With lockdown gradually being lifted in the UK, people are considering their holiday options for this summer with excitement. Fortunately, the UK is increasingly becoming safer for holidaymakers, and we think family camp holidays in the UK should be at the top of your list, and here’s why.
It is estimated that most restrictions could be lifted by the end of June. But these are still estimates, and it remains to be seen what the future has in store for us.
However, if you’d like to travel abroad, that could prove to be a lot more difficult as most countries are still struggling with the unyielding pandemic.
Traveling Abroad Will Be Difficult or Dangerous
Traveling abroad without a compelling reason is still not allowed to UK residents. The government has introduced the three-tier traffic lights system for international travel, but foreign travel won’t be available sooner than May 17, maybe not even then.
So making any plans now and booking tickets and accommodation could be tricky since you might be forced to cancel it.
Even if you manage to realize your holiday plans abroad, it might not be safe where you’re going. As the pandemic fluctuations are highly unpredictable, you never know what restrictions you may face in your country of choice.
Camping Is Social Distancing Friendly
There’s no better social distancing friendly holiday idea than camping. You reduce the possibility of contact to a minimum, and once you arrive at your destination, it will be just you and your family, enjoying your stay in nature.
No matter what other option you choose, you’re bound to put yourself and your family at a higher risk of infection. Instead of worrying and having to disinfect everything constantly, if you go camping you can relax and not think about the pandemic for a while.
The UK Has Some of the Most Beautiful sites for family camp holidays
Grassy fields, spectacular mountains, beautiful lakes, sandy beaches, weathered cliffs — the UK has it all! There are thousands of campsites, and you’re sure to find something that you’ll enjoy with your family.
While wild camping isn’t allowed in the UK, you can find some almost-wild sites if that’s your thing. If you want to stay in nature but still have all the amenities and comfort of the indoors, you can also choose a glamping adventure. There are also many in-between options, no matter whether you’re in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
You’ll Save Time and Money
Traveling abroad is inherently more expensive than choosing a domestic destination. However, in times of COVID-19, it could be even more expensive since you need to take all the precautions to stay safe.
What’s more, if you choose to travel to a high-risk (or “red”) country, you’ll also need to pay for a ten-day quarantine hotel stay, as well as take pre- and post-travel PCR tests. So are you ready to pay money to be quarantined again?
On the other hand, you don’t need much for a camping adventure. It’s easy to find a great family tent at an affordable price, and you probably have most of the other equipment at home already.
Your Kids Will Enjoy Being Outdoors for a Change
Lockdown has been hard on us all, but it’s been especially challenging for children. They are at a stage of life where they crave socializing and exploration, but they’ve been forced to stay isolated for a long time.
No matter how old your kids are, they’re sure to enjoy an outdoor adventure and the openness that nature can offer them. Just being out in the open and being able to run around will have a positive effect on their well-being.
You can take it up a notch by organizing a nature scavenger hunt, teaching them how to fish, telling them stories around the campfire, and more.
Your Body Craves the Sun After a Long Period of Staying Indoors
You’re probably craving sunlight after lockdown, but you might not be aware of just how much your body needs it. There are so many health benefits to sunlight, and camping is a great way to get more of it.
For starters, with exposure to sunlight, you get a boost of vitamin D, which makes your immune system stronger. There’s also evidence that this vitamin helps with the prevention of COVID-19. If you’ve had trouble sleeping, you should also know that sunlight triggers the increase in melatonin, which helps you sleep better.
Nature Is Great for Your Mental Well-Being
Another benefit of exposure to sunlight is that it triggers the release of “the happy hormone” — serotonin. This hormone plays a vital role in improving your mood and mental well-being in general.
What’s more, humans are not meant to stay indoors for such long periods of time, and staying in nature is proven to improve our mental health. A camping adventure may even alleviate problems with depression and anxiety.
So being in nature is a great way to start healing from the effects that the lockdown’s stress and isolation have left on all of us.
Camping in the UK Is a Perfect Setting to Bond With Your Family
You’re probably thinking, “Well, I’ve already spent more time with my family than ever before!” While that is true, you haven’t spent quality time with them. You love your family, but spending all your time with them in the same setting might have led to some tension and frustrations.
You all need a little break from your stressful home life so that you can actually bond and have a nice time together. Camping is a perfect setting for that as you can relax and not have to worry about laundry, homework, work, and other tasks for a while.
Camping Can Get You Moving
Camping is not all about sitting around the campfire and stargazing. It also provides you with the opportunity to start moving again and enjoy either a lighter or higher-intensity exercise. While there are people who took the time in lockdown to get in shape, families with kids mostly didn’t have the luxury of time for that.
So you can hike, swim, play hide and seek, and more. You may even bring a ball, separate into two teams and enjoy a joyful family game outdoors.
As you can see, there are many compelling reasons to have a family camp holiday in the UK this year, so be sure to explore that idea!
I’m Rebecca, a translator, avid traveler, and bookworm. My job has given me the amazing opportunity to travel to dozens of countries around the world, and writing on Rough Draft gives me a chance to try to showcase some of them.
Everyone dreams of giving a holiday in the UK. The UK is a beautiful country.