I’m currently on my delayed honeymoon to Seattle and Vancouver. While I’m away, I’m running several guest posts. I hope you enjoy the following one by Geoff Thomas.
Once you reach the point in your life when a vacation with your parents doesn’t quite tick all the boxes it used to, you might as well start traveling the world, either alone or with your friends. Europe is the starting point for many Americans embarking on a lifetime of independent travel, and most of them make it to the UK at some point.
The UK is home to a beautiful, varied landscape and it is a real shame that many young people simply go there to see the major tourist attractions and then leave, never to return and fully explore everything the place has to offer.
England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland all have a great deal to offer young travelers. Here are just a few of the great holidays you can have there with your friends or on your own.
Surfing in Cornwall
In the southwest corner of England is the county of Cornwall, which was one of the ancient Celtic nations. This part of the UK has a distinct atmosphere from the rest of the country and has the mildest climate, too. Cornwall is particularly famous for its spectacular coastline and beautiful beaches, where surfers congregate all year round to enjoy some of Britain’s best waves. Resorts like Newquay and Penzance have established themselves as havens for great surfing holidays and buzzing nightlife, where young people are never short of bars, discos, and clubs to enjoy themselves after a day on the beach.
Golfing at St. Andrews
Golfers traveling to Europe might think of Spain or Portugal before they consider the courses of the UK. But golf breaks in Britain offer some of the most beautiful and most challenging courses anywhere in the world, and few are more famous or more esteemed than St. Andrews in Scotland. Golfers will be in paradise at St. Andrews, where there is a huge range of courses to play, including the world famous ‘Old Course.’ But the area has much more to offer besides golf, with golden beaches and great open parks just minutes away from the courses, not to mention some of Scotland’s finest old pubs in which to while away the hours and enjoy yourself.
Centre Parcs
Centre Parcs is a family-oriented group of holiday destinations, but they are becoming increasingly popular amongst twenty-somethings, who are taking advantage of the wonderful facilities and scenic locations they offer. With subtropical swimming paradise pools to swim in, limitless sports facilities, endless woodland and lakeside walks, and bowling alleys, restaurants and bars to enjoy in the evening, there is very little that young people need for a good holiday that Centre Parcs doesn’t offer.
Mountain biking in the Lake District
For a more adrenaline-fueled British holiday, venture north to the Lake District: a region of outstanding natural beauty where lakes, mountains, and valleys create a spectacular landscape in which to walk, sail, or cycle your way around an adventure trip. The mountain biking trails around the forests, lakes, and hills can prove challenging enough for even the most seasoned cyclists, but there are more gentle options too. After you’ve spent all your energy, you can recharge your batteries in cozy countryside accommodation and real English pubs.
Castle and pub tour of Wales
One of the most wonderful things about the UK is its history, which stretches back thousands of years and is evident in landmarks, monuments, and ruins of ancient civilizations. Nowhere are these ancient artifacts more plentiful than in Wales, where the fearsome ‘Iron Ring’ of castles built by King Edward I still stand as a testament to a bygone age. Traveling around these castles takes you through some beautiful countryside and picturesque villages, where you can also find some fantastic food and drink at traditional Welsh pubs. The possibilities for adventure are endless.
Geoff Thomas is a keen sports enthusiast and ardent traveler. Combining the two interests–mainly traveling ’round the world to play golf–is how this former advertising executive gets his kicks.
