{"id":22760,"date":"2022-12-30T11:50:14","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T10:50:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=9655"},"modified":"2022-12-30T12:37:03","modified_gmt":"2022-12-30T11:37:03","slug":"try-something-different-in-2023-unusual-holiday-ideas","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/try-something-different-in-2023-unusual-holiday-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"Try something different in 2023: unusual holiday ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Simon Heptinstall\u00a0\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 30 December 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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If you fancy a holiday to remember in 2023, why not break your usual holiday<\/a> habits by trying something different? The UK is home to hundreds of exciting and unusual places that offer a sense of adventure and an experience you won\u2019t forget.<\/p>\n

From staying on a farm<\/a> to learning a new skill or a a multi-day hiking<\/a> adventure, here is our guide to Britain\u2019s most unique holiday ideas with options for couples, families and solo travellers alike.<\/p>\n

Unusual British holiday ideas<\/h2>\n

Try a rail adventure<\/h3>\n

Hop on a sleeper to Fort William, experience Brunel\u2019s Great Western line along the South Devon coast or cross the Pennines on the Settle to Carlisle route. The UK is full of great rail adventures.<\/span><\/p>\n

UK\u2019s most scenic public transport routes<\/a><\/h4>\n

Leave the car at home and let Britain\u2019s public transport system take the strain. From trundling through the Trossachs on a bus or hopping on and off a train in the New Forest, the scenery is worth the journey.<\/p>\n

See our guide to the best public transport routes in the UK<\/a><\/p>\n

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\""Uppermill"\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

Plan a rail holiday yourself or let an expert tour operator arrange everything, whether it\u2019s f<\/span>ive days exploring the valleys of mid Wales by rail with accommodation, half board, transport and guides, or two weeks discovering the Emerald Isla. For a selection of some of the best UK rail holidays, try www.greatrail.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Take the spectacular Settle to Carlisle route via the Ribblehead viaduct (built 1874) in North Yorkshire. The viaduct is 400m long and 24 massive columns carry it 32m above the moor below. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Try your hand at whittling, woodcraft or conservation<\/h3>\n

The National Trust offers hundreds of working holidays every year, ranging from building hedges and clearing canal banks to pruning and weeding vegetables in a stately home\u2019s walled garden. It\u2019s not luxurious but it\u2019s great fun, and you\u2019ll be helping a charity, learning traditional skills and mixing with a team of like-minded workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why not try your hand at some traditional woodland crafts, such as whittling and charcoal-making and return home with a new skill? nationaltrust.org.uk\/working-holidays<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Learn to whittle wood and other traditional woodland crafts with the National Trust. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Tackle The Dorset Doddle<\/h3>\n

The 32-mile hike from Weymouth to Swanage along the South\u00a0West Coast Path is anything but a doddle. In fact, you\u2019ll need to feel rather energetic and allow at least two or three days to complete it. But the reward for a total of 3,000m of ascent and descent is some of the UK\u2019s finest coastal scenery, including Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door and Man O\u2019 War Cove.<\/span><\/p>\n

Best walks in Dorset<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

One of England\u2019s most-loved counties, Dorset\u2019s coastal cliffs, bird-rich moorland and marsh and vast pebble beaches are a hiker\u2019s dream.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our guide to some of the county\u2019s best walks<\/a><\/p>\n

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\""Chapman's\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

It\u2019s part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site with spectacular rock formations around every corner \u2013 but lots of ups and downs, too.\u00a0<\/span>southwestcoastpath.org.uk<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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Walk the spectacular Dorset coast and catch a colourful sunset over Durdle Door. Don\u2019t forget to look for fossils along the way. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Go castle counting in north-east Scotland<\/h3>\n

With a total of more than 300 forts and stately homes, there are more castles per acre in Aberdeenshire than anywhere else in the UK. A dedicated \u2018Castle Trail\u2019 lets you discover 18 of the most dramatic sites in a self-drive, four-day itinerary. The drives are punctuated with sightseeing walks through gardens and countryside. <\/span><\/p>\n

The highlights include the tough stone 17th-century Cairngorm fortress at Braemar, the elegant loch-side baronial palace at Fyvie and spotting puffins and dolphins from the spectacular cliff-top stronghold of Dunnottar.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Dunnottar Castle is a ruined medieval fortress located upon a rocky headland on the north east coast of Scotland, about two miles (3 km) south of Stonehaven. The surviving buildings are largely of the 15th 16th centuries, but the site is believed to have been an early fortress of the Dark Ages. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Guide<\/a> to<\/a> Britain\u2019s castles: history and best to visit<\/a><\/h4>\n

From the ravens of the Tower of London, to remote medieval ruins, Britain\u2019s sprawling castles retain a sense of heritage in our cities and countryside \u2013 our guide to Britain\u2019s best castles.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Read more<\/a><\/p>\n

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\""Castle\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

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Stay in a historic room at Oxford College<\/h3>\n

Many of Oxford University\u2019s colleges offer B&B in their rooms when students are away. The best of these can be in medieval buildings overlooking ancient quads or alongside Oxford\u2019s water meadows and riverside walks. Don\u2019t worry about dirty socks and posters of Black Sabbath, the rooms are completely cleared of student detritus before guests arrive. Note that beds are typically singles but cheap enough for a couple to take adjoining ensuite rooms each, and are always in close proximity to the college gardens. Don\u2019t miss the highlight of breakfast in the Hogwarts-style grandeur of the college\u2019s dining hall. <\/span>visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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The Radcliffe Camera, one of the \u2018golden spires\u2019 of Oxford was built 1737-1749 in the Palladian style. (Getty Images) JRR Tolkien used it as inspiration for Sauron\u2019s temple in his Lord of the Rings prequel The Silmarilien<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Cycle through Constable Country<\/h3>\n
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Willy Lot\u2019s House Cottage, Flatford Mill, Suffolk, England. An ancient farmhouse made famous by a painting by artist John Constable. (Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The leafy River Stour villages along the Essex\/Suffolk border were once immortalised by Constable\u2019s brushstrokes. You can potter around this gentle rural landscape trying to spot the locations he painted. These flat, quiet lanes are perfect for rediscovering cycling. If you\u2019re uncertain, a holiday of circular rides gives you the choice of pedalling as much, or as little, as you like. Packages include route notes and two nights\u2019 bed and breakfast at a four-star hotel with spa and leisure facilities. www.cyclebreaks.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Go Scottish island hopping<\/h3>\n
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The tropical white sands of the Isle of Berneray (Bearnaraidh) a small island located in the sound of Harris at the nothern tip of North Uist. (Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Step aboard a converted traditional wooden fishing boat for a luxury small-ship tour of the Western Isles. It\u2019s a chance to spot wildlife \u2013 including whales and dolphins \u2013 learn some history and roam true wilderness areas with a small group of like-minded passengers. You can s<\/span>pend six nights exploring the coast of Skye and the islands of the Inner Hebrides, or choose from a range of different 10 night trips. <\/span>www.themajesticline.co.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Practise painting seascapes<\/h3>\n
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The Tate Gallery at St Ives Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Where better to learn to paint seascapes than at the St Ives School of Painting? Not far from the Tate Gallery in this Cornish artists\u2019 haven, you\u2019ll spend four days trying to capture the beauty of the sea and the shore. \u2018Landscape Painting with Natural Pigments\u2019 is just one of a long list of art courses for everyone from beginners upwards. Note that the fee includes all materials but not accommodation. <\/span>schoolofpainting.co.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Stay on Prince Charles\u2019 farm<\/h3>\n

King Charles<\/a> and Camilla often escape the pomp of their royal duties to their little-known home among beautiful rolling hills near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. Surprisingly, half of their Llwynywermod Farm holiday retreat is available to rent to ordinary commoners when the heir to the throne isn\u2019t there. These two adjoining cottages provide a fascinating glimpse of their lifestyles and a chance to share their tranquil rural retreat. There\u2019s no throne room or dungeon but you\u2019ll need to be vetted, negotiate tight security and ignore sentry boxes hidden in the trees. It\u2019s worth the hassle to experience the immaculate cottages full of royal nick-nacks, Charles\u2019s charming garden and the walks teeming with wildlife, including red kites. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span>www.duchyofcornwallholidaycottages.co.uk<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Get snapping in the Brecon Beacons<\/h3>\n
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Professional landscape and wildlife photographer Steve Hedges\u2019 inspiring three-day course is held amid the peaks, valleys and waterfalls of the Brecon Beacons National Park. So you\u2019ll need to be energetic enough to walk around the hills all day. Steve\u2019s small-group workshops help everyone from beginners to experts develop artistic and technical skills while exploring the Beacons countryside.\u00a0 <\/span>www.stevehedgesphotography.co.uk<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Best wildlife photography courses in Britain<\/a><\/h4>\n

From snapping otters in the lochs of Argyll to capturing reed deer in their autumn rut, hone your photography skills with our guide to Britain\u2019s best wildlife photography courses.<\/p>\n

See our pick of the best wildlife photography courses<\/a><\/p>\n

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\""Male\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

Take a deep breath at a mindfulness retreat<\/h3>\n

Be guided through a sequence of calming and mindful yoga sessions within the historic walls of Monk Coniston, a romantic and charming national trust property. Set amongst the relaxing greenery of the Lake District, you\u2019ll start your days off with mindfulness meditation sessions before attending a light lunch provided by the house. Then, take time to explore the local area or make the most of the house during the afternoon.<\/p>\n

A to Z of mindfulness in nature<\/a><\/h4>\n

We look at the various ways that nature and the countryside can be used to help improve physical and mental wellbeing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Find nature-themed mindfulness ideas<\/a><\/p>\n

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\""Mindfulness\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

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Enjoy a lamb-watching break<\/h3>\n

This is the perfect time to visit a farm and see newborn lambs skipping through the grass. There are hundreds of British sheep farms that provide accommodation, either as B&B rooms or in self-catering cottages, each with unique features to suit you: from hot tub lodges in Shropshire to unspoilt and secluded cottages in Powys. Visit: <\/span>farmstay.co.uk\/Accommodation\/HolidayIdeas\/lambwatch<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Our guide to lambing, including when it takes place, what happens and where you can see it.<\/a><\/h4>\n

It\u2019s miraculous. Amazing. Unforgettable. And yet it\u2019s commonplace on British farms. Every year, 16 million ewes give birth in the UK.<\/p>\n

These days, lambing takes place anytime between November and May \u2013 but the birth rate still peaks in spring.<\/p>\n

Discover where to watch lambing<\/a><\/p>\n

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\""lambs"\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

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Take a discovery tour in the Yorkshire Dales<\/h3>\n

Relax as an expert guide takes you to discover the sights of the Yorkshire Dales on a winter tour through historic castles and leading museums. You\u2019ll travel by mini-coach surrounded by like-minded passengers, and stop in local pubs and cafes for lunch on touring days. And you\u2019ll stay in a grand 19th century house in the rolling Yorkshire countryside.<\/p>\n

Best walks in the Yorkshire Dales National Park<\/a><\/h4>\n

The valleys, moors, hills and caverns of the Yorkshire Dales are etched with miles and miles of rolling footpaths \u2013 explore this atmospheric limestone landscape with our guide to the national park\u2019s best hiking trails.<\/p>\n

Find walking routes in the Yorkshire Dales<\/a><\/p>\n

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\""Viaduct\"<\/div><\/div> <\/div> <\/section>

Immerse yourself in music<\/h3>\n
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Traditional and modern morris dancing during Sidmouth Folk Week in Devon.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

From Sidmouth to Stornaway, there are scores of festivals featuring traditional British music in 2016. The Hebridean Celtic Festival on the Isle of Lewis is always memorable: expect vibrant Gaelic music displays and a mixture of local talent with household names. A weekend arena ticket covers entry to events across all venues from Thursday to Saturday. <\/span>www.hebceltfest.com\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Explore an ancient island kingdom<\/h3>\n

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The lifeboat station in the harbour on Roa Island, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria circa 1989. The castle on nearby Piel Island can be seen in the background. (Photo by RDImages\/Epics\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Piel Island is half a mile off the southwest tip of Cumbria. Its 50 acres contain an English Heritage castle, the 18th-century Ship Inn and a few old pilots\u2019 cottages. The human population is just 10 but Piel is a haven for hundreds of seabirds that nest on the beach. Fishing and seal-spotting boat trips can be arranged, too. Piel was the starting point, 500 years ago, for Lambert Simnel\u2019s ill-fated revolt against Henry VII. That story has since transformed into an unlikely tradition: the Ship Inn\u2019s landlords are grandly crowned \u2018King of Piel\u2019 and have the power to bestow knighthoods to any visitor who sits in an ancient ceremonial \u2018throne\u2019 (and buys a round of drinks for all). The pub serves food packed with local produce and has ensuite rooms, a bunkhouse and campsite.\u00a0<\/span>www.pielisland.co.uk\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Take a wildlife holiday<\/h3>\n
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Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n
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Unwind and immerse yourself in the natural world this year \u2013 from spotting otters to kayaking with puffins and catching a glimpse of a minke whale, here is our pick of the UK\u2019s best wildlife watching holidays.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div> <\/body><\/html>\n

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By Simon Heptinstall\u00a0 Published: Friday, 30 December 2022 at 12:00 am If you fancy a holiday to remember in 2023, why not break your usual holiday habits by trying something different? The UK is home to hundreds of exciting and unusual places that offer a sense of adventure and an experience you won\u2019t forget. From […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":0,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"11"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Simon Heptinstall\u00a0 Published: Friday, 30 December 2022 at 12:00 am If you fancy a holiday to remember in 2023, why not break your usual holiday habits by trying something different? The UK is home to hundreds of exciting and unusual places that offer a sense of adventure and an experience you won\u2019t forget. From…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/22760"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}