Best UK Winter Holiday Destinations for Motorhoming
3 minutes well spent
It is unlikely to have escaped your attention – but just in case the information hasn’t yet processed properly: summer is well and truly over! Usually this turn in the seasons means you spend some time and effort ‘winterising’ your motorhome or caravan – i.e. doing all of the little jobs required to make sure it stays in tip-top condition through the cold-snaps and has a great chance of being as good as new when spring rolls round and it’s time to hit the road again.
However, winter doesn’t have to mean an extended period of time off the road, with your vehicle in storage. There are places out there well worth visiting despite the colder weather, and there are plenty of great places for you to pitch up and stay while you enjoy a winter adventure. In this edition of our blog, we’ll run through a few UK winter holiday destinations you can visit, and some of the things can see or do while you’re there!
UK Winter Holiday Destinations
England: The Lake District
One of the most beautiful parts of the UK, whatever the season. The Lake District in Cumbria is a 365-day per year natural paradise and therefore a true haven for nature lovers. Snow-covered peaks are a literal highlight during the winter, and they tend to look amazing as backdrops for your Instagram posts. The no-nonsense towns and villages, and the cosy pubs offering wholesome British food and beer will be just the ticket when the cold starts to bite a little bit. Hopefully, in the one you choose, there’ll be a roaring fire to complete the idyllic winter picture!
Scotland: Edinburgh
Scotland winter holidays are somehow very romantic – all of that unspoiled scenery. However, Scottish cities also have plenty to offer travellers. So historic and handsome that it is picturesque in any type of weather at all, Edinburgh is one of the UK’s greatest cities for all seasons. In the winter the highlights are the famous Edinburgh Christmas Market and, around New Year, the Hogmanay celebrations. While taking your motorhome right into the city centre is a no-go, you can park and pitch up at one of the parks outside of the city and take public transport in, where you’ll enjoy the historic architecture, the wide range of cultural destinations (museums and galleries) and historic buildings (including Edinburgh Castle), some great shopping and wonderful places to eat and drink.
Wales: Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia is one of the most rugged and visually spectacular parts of the UK, containing all fifteen Welsh mountains that stand over 3,000 feet (including Snowdon itself). This national park, in the north west of Wales and encompassing approximately 830 square miles, becomes a snow-covered vista in winter, perfect for hiking, nature spotting and landscape photography. If taking the trek to the top of Snowdon is a bit much for you, it’s possible to reach the summit by taking the tourist railway which travels for approx. 5 miles from the village of Llanberis. Either way, you will be rewarded with spectacular views. Snowdonia’s entire coastline is a Special Area of Conservation, and visiting is like stepping back in time, far from urban life and all of its noise and pressure.
Northern Ireland: North Antrim coast
Just across the English channel (and accessible via ferry from Cairnryan in the south of Scotland or from Liverpool), Northern Ireland has plenty to offer winter travellers. Amongst the most appealing is the North Antrim coast, an area of beautiful scenery which includes world-famous stop-and-looks such as the Giant’s Causeway. If you are a fan of the TV series Game Of Thrones you will instantly recognise the natural phenomenon colloquially known as the Dark Hedges – an avenue of beech trees so visually compelling you will feel as if you are walking through the middle of an episode! There are some decent campsites along the Antrim coast which can accommodate motorhome, campervan or caravan travellers.
There are lots more places around the UK which have something to offer motorhomers and caravanners during the winter months. The selection we’ve chosen here are some of the best winter holidays in the UK, but there are many more too. As the days become shorter and the weather gets chillier, it is all too easy to lock your front door and ‘chill’ in front of the television, but getting out there and taking a short touring break is a fantastic way to beat the winter blues. Here at Don Amott we stock a range of leisure vehicles which can be your home from home during your winter holidays!
