Recent years have seen the inexorable rise of the staycation with many families ignoring the foreign package holiday and choosing to rediscover the joys of the UK countryside.
This, in turn, has presented a number of opportunities for people to invest in second homes to both supplement their income and to provide a holiday bolt hole of their own. Add into the mix the bad publicity over pensions and the ever decreasing interest rates on saving accounts and the attraction becomes obvious. With the ability to return up to 10% net profit, quality holiday homes are in demand. But where should one buy?
Ross Hugo from the holiday booking management software supplier, Bookalet.co.uk, believes there are a number of competing factors to consider. “Drive time is important if you plan to spend much time there yourself. Less than 3 hours tends to be the rule of thumb, therefore making the Friday night drive and weekend stay, a viable proposition. The North Norfolk coast, Dorset and North Cornwall being three such hotspots in recent years” says Ross.
Areas of natural beauty, such as the National Parks, quaint fishing villages and historic towns such as York and Berwick on Tweed have all seen increased demand in recent times, with the emphasis being very much on quality. If the intention is to rent the property as a holiday let, one should bear in mind that today’s holiday makers are a little more demanding than they used to be. Quality is definitely the name of the game. Self catering is no longer an alternative to the Butlin’s Holiday Camps of the 1960’s.
So, here are our first 5 suggestions for some of the best places to buy your holiday home in the UK:
Boscastle:
A picturesque fishing village on the North Cornish coast dating back to medieval times, with a wealth of character and selection of fine restaurants, pubs, shops and bed and breakfasts. It’s remote and rugged, yet beautiful and welcoming and only half an hours drive into Cornwall. It lies at the mouth of two converging rivers; the Jordan and the Valency. The National Trust owns and maintains the harbour area and much of the surrounding countryside, which is widely considered to be an area of outstanding natural beauty. It already has a well established holiday home community and it’s a great base from where guests can explore the beauty of the North Cornish coast. The walks along the quiet wooded Valency valley or the cliff top paths with their stunning views and charming waterfalls are amongst some of the best in Europe. Tintagel, of Arthurian legend lies immediately to the south with Port Isaac, Polzeath and Padstow a little further along.
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Aldeburgh:
The historic and attractive seaside town of Aldeburgh is perfect for a quiet holiday exploring the unspoilt Suffolk coastline, enjoying fantastic fresh local fish and beautiful countryside. It’s popularity is enhanced as it’s only 2 hours from London and just over an hour an a half from Cambridge. There are many excellent restaurants and pubs including the famous Aldeburgh fish and chip shop, as well as a wide selection of bed and breakfast and holiday home accommodation. Experience the historic Moot Hall, The Scallop sculpture dedicated to Benjamin Britten and Aldeburgh’s lovely selection of independent shops and quaint galleries.
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Hay-on-Wye:
The market town of Hay-on-Wye lies on the picturesque River Wye and is within the Brecon Beacons National Park. With over thirty bookshops, many selling specialist and second-hand books, it is famous around the world for the Hay Literary Festival. It’s natural beauty and all year round appeal make it an ideal location for an holiday home. There are a good selection of places to eat mostly selling fresh, locally sourced food. The surrounding countryside is stunning with great walking, riding and wildlife spotting for nature enthusiasts. Alternatively, enjoy a leisurely browse through the charming streets and fascinating book shops.
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Inverness:
Buy a second home in Inverness and you’re at the gateway to the beauty and majesty of the Scottish Highlands, with all the convenience of a thriving, modern city. There’s excellent shopping, arts and culture, a buzzing nightlife and plenty of historic sites including the superbly-preserved Fort George. The area provides a fantastic array of outdoors activities including cruising on Loch Ness and Moray Firth, spotting wildlife including dolphins (and possibly monsters!) along the way, walking and golfing in the beautiful surrounding countryside.
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Whitby:
Situated on a fine stretch of coastline near the resorts of Scarborough, Filey and Bridlington and surrounded by cliffs, lovely bays and safe sandy beaches it’s easy to see the attraction of Whitby. An attractive location for your holiday home with its quaint cobbled streets, picturesque houses and cliff top Abbey. Soak up the sea-faring history of the town including the quayside, St Mary’s church that inspired Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Whitby Museum, the Captain Cook Memorial Museum and the inspirational Whitby Lifeboat Museum.
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Next 5 to follow
September 3, 2015
