STAYCATIONS

From isolated beaches and rugged mountains to sporting and cultural events, there’s really no need to go abroad this summer.

There’s no need to holiday abroad with so much choice on your doorstep ...........................

If you’re considering a holiday this Spring, and Summer there really is no need to go abroad.

With so much natural beauty on offer, and a packed calendar of events, Scotland is your best friend when it comes to taking a staycation in 2015. And it seems we’re growing increasingly fond of staycations, with travellers becoming more willing to take a short trip on these shores instead of venturing abroad as recessionary mindsets prevail despite the improving economy.

From stunning beaches and rugged mountains to sporting events and wildlife habitats, Scotland has it all.

Right, so you’ve got a week off. What to do? If you fancy peppering your holiday with days out here and there, why not check the weather and take it from there? If it looks like it’s going to be sunny, head to the beach — there are plenty of them! If you’ve got a young family, go armed with buckets and spades, towels and a change of clothes! You can walk for hours on Tentsmuir Beach in Fife, and if you fancy a barbecue or picnic, there are facilities where you can set up shop.

Fancy getting a bit of exercise? The stunning Angus Glens and Perthshire hills are only a stone’s throw from Dundee and you can be in the heart of the wilderness in just over an hour. Pull on your walking boots, pack a picnic, head up a hill or a Munro and keep your fingers crossed the weather doesn’t break. Take your time coming home — pop into a café or hotel and enjoy coffee and cake or treat yourself to dinner.

But if you fancy a break a little further away, you can either drive, get the bus or train to the Highlands or the Borders, or why not spend a few days in Glasgow or Edinburgh?

It really depends what you’re into but if you’re a culture vulture, there’s plenty to see and do in both cities, from art galleries to museums to exhibitions, pubs and clubs.

For those preferring a country retreat, Aviemore is only a couple of hours up the A9, and Oban is a similar distance.

Of course, there are many amazing tourist attractions in Scotland, from the Secret Bunker in St Andrews to the “fairy” pools on the Isle of Skye.

You could also take to a seaplane run by Loch Lomond Seaplanes, the UK’s only commercial seaplane tour service, or check out Red Castle, a crumbling 12th century fortress in Lunan Bay.

Fancy visiting an island? Check out Skara Brae on Orkney, a neolithic village that was uncovered when a storm disturbed a sand dune in 1850. It is now a Unesco World Heritage Site, alongside other ancient constructions on Orkney, including two impressive stone circles.

There’s also Fingal’s Cave on the Isle of Staffa. This sea cave formed of hexagonally jointed basalt columns, similar to those that make up the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, is on the uninhabited isle of Staffa, reached by small vessel from Mull off the west coast of Scotland.

Or you could drink at mainland Britain’s remotest pub at Knoydart, cruise the Crinan Canal on a vintage steamship, see the coffins found in central Edinburgh, explore Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly corner of mainland Britain.

If you’re keen to head south, why not holiday in England? Loads of quirky firms are finding unusual ways to entertain domestic tourists and these include a llama hotel in Penrith, a house that teeters over the edge of the Fowey Estuary in Dorset, and trike tours chauffeured by a hairy biker.

Other quirky destinations include: the Kielder Observatory in Northumberland, where visitors can look at far-flung corners of the universe; Eighteen 97 in North Yorkshire, which is the former holiday home of renowned German classic pianist Christian Gotlieb Padel; and The Rum Story in Whitehaven, where tourists come to hear tales of Blackbeard and piracy on the high seas, smugglers, and Nelson’s Navy in the site’s original 1785 cellars and warehouses.

Whether you want to take day trips out and about in Courier Country, or venture further afield, make sure you enjoy your staycation!

Kayaking on a gloriously tranquil Loch Earn.