The rise in staycations, brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, has opened many more eyes to Britain’s amazing travel destinations.
Some are discovering for the first time, as British Travel Journal readers have always known, that our beautiful countryside, sandy shores, spectacular landmarks and world-class hotels are far from a 'second choice' holiday option. Our latest issue - brimming with inspirational travel ideas from around our glorious island - should be enough to convince even the most hardened of international traveller, that a holiday in the British Isles won’t feel like a compromise. That’s why this year we’re offering a special discount on our ‘gift’ subscriptions for families and friends (p68), spreading the word, and hoping that this surge we are seeing in popularity for UK travel experiences will be here long after the virus has gone.
Staying in the UK comes with many bonuses too, like not having to worry about what to do with our beloved four-legged friends, as we discover in our Dog-Friendly Holidays feature (p76), and giving back to our spectacular scenery and wildlife in the next of our sustainable travel series, Discovering Nature (p44).
We hope you will be feeling on top of the world with our selection of Britain’s Best Panoramas (p48), and you might enjoy painting them too, so we show you how in Nurture your Creativity (p71). We offer a taste of the New Forest in our Interview with Head Chef, Luke Matthews (p54) and discover more spectacular scenery, heading west to Wild Wales (p26), before turning south to the Polperro Heritage Coast, spending 48 Hours in Fowey (p63). Other featured destinations this issue include The Charm of Clovelly, (p88) and Scotland’s Isle of Arran where we head to Meet the Makers of Isle of Arran Gin (p58).
If you're not feeling ready to travel just yet, we hope this issue helps keep your dreams of future travel plans alive - and that planning ahead will help to give you the confidence you need for a safe and memorable trip away soon.
Finally, we're delighted to have been nominated this year for 'Best Consumer Travel Magazine' in the 2020 British Travel Awards, and would love your help to try and win! Please vote for us from our direct page britishtraveljournal.com/vote.
We look forward to continuing to share our travel adventures together.
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WATER RAIL WAY, LINCOLNSHIRE Based on the former Lincoln to Boston Railway Line, the path follows the river Witham through the marshy Fens with their dykes and drainage channels. The full route is 33 miles, with around nine on quiet roads. Its apt name, which won a competition, comes from the elusive water rail bird. Expect wide skies and expansive views, particularly from the specially designed viewing platforms which offer impressive vistas across the wide-open flat fens or towards Lincoln Cathedral’s square spires. As well as several former station buildings, at Southrey and Stixwould, even the cast-iron station signs can be seen on still-standing platforms. A highlight is the imaginative sculpture trail along the way, featuring works based on local sheep, cow and pig breeds, or inspired by the surrounding environment, all themed on local poet Alfred Lord Tennyson’s quote: ‘I am part of all that I have met’. visitlincoln.com/things-to-do/ water-rail-way CRAB AND WINKLE WAY, KENT Linking the cathedral city of Canterbury to the arty seaside town of Whitstable, the sevenand-a-half-mile route follows the world’s first passenger railway line, which opened in 1830. As well as people, it carried seafood inland, hence the line’s nickname. Mainly flat, the trail passes through a university campus, open fields and the ancient woodlands of Blean Woods nature reserve, before bringing you through Whitstable’s back streets onto the shingly shore and the town’s bustling harbour, with its fishing fleet and artisan makers’ market stalls – and the chance to sample seafood such as Whitstable’s famous native oysters. explorekent.org/crab-and-winkle-way 〰 〰 BritishTravelJournal.com 39
