UK staycation boom predicted

Just wanted to say that my comment re rain in the Lake District was, although true, said with affection

I was born and grew up in Bolton and the Lakes are very dear to me, indeed Jean and I have spent many happy times there and she has the same view of Switzerland!

I love Cornwall and it’s home but being up high in the Lakes with those views takes some beating.

I had a week in Keswick in 1976 (remember that one). Rained every day. Twenty odd years later I took my OH for a week, counselling anorak and wellies. Sunshine very day. You just can't trust English weather.

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Getting back on topic-I find the Dales is my go to rather than the Lakes, that is for one reason only. . .Space, the Dales have way more space than the Lakes(I’m talking driving not walking) unless it’s winter walks mind.

I don't have a go to area. Just areas that I have missed out or not been for a while.

Cornwall is definitely special to us. It’s just so different to anywhere else in UK, even it’s close neighbour Devon. We never tire of exploring different little places down there, sometimes on foot, sometimes by car, even done it by canoe and on horseback. We go all seasons, have done since the early 1980’s, so have seen vast changes in some places, others have been barely touched and are like stepping back in time with a bit of imagination. It’s the light and the colours as well. I wondered what the fuss was about St Ives until I first saw it from a good view point on a red hot clear day. The beaches change constantly as well, half a dozen Winter storms stripped our favourite beach of sand one February. When we went back down in May, all the sand was back, amazing. 
I love most places in UK, enjoy the fact that somewhere can seem a bit grim and frightening one day, yet go back on a warm sunny day and it’s transformed. Drove down Llanberis Pass late one evening in our MG, just a sheet of rain, next to no visibility, we were doing nothing but following a wall and a white line. Got up next morning to glorious sunshine........Wow😁

Want to do same in France at some point. Explore lots of churches, castles, historic centres. Spain and Italy as well.

Talking of how things can change - we visited Italy one year in late September, OH didn't want to go when it was hot! It was very cold, very misty. 10 days at our hotel, on the last day the sun came out and we found that we had a mountain just behind the hotel, first time we had seen it. We must have been fortunate because we have had some beautiful weather in the Lake District. To get back on track, I don't think that we should open up too soon either, we have been through all of this, what is an extra couple of months of caution. I have been watching Israel, obviously a much lower population, but just ahead of us with vaccines, maybe we will follow their route out.

If you're stuck for ideas have a look at the Rally Centre PDF, you don't have to be a centre member, you can choose anything available if there's a pitch left for you. No socialising required if you want to do your own thing, many rallies are in lovely places you wouldn't normally be able to visit with a van. I see there's still room at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta run by the Avon Centre but Longleat Festival of Lights is full. We're heading for a quieter spot but there's a great variety out there. fingers crossed they'll be open for visitors this time round. 

The contact list for centres can be found in the membership area, top left of this page. 

Rally Centre LINK

I have the Dales as my go to #2 tbh, Dalby Forest is #1. They’re go to because they feed a need & they’re relatively local👍🏻. I visit a lot of places ET but whilst most are enjoyable the go to’s are guarantees for ticking many boxes👍🏻

Same here Rocky. N Y Moors, Dark Peak area, doorstep bolt holes. Hidden spots away from crowds. 😁