Is 2026 the year of the Staycation?
As unrest continues to rumble in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, the UK is seeing reports of flight price increases and declines in package holiday bookings. That doesn’t stop you from needing a break from normal life, but perhaps this year, a staycation makes more sense.
Staying home is the obviously cheapest option, but 'life' will still make its demands on you; it's unlikely that you'll be able to do things differently, and it's the 'different' that you need to unwind and disconnect. If you stay put, you'll probably follow the same routines, do the same chores, eat the same meals, walk the same walks, and end up tackling projects you've been putting off. So, by 'staycation', we mean staying in the UK.
The mistake most people make with staycations is trying to replicate an overseas holiday. That’s very unlikely to happen. The UK isn’t designed for lounging around a pool or by the sea all day – if the wasps don’t get you, the wind chill will. The UK is better when you lean into what it actually does well: atmosphere, landscapes, weather, walking, remoteness, coastlines, and cosy recovery. You can still be lazy if that's what you want, but it won't be in the same way.
So with that in mind, we've come up with some ideas that will help you relax and reconnect with yourself, your family, and nature.
1. A slow overlanding loop with no fixed agenda
Instead of booking - or even planning - destinations, pick a region and drift through it for 3–5 days. Good UK routes for this:
- Northumberland National Park into the Scottish Borders
- Snowdonia via backroads and forest tracks
- Cairngorms National Park for wild, spacious landscapes
- Norfolk Coast, if you want something calmer (and flatter)
The key is to remove pressure:
- no hotel check-in deadlines
- no packed itinerary full of ‘things to do’
- cook outside, keeping meals simple
- stop when somewhere feels good and just breathe
- sunrise walks instead of tourist attractions
That tends to feel more restorative than a “busy” holiday. And you don't need a 4x4 to go overlanding in the UK. Any vehicle will work. Just chuck camping gear and clothes in the boot and head out. It will feel liberating in all kinds of ways. Check out our blog on the best camping apps for places to park up when you get tired of driving.
2. A digital-off-grid weekend
This works surprisingly well if you’re mentally overloaded. And with fuel costs still high, it makes sense to keep your driving to a minimum and stay in one spot.
- put your phone on airplane mode except maps/emergencies
- go old school and use paper maps only if possible
- campfire or stove cooking
- no podcasts/music for parts of the day - embrace the sounds of nature
- take long walks with no destination in mind
A remote bothy-style cabin or simple campervan setup in places like Assynt, Dartmoor or the Lake District can feel disproportionately good because your brain finally stops processing inputs.
3. Micro-expedition challenge weekends
These are great if you enjoy self-reliance and gear systems or if your idea of relaxing is choosing an activity-based break.
Examples:
- live entirely off-grid for 48 hours
- wild camp with only what fits in one bag
- water-source-and-purify trip using streams only
- sunrise-to-sunset ridge walk
- photography/documentary trip
- cook every meal outdoors
It scratches the same itch as bigger adventures without needing two weeks off.
4. Coastal reset trips
The UK coastline is underrated for staycations because the mood changes completely depending on the season and the weather.
Strong options include the Pembrokeshire Coast, North Norfolk Coast, Isle of Skye and the Jurassic Coast.
- park up near the sea
- take long cliff or beach walks
- eat simple food
- visit pubs occasionally, not constantly
- stay long enough to settle into the weather rather than “seeing sights”
5. A themed staycation
These often end up more memorable than generic trips and can offer another alternative for people who would normally go on overseas activity-based holidays
Some ideas:
- “abandoned places and old military roads”
- “dark skies and astrophotography”
- “Britain’s best wild swimming spots”
- “walking every day for a week”
- “coffee + campervan + coast”
- “waterfalls and mountain passes”
A theme gives shape to the trip without making it rigid.
6. Cabin & weather staycation
Counterintuitively, bad weather can make a UK staycation better if you choose for atmosphere rather than sunshine. Pick a spot known for its uncertain weather and let nature force you to take downtime.
Think:
- wood burner
- rain on the roof
- isolated cabin
- books/maps/cooking
- misty morning walks
Places like the Yorkshire Dales, Brecon Beacons and the New Forest are ideal for that kind of slower weekend.
We’re a UK-based business, so our suggested holiday locations are all within Great Britain, but wherever you are based, there will be similar spots just a drive or train ride away. We’d love to share your Staycation ideas; drop us a line at marketing@iconlifesaver.com.