The Best Places in The UK to Run Away To
The best UK escapes to book for 2024
A sweet option for couples, this small town on Mull, off the west coast of Scotland is pretty as a picture and famous for the brightly coloured houses along its main street. Although small, Tobermory has a great choice of shops and restaurants and the harbour is always busy with fishing boats, yachts and ferries.
The surrounding area is fantastic for wildlife watching and Tobermory has a number of boat trips available to take to watch minke whales, harbour porpoise, seals and dolphins. On land, special minibus tours seek out the wildlife on the island and you can also take a walking tour to spot the white tailed sea eagles, golden eagles, kittiwakes and otters. On your walk, why not head to the historical Baliscate Standing Stones? Baliscate was an early settlement that predates Tobermory and the stones can be found behind the Isle of Mull Pottery. For a day of culture, head to An Tobar, Mull’s Arts Centre which overlooks Tobermory Bay. There is a dedicated gallery as well as a performance space and workshop. The Gallery hosts a new exhibition every month featuring both local artists and touring shows. The Mull Museum is also worth visiting; run by local volunteers with a wealth of knowledge about the area.
After you’ve had your fill of fresh air, head to one of Tobermory’s restaurants. An Cala Ciùin in the Mishnish Hotel on the main street comes highly recommended. The decor is light and welcoming with contemporary coastal touches and they offer a menu inspired by the local area as well as an exquisite tasting menu. Café Fish in the town is a great choice for a light bite to eat during the day and serves fresh, local fish caught using the restaurant’s own boat. The open-air terrace boasts stunning views over the Sound of Mull, perfect for a restful stop in the middle of the day. If you’re happy to travel further afield, Ninth Wave Restaurant in the south of the island is also a great option, as the menu takes a blended approach to food with influences from the local area and also from Head Chef Carla Lamont’s Canadian heritage.
For something a bit different, head to Tobermory Distillery for a boozy afternoon of fun. Take a tour of the distillery as you listen to the expert team explain the whisky making process and learn about the history of distilling in Tobermory. You will also have the chance to taste Tobermory whisky taken straight from the cask, with a ‘Driver’s Dram’ available to take home and enjoy for any designated drivers.
After you’ve had your fill of fresh air, head to one of Tobermory’s restaurants. An Cala Ciùin in the Mishnish Hotel on the main street comes highly recommended. The decor is light and welcoming with contemporary coastal touches and they offer a menu inspired by the local area as well as an exquisite tasting menu. Café Fish in the town is a great choice for a light bite to eat during the day and serves fresh, local fish caught using the restaurant’s own boat. The open-air terrace boasts stunning views over the Sound of Mull, perfect for a restful stop in the middle of the day. If you’re happy to travel further afield, Ninth Wave Restaurant in the south of the island is also a great option, as the menu takes a blended approach to food with influences from the local area and also from Head Chef Carla Lamont’s Canadian heritage.
For something a bit different, head to Tobermory Distillery for a boozy afternoon of fun. Take a tour of the distillery as you listen to the expert team explain the whisky making process and learn about the history of distilling in Tobermory. You will also have the chance to taste Tobermory whisky taken straight from the cask, with a ‘Driver’s Dram’ available to take home and enjoy for any designated drivers.
Where to Stay
The Tobermory Hotel
On the main street, this charming and colourful hotel has been hosting guests for more than 150 years. The hotel is dog friendly and the rooms are cosy and inviting. The hotel also has the option of self-catered cottages for extra privacy. Book Lochinvar Cottage, ideal for couples, found just off the main street with a spacious king bedroom.
Carnanamish
Found high above the town of Tobermory, this contemporary cottage has stunning panoramic views of the bay and is an ideal retreat after a long day of exploring. The cottage has large windows and two balconies so you can fully enjoy the natural beauty of the landscape.
Roslyn House
This boutique hotel in the heart of Tobermory is enhanced by smart technology, meaning there’s no need for on-site staff. With a welcome drink and hamper made up of local produce and a unique access code that means there’s no need to check in, this is a truly luxurious and intimate place to rest your head.
This bustling market town in the heart of the Lake District is a great getaway option for couples who want to lose themselves in the hills. The town, right on the northern edge of Derwentwater, is surrounded by beautiful fells including Skiddaw, Blencathra and Catbells.
There is plenty to do in and around Keswick, with excellent, independent options for shopping throughout the town. A particular highlight is Ye Old Friars, a fabulous family-run chocolate shop on the main street that is more than 90 years old. However, the best way to explore the area is by boat. Head to the jetty just beyond the town centre and take a leisurely tour around Derwentwater. There are a number of optional stops where you can disembark and take a stroll. For the more adventurous, get off at Hawes End and spend your time climbing Catbells, a fairly challenging hike with a short, steep section.
Also accessible from Hawes End is Lingholm Kitchen and Walled Garden, only a short 15-minute walk away. The restaurant serves a wonderful, locally-sourced menu and the Walled Garden is based in the original gardens that partly inspired Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit. For a spot of lunch in Keswick centre, try The Wild Strawberry. The café is adorably decorated and the clotted cream and fresh strawberry croissant is particularly good. For a special evening meal, stop by The Cottage in the Wood, a unique Michelin-starred restaurant featuring the creative cooking of Sam Miller that is just a 10-minute drive from the centre of Keswick.
If you don’t mind travelling further out from Keswick, a must-see ‘Romantic’ stop is the Wordsworth Museum in Grasmere. The museum includes Dove Cottage, where a young Wordsworth wrote many of his greatest and most famous poems. The cottage has been painstakingly brought back to life and small sections of Wordsworth’s writings have been recreated to tell the story of his time at Grasmere.
Where to Stay
The Kings Arms Hotel
This dog-friendly, family owned hotel is right on Main Street in Keswick, just a step away from countless shopping and restaurant options, with rooms looking down onto the market stalls below. The rooms are cosy and inviting and the hotel’s restaurant is relaxed, with a roaring fire.
Grange Country House
If you’d like a bit of breathing room away from the hustle and bustle of Keswick, head to Grange Country House. The guesthouse is only a 15-minute walk from the town, but with the stunning views from the rooms it will feel worlds away. The house has 10 individually-styled rooms with ensuites and your stay includes a complimentary spa visit for two at The Spa at Underscar Manor, less than 10 minutes away by car.
Tithe Cottage
This cosy converted barn tucked just off Keswick’s Main Street has its own courtyard. Enjoy the modern interior, dark wood furnishings and deep, leather sofa after a day of exploring. The cottage also has its own parking space so access is easy in spite of its central location.
With white sand beaches, turquoise waters and quaint buildings, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you’d been transported abroad, but no. A picturesque fishing harbour on the Cornish coast with seven beaches to choose from, St Ives is a stunning location for a romantic UK getaway.
There’s plenty to do in St Ives and it would be a crime if we didn’t start with its breathtaking beaches. All seven of St Ives’s beaches are within walking distance of the town (Harbour Beach is generally considered the main beach of St Ives). However, if surf is what you’re looking for, head to Porthmeor for the best waves. There is a surf school for those who are just starting out and also body boards available for those wanting to try something a little different. On the opposite side of St Ives is Porthgwidden, the perfect beach for bird watching and spotting seals as they bask in the sun.
Off the sand, there are plenty of ways to spend a day. Head to Tate St Ives, an art gallery exhibiting contemporary artists with links to the local area. There is also the National Maritime Museum which celebrates the rich maritime heritage of Cornwall and displays rare objects from around the world to explore international maritime history. For some fresh air, walk up to the impressive Knill’s Monument above St Ives. The walk itself is short but challenging in places, with beautiful scenery along the way.
There are plenty of restaurants to choose from in St Ives, whether you need a quick bite to eat in the middle of the day, or want to settle in for an evening meal. For a quick bite while you explore the area, stop in at The Cornish Deli, a friendly deli not far from the coast that champions local produce. For a relaxed evening meal, head to Hub, a restaurant that specialises in burgers and has great views of St Ives Harbour and Lighthouse. For a refined experience, we would recommend Ugly Butterfly. The Michelin-starred restaurant is just a mile from St Ives and boasts stunning views across Carbis Bay.
Where to Stay
Carbis Bay Hotel and Estate
For a truly luxurious hotel stay, this is the perfect option. With a range of accommodation to choose from including cottages, the main house, suites and lodges, you can tailor your stay however you like. The hotel also has an outdoor infinity pool with stunning views over the bay and a recently remodelled spa offering a range of treatments - the perfect way to end a long day of exploring.
Harbour View House
This light and airy boutique hotel is a breath of fresh air with great views over the town and harbour. Taken over in 2020, this small hotel has been lovingly transformed into a paradise for visitors. Guests receive a complimentary drink on arrival and each room is decorated in a relaxed, beach style, with soft colours and large windows to let in the light. The hotel also has a café and bar, which serves cocktails, tapas and tacos nightly.
The Loft
This adorable cottage is ideal for a romantic getaway for two. Located in a designated conservation area by the old fishing quarter, this two-bedroom cottage is in the very heart of St Ives with the nearest beach only a short stroll away. The cottage has a spacious dining and kitchen area, with a patio for catching the sun and a log-burning stove for if the weather turns.
A famous World Heritage Site, this town is overlooked by a stunning 13th century castle and is only a stone’s throw from the mountains of Snowdonia and the coast. Conwy also has a bustling harbour that you can view from the vantage of the impressive Telford suspension bridge.
No holiday to Conwy would be complete without a visit to Conwy Castle and Town Walls. Built under Edward I in the late 1200s, the castle still dominates the town with its striking turrets and dark-stone walls. Curtain walls surround the town and the views from the battlements are breathtaking. The town itself still contains evidence of its turbulent past, with the castle being built to affirm the Crown’s control of Wales following a period of unrest.
Conwy also boasts some stunning natural beauty. For a breath of fresh air, head to Conwy Mountain and spend the day exploring the Iron Age hill fort as you try to spot local wildlife including the striking red-billed chough. For those wishing to push themselves, Snowdonia is only a short drive away for a day full of hiking. There are a number of activities to enjoy on the water, with sailing clubs, jet skis, boat tours and windsurfing. There is also an annual Pirate Festival in the town, a fun-filled event with food, live music, games – and plenty of pirates.
There are lots of great places to eat in the area and we would recommend the Michelin-starred Signatures Restaurant in Conwy, run by chef Jimmy Williams and his wife Louise. The restaurant boasts a theatre-style kitchen which allows guests to watch the chef at work as he creates delicious dishes before your eyes. For a lighter bite to eat, head to Upstairs at Anna’s, on the second floor of a Grade II-listed building in Conwy. Don’t miss the afternoon tea, perfect to nibble on as you watch the street below. For a relaxed evening meal, head to Dylan’s Restaurant in Conwy, a family-owned restaurant on the water serving locally-sourced seafood.
Where to Stay
The Castle Hotel
Situated within the town walls, this boutique hotel is a refurbished coaching inn and has a warm, cosy atmosphere. There are 25 rooms for guests to choose from and the hotel recently installed a wellbeing treatment room for guests to enjoy. The Castle is also renowned for its food, with a seasonal menu created from locally-sourced ingredients.
The Empire Hotel
Just across the Telford Suspension Bridge, this large, family-owned hotel is spread across two buildings and also has a townhouse for a stay that feels more intimate. The main building has a bar, lounge, indoor and outdoor pool as well as a spa, sauna and steam room.
Riverside Cottage
Placed right between the iconic castle and the suspension bridge, inside this cosy cottage you’ll feel like you’re a million miles away. The ground floor is open plan with comfortable furnishings and a wood-burning stove. Upstairs you will find a king-size room with an ensuite and walk-in shower. The cottage is also pet-friendly and has free parking, so exploring the area will be a breeze.
