The UK Adventure Travel Trends: Where to Go, What to Do, and How to Do It
Adventure travel in the UK is evolving—becoming slower, more intentional, and deeply connected to both nature and self.
Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a two-week escape, here are the top trends shaping the way Brits are travelling this summer.
Sustainable Escapes: Greener, Slower, Better
What’s happening: UK travellers are choosing lower-carbon adventures: taking the train, avoiding flights, staying in eco-lodges, and spending more time in one place rather than ticking boxes.
Where to go:
The Lake District (car-free): Arrive by train to Windermere or Penrith. Stay in an eco-lodge like The Quiet Site (carbon neutral) or Another Place, The Lake (offers electric car charging, lake access, and sustainable dining).
Cornwall by train: Ride the Night Riviera sleeper from London to Penzance. Visit St Ives, Mousehole, and walk parts of the South West Coast Path—no car needed.
Cotswolds without a car: Use the Cotswolds Discoverer Pass for buses/trains to visit towns like Broadway, Bourton-on-the-Water, and Chipping Campden.
How to start: Look for eco-certified accommodations, accommodations with renewable energy sources, and support local, independent businesses.
Astro-Tourism & Noctourism: After Dark Adventures
What’s happening: Night-time experiences are booming. Whether it’s stargazing, night paddling, or bat walks, travellers are embracing the wonder of the dark.
Where to go:
Kielder Water & Forest Park (Northumberland): One of Europe’s darkest spots. Visit the Kielder Observatory, go on a night hike, or stay in a stargazing lodge.
Exmoor National Park (Somerset/Devon): UK's first International Dark Sky Reserve. Sign up for a guided night hike with Exmoor National Park rangers.
Galloway Forest Park (Scotland): Stargaze over lochs from campsites like Loch Trool or stay in a forest bothy.
Extras: Many national parks offer free downloadable star maps and night-sky calendars.
Coolcations & Undiscovered Places: Escaping the Heat and the Crowds
What’s happening: Travellers are avoiding hot, busy destinations in favour of cooler climates and uncrowded wild landscapes.
Where to go:
Cairngorms National Park (Scotland): Visit Aviemore, walk through Rothiemurchus Forest, and swim in Loch an Eilein.
Anglesey Coastal Path (Wales): 140 miles of rugged coastline, secret beaches, and historic villages.
Northumberland Coast AONB: Base in Alnmouth or Seahouses and walk to castles like Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh.
How to explore: Rent a campervan or find off-grid bothies and shepherd’s huts.
Soft Adventure & Scenic Trails: The Rise of the “Slow Trekker”
What’s happening: Adventure is slowing down. Multi-day hikes, gentle cycling, and wellness-focused walking holidays are taking over from adrenaline-heavy itineraries.
Where to go:
West Highland Way (Scotland): 96 miles from Milngavie to Fort William. Book a 5-day guided version or walk solo with luggage transfers.
South Downs Way (England): 100 miles of chalky ridges, vineyards, and seaside cliffs from Winchester to Eastbourne.
Wales Coast Path (Pembrokeshire section): Easy-to-follow clifftop walks and beach towns like Tenby and Solva.
Tip: Find self-guided trips with mapped routes, B&B stays, and daily luggage transfers.
Wild Swimming & Outdoor Wellness
What’s happening: Wild swimming is now mainstream. It’s paired with mindfulness, sauna sessions, breathwork, and digital detoxes.
Where to go:
Buttermere & Crummock Water (Lake District): Beautifully still, swimmable lakes surrounded by mountains.
River Wye (Herefordshire): Gentle currents, meadows, and rope swings—ideal for first-time swimmers.
Fairy Pools (Isle of Skye): Cold, blue pools below the Cuillin mountains.
Wellness stays: Another Place, The Lake (Ullswater) – includes wild swimming lessons and floating saunas, The Tawny (Staffordshire) – outdoor spa with natural lake swimming and forest therapy walks.
Solo Travel & Me-Moons: Travel That’s Just for You
What’s happening: Solo travel is thriving—especially among women, Gen Z, and over-50s. Travellers are embracing quiet, self-reflective adventures.
Where to go:
Northumberland – Stay in a coastal cottage, visit Holy Island, and stargaze solo.
The Yorkshire Dales – Book a self-catering barn near Malham Cove. Hike alone and end your day in a village pub.
Cornish coast – Base in St Agnes or Boscastle, walk alone on the SW Coast Path.
Helpful apps: Use Komoot or AllTrails for safe solo hiking.
Set-Jetting & Nostalgia Travel
What’s happening: Film locations, books, and childhood memories are inspiring holiday choices. Travellers are chasing the “main character” feeling.
Where to go:
Glenfinnan Viaduct (Harry Potter) – Take the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William.
Port Isaac (Doc Martin) – Walk the harbour and coastal path, then stay in a local cottage.
Southwold or Llandudno – Revisit family holidays with a nostalgic twist (but better coffee and boutique hotels now).
Try this: Build a themed road trip: “Classic British Film Locations” or “My Childhood Holiday, Reimagined”.
Tech-Enhanced Travel & AI Itineraries
What’s happening: Digital tools are shaping how we travel. Itineraries are being built by AI, hikes are tracked by GPS, and rail journeys are optimized to reduce carbon footprints.
Tools to try:
Komoot / AllTrails – For route planning, GPX tracking, and reviews.
Byway – Builds no-fly holidays by train, ferry, bike, and foot.
Trainline + Rome2Rio – Multimodal travel planning across the UK and Europe.
Smart idea: Build a multi-day, AI-assisted rail itinerary:
Day 1: Train to Oxford
Day 2: Bike into the Chiltern Hills
Day 3: Walk part of The Ridgeway
Day 4: Pub stay and return via train
