become part of our lives at a young age, escaping to the countryside is very much the idyll of these two types of holiday.
For many of us living in the UK’s densely populated towns and cities, the main draw of a break to the country is to fulfil our desire for peace and quiet. But the pleasures of the countryside don’t stop there, rural stately homes, picturesque landscapes, Britain’s darkest skies, and an abundance of walking and cycling routes all make the countryside the best place to relax and unwind from the stress of everyday life.
Country breaks are also a great opportunity to get closer to nature. Dig out your binoculars and observe beautiful birds, butterflies, hedgehogs, foxes, rabbits, and even deer in the countryside.
While this all certainly sounds worlds away from urban life, the remoteness that comes with a countryside break is something that some city-types may find unnerving. And we don’t just mean that people-wise! If your smartphone is in your hand at all times, you may find an issue with the distinct lack of Wi-Fi and phone signal in the countryside. You might also find yourself travelling much further to pick up the evening’s dinner than you might at the seaside due to the lack of supermarket superstores and express shops alike.
What would be your favourite holiday? I quite like the idea of having no phone or Wi-Fi signal on one hand but I m not sure I could actually manage it! I do love the countryside though as much as the coast. My favourite areas are around Whitby and Bridlington/Scarborough where there is a lovely coastline but also not far from the lovely countryside. The Northumberland coast seems lovely too.Do you have a favourite destination?
Love to mix and match my breaks – feels so much more relaxing
My mum owns a caravan in Weymouth, Dorset so we always go there. Dorset is lovely. I just love being able to walk along the beach and get the sea air!
Ahhh can we do both 🙂
In Feb we booked a little AirB&B for 5 nights, in off peak Derbyshire, we had the whole 3 bed cottage for less than £300, we got a Tesco shop delivered there, and spent the time, cooking, relaxing, walking miles in new found countryside, and a few trips to the pub, the whole trip perhaps cost £500 for 2 for food, travel and board
I like the combination of both. It can coastal but then I like venturing out into the countryside or day trips like when we were on Isle of Wight. We don’t have a car so spending overnight in the countryside is hard for us without a nearby place for supplies
I love country escapes, Loch Ness and Aviemore are my favourite destinations for a break.
we tend to prefer countryside but always make sure we are in easy travelling distance of the beach
The coast is fabulous but I would take a country break every time.