Domestic holidays are once again on the rise, as UK families rediscover the joys of travelling on home ground and discovering just what it has to offer. Domestic holiday bookings have surged over international travel, for a variety of reasons including travel costs and the flexibility of localised travel – and the road trip is emerging as a popular candidate for a family trip.
Road trips are a fun way to see the country with your family, but can be difficult to manage especially with smaller children in the backseat. Before you set off for any of the following road trip destinations – each of which are highly-regarded in their own right – you might want to consider an upgrade to a more trip-friendly vehicle like the Vauxhall Grandland. With your children safely stowed in their seats, and your baggage comfortably stored in the boot, you’re now ready to explore the best of Britain!
Snowdonia National Park
Wales is a breath-taking country full-stop, but you won’t find a better location for a family road trip than Snowdonia National Park. The park, so named for Mount Snowdon that sits proudly to the north-west, is well over 800 square miles of rolling hills and deep mountain lakes, bisected by roads and railways that provide astonishing sight-lines of the landscape. Snowdonia National Park comprises a number of mountain ridges, and dozens of protected areas of conservation home to all manner of wildlife.
A road trip through the Welsh mountain range is a truly profound experience – and the things to be found on the other side of that mountain make the trip all the more worthwhile. The National Park also encompasses around 30 miles of Welsh coastline, including Harlech. Harlech is a coastal town with a stunning beach to enjoy on sunnier days, and a 13th-century castle built for Edward I. The castle is one of many to be found in the park, many of which can be visited and explored.
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon has its place in history, as the birthplace of William Shakespeare and a key pilgrimage destination for literature fans around the world. It is also a fantastic area to explore by road, being a picturesque town set in the even more picturesque county of Warwickshire. It’s a great destination for families who wish to bring Britain’s rich and vibrant history to life for their children.
Stratford-upon-Avon has a rich history as a settlement that became established as a market town in the 1100s, much of which can be seen in its ‘Historic Spine’, which incorporates various areas of historical interest from Shakespeare’s birthplace to the architecture of the High Street.
The Lake District
The Lake District is unparalleled when it comes to the rural road trip. Winding country roads take you around a myriad of mountain lakes, set in the Cumbrian Mountains which themselves host the highest peak in England. The sprawling land is a feast for the eyes, with numerous pathways rewarding the intrepid hiker – and many layby spots for cars to pull over and enjoy the view.
Camping is popular in the region, with campsites near Keswick and Ullswater well-poised to make the most of the national park’s natural beauty. If you are wanting a road trip with access to plenty of outdoor activities to wear the kids out, the Lake District has it all.
Will you be taking a family road trip this year? Which UK destination will you visit next?
