Feature Photo Credit: The Iop
After exploring the growing appeal of creative retreats, spaces designed to inspire reflection, focus, and restoration, it seems only natural that many people are now seeking those same qualities closer to home through the rise of the modern staycation.
There’s been a noticeable shift in the way we think about travel. While the appeal of far-flung destinations hasn’t disappeared, our perspective on time away has begun to soften. More and more, attention is turning closer to home, not as a compromise, but as a conscious choice.
Across the UK, this change is easy to see. Campsites are busier than ever, coastal paths come alive in the early mornings, and countryside escapes have evolved into something far more intentional than a last-minute alternative. Staycations, in particular, are being reimagined as an opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and experience familiar landscapes with a renewed sense of appreciation.
This isn’t simply about convenience. It reflects a deeper desire to engage — with nature, with time, and with a different rhythm of life. Without the need for long-haul travel, it becomes possible to step out of routine while staying grounded in place.
The New Appeal of Staying Close to Home
This shift has sparked a renewed enthusiasm for camping, staycations, and outdoor adventures throughout the UK. These experiences are not viewed as secondary options, but rather as meaningful ways to engage with a place. In many ways, the UK begins to feel more expansive when approached like this. From quiet coastal stretches to tucked-away rural settings, there’s a richness that often goes unnoticed — until you give yourself the time to see it differently.
CAMPING & GLAMPING
Camping has quietly lingered in the background of British travel for many years, but recently, it has taken centre stage more purposefully. What’s fascinating is the way the concept of camping has broadened. It’s no longer solely about setting up a tent in a field and hoping for favourable weather. While that experience still exists, camping can now be something more refined and thoughtful. Imagine a canvas tent complete with cosy bedding, a quaint cabin nestled in the woods, or a converted shepherd’s hut overlooking vast countryside.
Somewhere along the journey, camping transformed from a “roughing it” experience to one focused on reconnecting, in whatever manner resonates with you. There’s an undeniable sense of grounding in sleeping outdoors, waking to gentle natural light instead of an alarm, and enjoying the soothing rhythm of brewing coffee in the fresh air or preparing a simple meal as the evening cools.
While traditional destinations like the Lake District, Snowdonia, and the Scottish Highlands remain popular, smaller, lesser-known spots have their own charm. For instance, coastal campsites in Cornwall, where the sound of the sea lulls you to sleep at night, or woodland clearings in Sussex or Kent that feel like a true escape from city life, even if they’re just an hour away.
Additionally, glamping has emerged as a distinct category, offering the same connection to nature but with added comfort, making camping accessible to those who might not have considered it before.
Regardless of the style, the fundamental idea remains unchanged: Embrace the outdoors and allow life to slow down.
Related – The Hay Barn: Glamping with my Mum
STAYCATIONS
The term “staycation” once felt like a compromise. Now, it embodies a choice; a transformation has occurred in our perception of the UK as a travel destination. Areas that may have been previously overlooked are now being rediscovered, reimagined, and appreciated in fresh ways.
This change is partly about taking the time to recognise what already exists: A weekend in the Cotswolds, where the rhythm of life slows down significantly. A few days along the Jurassic Coast, walking stretches of coastline that seem nearly untouched. Time spent in the Peak District, where the landscape subtly shifts with the changing light. Cities, too, have taken on a new essence when viewed through this lens. For instance, London feels entirely different when experienced as a visitor rather than just passing through in daily life. The same can be said for Edinburgh, Bath, or York, cities rich in history, texture, and intricate details that are easily overlooked when you’re not actively seeking them out.
Staycations encourage a different mindset. They focus less on ticking off lists and more on immersing yourself in the essence of a place.
Alongside this, there’s been a growing interest in outdoor activities. Walking, hiking, wild swimming, cycling, things that don’t necessarily require much equipment or planning, but offer a completely different way of experiencing a place. It’s not about extremes, it’s about movement.
Following a coastal path for a few hours. Swimming in a quiet lake. Cycling through countryside roads with no particular destination in mind. These are simple things, but they change the way you connect with a landscape.
The South West Coast Path has become increasingly popular for this reason, offering long stretches of walking with constantly shifting views. In Scotland, the North Coast 500 has drawn people towards slower, road-based exploration. And across the country, smaller trails and local routes have become more valued.
There’s a sense that people are looking not just to visit places, but to move through them. To feel them, rather than just see them.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
A SHIFT IN TRAVEL PERSPECTIVE
What continually resonates with me is how this evolution in travel seems less like a fleeting trend and more like a subtle alteration in mindset. For a long time, travel was often associated with distance; the farther you travelled, the more it felt like an escape. There was an aspirational quality to it, the belief that meaningful experiences needed to be completely different from everyday life.
However, this mindset has softened. By opting to stay closer to home, to camp, and to discover the landscapes we might have previously overlooked, a gentle transformation is taking place. Travel begins to feel less like a separate activity and more like an extension of life itself.
You begin to observe things in a new light. The way sunlight shifts across the same stretch of countryside throughout the day. The tranquil rhythm of coastal towns in the early morning, before the world fully awakens. The sensation of spending more time outdoors than usual, free from the pressure to move on to the next destination.
A Slower Way of Experiencing
There’s a sense of calmness in this approach. Less urgency to capture everything, to document every moment, or to make the experience feel productive. Instead, there’s room to simply be present and to engage with a place without hastily defining it.
And therein lies the true value.
When travel slows down, it becomes more observant and connected. You start to comprehend a place rather than merely passing through it. You notice the nuances that often escape guidebooks—the subtle changes in the landscape, the way locals interact with their environment, and the feelings a place leaves with you, rather than just how it appears in a photograph.
This also transforms your relationship with comfort. There’s something grounding about simplicity and realising how little you need to feel at ease, even in unfamiliar surroundings. A warm drink in the morning, a comfortable spot to rest, and the right layers for outdoor comfort begin to feel sufficient.
In this realisation, clarity emerges. When you reduce travel to its essentials, it shifts from being about consumption to being about experience. It’s less about doing more and more about noticing more.
Making Space for a New Rhythm
This way of travelling doesn’t negate anything else.
It doesn’t diminish the value of long-distance trips or the importance of exploring further afield. Instead, it introduces a quieter, perhaps more sustainable approach, both environmentally and personally.
It invites a different pace. One that feels less hurried, less bound by expectations, and more shaped by curiosity. A pace that allows you to return from a trip not just with photos or plans but with a slightly altered perspective. And perhaps that’s what lingers with you, not the distance travelled, but the attention you paid along the way.
BRAND RECOMMENDATIONS
With all of this has come a renewed interest in what we bring along. Not in an excessive way, but in a more considered one. Choosing things that are practical, long-lasting, and genuinely useful. I believe a few brands stand out for this.
Camper Nation
Camper Nation offers a way into campervan travel that feels both flexible and grounded. Their curated selection of vans makes it easier to explore the UK at your own pace, turning the journey itself into part of the experience rather than just the means of getting somewhere.
Coco & Coir
For a staycation, the details matter and the brands you choose can subtly shape the experience. Coco & Coir is a UK-based brand focused on creating sustainable, natural products using coconut by-products, turning what would otherwise be waste into practical, low-impact solutions. Their ethos centres on simplicity, sustainability, and making everyday rituals, like cooking outdoors, feel more considered.
Small details, like the way you cook, eat, and gather, shape the experience. Choosing something like coconut shell charcoal subtly supports that shift: less intensity, more ease, and a more thoughtful way to enjoy where you already are.
Thermacup
And then there’s something quietly comforting about a warm drink outdoors. Thermacup offers a simple but thoughtful solution, a self-heating mug, designed to keep your drink at the perfect temperature without the need to rush.
Whether you’re pausing halfway through a countryside hike, sitting by the coast on a breezy staycation, or enjoying a slow morning at a campsite, it lets you take your time and actually savour the moment. No more lukewarm tea or coffee after a few minutes in the open air—just consistent warmth that feels especially welcome in the UK’s cooler climate.
It’s one of those small comforts that elevates the whole experience: a proper, warm drink in hand while you take in the view, rather than something you have to finish quickly before it goes cold.
Finisterre
And then there’s Finisterre—a brand that feels particularly at home in the rhythm of UK staycations. Built around life by the sea and time spent outdoors, their clothing is designed for repeat wear: coastal walks, blustery hikes, and those slower, in-between moments that make a weekend away feel restorative.
What sets them apart is their long-term approach to clothing. Through their Lived & Loved initiative, Finisterre actively encourages you to keep your gear in use for as long as possible. Rather than replacing worn-out pieces, they offer repair, resale, and care services, everything from patching jackets to reproofing waterproofs, making it easier to extend the life of items that have already been part of your adventures. Their philosophy is simple: the most sustainable product is the one you already own.
For staycations, that mindset really resonates. Whether it’s a well-worn jacket that’s seen countless countryside walks or a knit that’s travelled from coastal mornings to pub evenings, there’s something grounding about relying on clothing that already holds memories. Instead of constantly buying new, Finisterre leans into the idea of repairing, reusing, and continuing the story, so the same jacket you pack for a weekend in Cornwall might come with you again and again, evolving with every trip.
Patagonia
Patagonia continues to set the standard for responsible outdoor wear, not just through the materials it uses, but through its philosophy around longevity. Rather than encouraging constant replacement, the brand actively promotes repairing and reusing what you already own, an approach that feels especially aligned with slower, more mindful travel like UK staycations.
At the heart of this is their Worn Wear programme, which focuses on keeping gear in use for as long as possible. Customers are encouraged to repair damaged items, whether through DIY guides, in-store fixes, or specialist repair centres, often at little to no cost. The idea is simple: extending the life of clothing is one of the most effective ways to reduce its environmental impact.
For staycations, where you might be returning to the same coastlines, trails, or countryside retreats year after year, that durability really matters. A Patagonia jacket isn’t just something you wear once, it becomes part of the experience. Scuffs, patches, and repairs aren’t flaws; they’re markers of time spent outdoors. As the brand itself puts it, the goal is to keep as much gear “in play” as possible, rather than sending it to landfill.
There’s also a wider circular approach behind it all. Through repair, resale, and recycling initiatives, Patagonia encourages a shift away from disposable fashion toward something more lasting, where clothing is maintained, shared, and passed on.
Ocean Bottle
Hydration, too, becomes more intentional. Ocean Bottle combines practicality with environmental impact, with each bottle contributing to ocean-bound plastic collection. It’s one of those items that becomes part of your everyday routine, whether you’re travelling or not.
It’s the kind of item that naturally fits into your routine, whether you’re heading out on a countryside hike, packing for a UK staycation, or just commuting. Having a reliable, well-insulated bottle on hand means you’re more likely to stay hydrated on long walks, coastal trails, or spontaneous day trips—without relying on single-use plastics.
For staycations especially, where you might be exploring national parks, seaside towns, or rural escapes, it’s one of those small upgrades that makes a noticeable difference. Toss it in your backpack for a hike, keep it in the car for road trips, or carry it through airports and train stations—it’s designed to go wherever you do, quietly supporting cleaner oceans along the way.
Bare Kind
For something smaller but equally thoughtful, Bare Kind creates bamboo socks designed with comfort and sustainability in mind. When you’re outdoors, especially in the UK’s unpredictable weather, small details like keeping your feet warm and dry make a real difference.
What makes them even more special is their charitable mission—10% of profits from each pair goes toward protecting the animal featured on the design. Their “Save the Otters” socks, for example, support conservation efforts for these playful creatures, making them a meaningful choice—especially around Save the Otter Day in May. It’s a simple way to add comfort to your adventures while contributing to a genuinely good cause.
AND FINALLY....
Together, these brands make it easier to embrace UK staycations with comfort, practicality, and a lighter environmental footprint—proving that thoughtful choices can enhance every local adventure.
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