Holidaying at Home- Staycation UK 2010

What with the strong Euro, weak pound, threat of volcanic ash and airline staff striking, who wants to deal with the hassle of going abroad this summer? So swap your tapas for crumpets and tea, trade in your mosquito spray for midge repellent and forget all about baggage restrictions. Holidaying at home is the way forward, and we’ve got the perfect selection of what to do, see, and where to stay this summer.

Life’s a beach Meteorologists have predicted a scorching summer this year, so slap on the sun cream and make your way to some of the most sun-tastic beaches on Blighty’s shore.

The kitsch of Blackpool, the family feel of Cornwall….Polzeath’s sandy stretches provide some hours of fun, with surfing the big game here. Then again, if spectacular scenery is more your scene, check out the Hebrides, with the Isle of Mull a remote and idyllic slice of beach calm. Wales can proudly claim to have the best beach in Britain, in its Whitesands beach in Pembrokeshire .

Finally, don’t discount Ireland, which boasts so many blue flag beaches- take your pick here. Festival Fever If there’s one thing we do well, its festivals.

From Glastonbury to the Eden Project, don your wellies and get into the musical spirit. If culture and comedy is more your thing, Edinburgh’s multitude of festivals over summer will cover you- from the Fringe to the Book festival to Jazz and Blues and everything in between. For the full list, click here.

Nature Calling- The British countryside is like no other, and summer is a fantastic time to go out and explore more of it. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust runs events throughout the summer months, including a Living Seas Safari, a Coastal Crab Walk and Bird Watching for Beginners sessions. Northumberland Wildlife Trust run guided walks and events for wildlife enthusiast while the Scottish Wildlife Trust showcase the best of Scottish wildlife at many events across the country.

Why not visit the Loch of the Lowes reserve near Dunkeld and see the famous ospreys and their chicks? Have you had any brilliant breaks in Britain you’d like to boast about? Leave a comment and share the experience with others. Happy holidays! Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Northumberland Wildlife Trust and Scottish Wildlife Trust all receive regular and unrestricted funding from People’s Postcode Lottery, the charity lottery that’s raised over £8.3 million for charities to date. Find out more here.