Ah, the sweet smell of spring is finally here. Flowers are beginning to bloom, the sun has started to shine and there is hope on the horizon for a great British summer!
I’m sure you’ll agree that spending so many months at home has only made our adventurous, curious hearts grow fonder with a passion for travel and exploration.
I will appreciate my upcoming travel trips so much more, and it has only made my job as travel Editor, and the content in our latest issue, seem even more special than usual!
Lockdown might have put a stop to many things, but it certainly hasn’t stopped the travel industry preparing to ensure a super fun and warm welcome once it is safe for visitors to return. From new hotels and luxury spas, exciting holiday resorts full of adventure and off-grid activities, luxury boutique stays in acres of unspoilt countryside and coastline, brand new attractions to immersive one-of-a-kind experiences – it seems there has perhaps never been a better time to explore the British Isles!
With so much ‘British staycation’ wanderlust flying about we couldn’t resist compiling our Ultimate British Bucket List. Deep in the West Dorset countryside we Meet the Makers behind the world’s only vodka made from cows’ milk. We uncover 10 of the most wonderful places to visit in Yorkshire and discover that there’s much more than just Cheddar Cheese and ancient apple orchards to Somerset’s epicurean offering in The Rise of Food and Drink. In search of beautiful destinations where social distancing is made easy, you won’t find better than a remote Sea Garden Cottage on the white sandy shores of Tresco island, a luxury family stay in the heart of Suffolk’s rolling countryside at The Ickworth or a whisky tour around the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, Islay - the Lord of the Isles.
Wherever, and whenever, you next plan to take a holiday in the British Isles, we hope British Travel Journal continues to deliver as your indispensable travel magazine, and wish you a safe and seamless journey full of wonderful memories.
5FOR THE ULTIMATE
5FOR THE ULTIMATE ADVENTURE WILDNIS: For a five-star wilderness experience with ex-British Army Majors in restored Land Rover Defenders, this new luxury adventure will take you on an unforgettable pioneering journey through the Scottish Highlands! Think packrafting, abseiling, climbing and open-fire feasts. From reaching the summit of Ben A’an, scrambling along Aonach Eagach ridgeline, two Munro summits, to a sea kayaking trip in Arisaig with sheltered sea lochs, countless isles and skerries and hidden beaches. Feeling brave? Then head to a remote quarry, and in the style of SAS: Who Dares Wins try a front abseil, descending cliff faces – you daredevil you! Every evening at basecamp you’ll be fed like Robert the Bruce, as Wildnis’ private chef, Tom Byrom rustles together whole grouse ‘porcetta’, venison shoulder with a foraged nettle sauce and a Scottish seafood platter while you share stories by the campfire with a dram of single malt. A 4-night expedition, including guiding, all activities, all meals, Land Rover vehicle hire and transfers costs from £3,500pp sharing. Departure spring 2021. wildnis.co.uk BritishTravelJournal top tip Get involved in the cooking too, Tom offers masterclasses on foraging, butchery and open-fire cooking.
