How to turn a UK festival into a staycation

With festival season well underway, what better to turn off, tune in and drop out from the day-to-day grind than with an extension to your trip?

Lulworth Cove, Dorset (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

While festivals can be a lot of fun, it’s common to leave feeling exhausted and overindulged. We’ve selected some of the best ways to kill your comedown and continue exploring after a weekend of partying at some of the UK’s best music festivals.

For beach bums

Bestival, Dorset, 2-5 August

Kick off your shoes and sink into the sand on a Dorset beach (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

In years gone by, simply travelling to the popular festival on the Isle of Wight was a mission in itself, with punters taking a ferry across the water to party. The decision to move it to the Lulworth Estate in Dorset in 2017 made the festival more accessible and was excellent news for those looking to extend their trip further.

Dorset scooped the most Blue Flag awards in this year’s round-up of the UK’s best beaches, a clear indicator of the standard of its beautiful coastline. The seaside town of Swanage is just under 15 miles away from the Bestival site and boasts white sand and clear waters to cleanse yourself of festival grime and a sore head. For those who fancy letting it all hang out, Studland beach a mile up the coast has a designated area for naturists.

For adrenaline junkies

Green Man, Brecon Beacons, 16-19 August

Green as far as the eye can see in the Brecon Beacons mountain range (Getty Images)

Located in arguably one of the most beautiful parts of the UK, the Green Man festival sits at the heart of the Brecon Beacons mountain range in Wales. As you might expect, there are plenty of activities to occupy thrill seekers in this lush part of the country. Abseiling, rock climbing, mountain biking, horse riding and trekking are just a handful of the pursuits on offer to visitors. In 2013, the area also became the world’s fifth International Dark Sky Reserve, making it a global hotspot for budding astronomers. Those looking for something more sedate can take a stroll down the picturesque Monmouthshire and Brecon canal.

For history fans

Latitude, Suffolk, 12-15 July

Get lost in the historic streets of this beautiful cathedral city (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Situated on the edge of the Suffolk Coast National Nature Reserve, this eclectic festival is well located for those seeking culture and countryside. The historic medieval town of Norwich is 30 miles away and features cobbled streets, city walls and a famous Norman cathedral. Attractions include the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery, Europe’s largest permanent market and, for fans of Nina Conti, the Norwich Puppet Theatre, one of only two building based puppet theatres in the country. The Norfolk Broads, a network of over 125 miles of lock-free rivers and lakes, also provide ample opportunities for wildlife watching and enjoying a slower pace of life.

For those seeking a challenge

Kendal Calling, Lake District, 26-29 July

Challenge yourself to a mountain climb, large or small (istock/Getty Images)

As the name suggests, this festival is located on the edge of the breathtaking Lake District National Park. Home to Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain and Wastwater, its deepest lake, lovers of the great outdoors are spoilt for choice here. Those wishing to make the most of the water can canoe, kayak, paddle board or travel by boat on the many lakes, in addition to all the hiking opportunities and activities associated with such a mountainous region. Visitors with a delicate constitution after a heavy weekend, meanwhile, can simply sit and soak up the magnificent scenery.

For literary buffs

Beat-Herder, Lancashire, 13-15 July

Get inspired to write your own bestseller in Haworth (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Following a weekend at Beat-Herder, those wanting to continue the party can head to the bright lights of Blackpool to the west or Manchester to the south, while those seeking solitude can head to the vast eerie sands of Morecambe or the North Yorkshire Dales National Park. Visitors craving a history fix can make the seven mile journey to the atmospheric Pendle Hill, home to the fateful witches. Dropping down into Pendle itself, visitors can join a Pendle Witches Walking Trail. Twenty miles across the moor lies the literary mecca of Haworth, once home to the Brontë sisters. Fans can visit the old parsonage where the siblings lived and wrote their world famous novels.