Adell Explores

Mist rolling through a valley in the Peak District in winter

Five places for a winter staycation in the UK

Misty lakes, empty Cotswold lanes, orange-roofed Yorkshire harbours, Shropshire deer and the snowy Peaks — my winter favourites.

2 min read

There are so many incredible places for a UK staycation — rural retreats, coastal breaks and everything in between. Winter is my favourite time to go: fewer people, moody skies and a fire to come back to.

Here are my top five places to visit for a winter staycation, and what makes each one worth the cold.

The five

Mist on the mountains above a Lake District valley

01 · Cumbria

The Lake District

Quieter in the off-season. We spent a week in December in an Airbnb with views out to sea, wrapped in blankets by the fire while the wind and waves crashed outside — and toured the lakes by car through the rain.

Honey-stone cottages by the bridge at Castle Combe

02 · Gloucestershire & Wiltshire

The Cotswolds

Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water and Castle Combe feel like film sets — and in winter you can soak in the views without weaving through summer crowds.

Orange-roofed cottages around the harbour at Staithes

03 · North Yorkshire

The Yorkshire coast

Vibrant orange roof tiles and a breathtaking coastline even on a blustery day — and easy parking in winter. Whitby and Staithes are a must.

Two more for the list

The grand front of Attingham Park under a sunset sky

04 · Shropshire

Attingham Park & beyond

A 1785 estate near Atcham with a vast herd of deer visible from the paths. Then Ironbridge, Ludlow, Stokesay Castle, Bridgnorth, the Long Mynd — and the free RAF Museum.

A frozen pool in a snowy Peak District landscape

05 · Derbyshire & Staffordshire

The Peak District

Castleton, Dovedale and the Roaches under snow — misty woodland and a vast landscape that’s a photographer’s paradise.

A white sailing boat on Windermere under dark winter cloud
Windermere in December — the mist on the mountains is half the point.

More from each place

Lake District

A day at Windermere

If you only have a day, a boat on the lake and a walk up Loughrigg Fell.

Cotswolds

Ten Cotswold villages

My favourite villages, for a long weekend getaway.

Yorkshire

Staithes, Flamborough, Scarborough, Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby

The coastal villages worth the drive north.

Shropshire

A day in Bridgnorth

Just over the border from the Midlands, good in any season.

Good to know

Packing for winter

  • Wellies and waterproofs Lake District winters can be brutal, and the forecast is often nothing but rain.
  • Warm layers For blustery coastal walks and cold fells.
  • Check the roads Some roads in the Peaks become impassable in ice and heavy snow.
  • A walking flask And a picnic blanket for Attingham — the deer are worth the wait.
Adell on a pebbly beach, smiling

Adell

UK travel creator in her mid-twenties, writing the guides she wants to take with her — where to park, where to eat and the best time to go. Find her as @adell.explores.

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