Image credit: Kelly DaviesTarn Hows, Lake District National Park
There is nowhere else on earth like Tarn Hows in the Lake District, and we would thoroughly recommend a spring holiday in one of England’s most unspoiled regions.
Tarn Hows, close to Coniston Water, is where you will encounter a lovely circular walk around the lake; it’s a sealed path too with no stiles, so just about anybody can enjoy a stroll unchallenged. There are dozens of places to stop for a spring picnic, or to set up a hammock between two trees for a lazy afternoon snooze.
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Heart of England
For an unbeatable view this spring, walk to the summit of Coppet Hill near the border with Wales and trace the Welsh Bicknor circuit. A spring sojourn is the best way to see the views from the top of the hill before the trees return to full verdancy.
Climb from Goodrich Castle to the top of Coppett Hill for unrivaled views, followed by a more leisurely walk along the banks of the River Wye. Reward your hill-climbing efforts with a cool drink at one of the two pubs close to the route: The Hostelrie Inn, and The Inn on the Wye.
Herefordshire cottages
Image credit: Anne McManusGrand Union Canal, Northamptonshire
This photograph was taken in Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire, of the Grand Union Canal which also meanders through Leicester, Aylesbury and Wendover - reaching from Birmingham to London.
This scenic stretch of water is the place to watch canal boats drift past, meet other riverside walkers, and of course, see swans and their cygnets in early spring. Stoke Bruene is even home to The Canal Museum so you can combine a waterside walk with a delve into history.
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National Trust’s Ashridge Estate, Hertfordshire
Each spring, photographers travel from all around the world to see the world-class displays of bluebells on the Ashridge Estate. Springtime is the best time to see woodland flowers in the understorey before the tree canopy closes over, diminishing their sunshine intake.
Ashridge Estate is managed by the National Trust and there are hundreds of acres of forest woodland to explore. It’s a very photogenic place to spend a day out on your spring holiday to Hertfordshire.
Hertfordshire cottages
Wales
Caerphilly Castle, Cardiff
Daffodils at Caerphilly Castle in the spring is a sight for sore eyes. The dancing yellow flowers in a Welsh spring breeze sound perfect, don’t they? If you are in Wales, a visit to the second-largest castle in the UK (Windsor is the largest) makes for a wonderful day trip; you will be wowed by the scale of this picturesque ruin. Caerphilly Castle was first built in the 1200s by Gilbert de Clare to keep the fearsome Llywelyn ap Gruffudd at bay.
Surrounded by a moat, today, it is a popular fishing spot (permits needed) featuring in many top ten lists for Welsh angling locations. Photo opportunities abound, as Caerphilly Castle has a leaning tower to rival that of the world famous Pisa in Italy. Nearby Caerphilly has lots of dining options for lunch too if you get peckish.
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Blaen Y Glyn Waterfalls, Brecon Beacons
Wet weather can stop people going out and about, however, this photograph by Naomi Fitz shows just how wonderful the rain can be for those who brave it. April showers create the best waterfalls and here is one of the Baen Y Glyn Waterfalls crashing through the landscape of the Brecon Beacons.
Time your visit to this photogenic location right with a Wales waterfall walk just after the rain has passed to see the naturally stunning waterfalls of the Brecon Beacons at their absolute best!
Brecon Beacon cottages
Where better to see colourful spring displays of crocuses than in the stunning surroundings of Monmouth in Wales? This traditional Welsh town is close to some of the country’s most spectacular scenery. Situated on the river confluence of the Trothy, Wye and Monnow, Monmouth isn’t very far from the Welsh border with England.
The historical town centre is home to a medieval stone-gated bridge, the last remaining of its kind in Britain. You can also reach lovely Symonds Yat and the winding Wye Valley, making Monmouth a great place for wayfarers and those that love canoes and kayaks this spring.
Monmouth cottages
South Coast
The South Downs, East and West Sussex
The South Downs is the UK’s youngest national park, having been established in 2010. It is an amazing spring holiday destination with vast areas of protected chalk grasslands, where you could encounter rare flora and fauna.
One of the most famous parts of the national park is the South Downs Way, a long-distance walking path that takes you to some of the best unspoiled countryside in the South East of England.
Sussex cottages
South West
Bath, Somerset
A spring city break to the beautiful city of Bath could be just the tonic you need. As the sun begins to get comfortable in the sky once more, you can enjoy the city parks and outdoor spaces like the Royal Crescent and Circus.
Located 97 miles west of London and 12 miles south-east of Bristol, the city’s origins can be traced back further than the Romans. The city is perhaps most famous for the Roman Baths and the 18th-century Georgian buildings. Today, it’s one of England’s top tourist destinations, particularly in the spring (and summer). Full of places to go and things to photograph, it’s no wonder that Bath has made it onto our bucket list.
Bath cottages
Burrator, Dartmoor
A gorgeous spring walk around Burrator Reservoir is the perfect resolution to the winter blues. Located on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, the reservoir is the place to be for nature enthusiasts, historians, twitchers, and wayfarers alike.
The pearl of Dartmoor, at Burrator you will encounter impressive tors, desolate yet striking moorland, historic settlements, and a nature reserve. Explore the remains of abandoned farms, the ruins of tin working, and the Princetown Railway. Around Burrator you will also be able to fall through the years to prehistoric times; you will see ancient cists, cairns, and evidence of early settlements on your spring holiday in Dartmoor.
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Map of the best places to visit in the UK during spring
Find all of these beauty spots on our handy map of photogenic places for spring.
Stay at a holiday cottage this spring
For more spring inspiration, choose one of our self-catering holiday cottages for the season. Some of our properties are based in exciting locations all across the country, and close to some amazing rural beauty spots. Check out our collection of holiday accommodation for spring without delay.
Spring cottages