A year of staycations
Suffolk Coast - In Summer, I enjoyed a country house mini break at the Seckford Hall Hotel & Spa in Suffolk. Seckford Hall is a beautiful 16th-century listed country house steeped in Tudor history. It is set in magnificent grounds and the rooms have stunning views of the Suffolk countryside. We enjoyed a lovely summer evening sipping Pimms in the courtyard before a superb 3 course dinner which was included in our special offer rate. The hotel is within easy reach of the heritage coast seaside towns of Southwold and Aldeburgh. Both have charming independent shops to mooch around and there’s also a weird pier museum and the famous Adnams brewery at Southwold to explore. The spa was closed at the time of our visit due to Covid restrictions – so a repeat visit is necessary to experience the wonderful pampering on offer.
North Kent - In Spring, I rented a cottage in the lovely town of Whitstable on the North Kent coast. I had visited Whitstable on childhood caravan holidays and thought it time for a repeat visit. Whitstable is how you picture a quaint English seaside town. The harbour is full of boats bringing in the famous local oysters. There are numerous excellent seafood restaurants and quite a few excellent local pubs and coffee shops. Harbour street is famous for its independent shops selling books, clothes and occasionally a bucket and spade! Whitstable also has its own castle on the hill where we enjoyed a lovely cream tea in the orangery cafe..
It doesn’t all have to be about the seaside or the countryside. Our cities are also full of culture and fantastic architecture. From Whitstable you can follow the Crab and Winkle Way which is a 7.5 mile trail to Canterbury. Canterbury is Kent’s no 1 tourist attraction, as well as visiting the famous cathedral where Thomas Beckett was murdered, you can also enjoy the sights and sounds of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. We also discovered a fabulous undercover farmers market- The Goods Shed based in the old railway buildings next to the station. Superb produce on offer and of course more coffee and cake consumed.
Whatever the reason to get away, whether it’s a romantic break, birthday celebration or just time to relax and unwind, a short break away in the UK is perfect for any occasion. With my guidance, your UK getaway will be everything you need from travel, just a little closer to home than you may have thought.
This Autumn, I am off on a UK road trip to visit some friends in far flung corners of the country that I haven’t managed to see for a while. Starting with a stay in the Peak District and ending with a Shepherds Hut stay in the East of England so watch this space for my next blog.