Cathy Winston, editor of 101 Singles Holidays picks 10 of the best UK solo holidays to try in 2021.
Singles only breaks
Herefordshire
Discover beautiful Herefordshire on a five-night break with singles specialist Friendship Travel this summer. One of a new range of small group solos-only UK breaks, you’ll discover Hereford’s treasures such as the Mappa Mundi, chained library and cathedral as well as trips to the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean.Departing on 6 June and 11 September, five nights half-board costs £795 including a double room for sole use and a Friendship Travel host.
Somerset
Fans of the popular ClubSolos breaks in the Med and the Caribbean, from Solos Holidays, can now choose a UK weekend break at a beachfront hotel in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Exclusively for Solos Holidays guests, it includes a sightseeing tour of Bristol discovering Brunel to Banksy, as well as a chance to explore the seaside with a tour leader to help break the ice.
The cost of £399 for three nights includes a single room, half-board, a free bar from 6pm to 10pm each evening, sightseeing and live entertainment. Available from 24 -27 September and April 2022.
Coast and countryside in Dorset
Escape to the seaside with a four-star break in Dorset, exclusively for solo travellers aged over 50. Saga has a four-night break from 4 October staying at the Hermitage Hotel in Bournemouth, including excursions to Buckler’s Hard in the New Forest, the Russell-Cotes Museum and a tour of Dorset villages (along with a cream tea).The cost of £409 includes a single room, half-board and excursions with a Saga host on hand.
Special Interest
Chamber music in Norfolk
Head to the North Norfolk Music Festival this summer on a four-night break from Kirker Holidays that’s perfect for chamber music lovers. This intimate music festival runs from 16 August and attracts world-class performers. As well as tickets for all performances, you will also enjoy private visits to three stunning estates - Holkham, Raynham and Houghton Hall.The cost of £1,330, with no single supplement, includes your own private room with breakfast, along with tickets for all concerts, escorted visits and dinner each evening.
Activity taster break in Scotland
If you love the idea of a learning break but can’t decide what to choose, this taster week from Flavours Holidays is the perfect solution. Staying in a seven-bedroom beachfront 17th century customs house, you can try a string of different activities, including photography, painting and Pilates, as well as visits to local food producers, walks on the coast plus a trip to St Andrews and the V&A in Dundee.
One week in June or September costs £1,599 with no single supplement. Fun tutored activities, all meals, food tastings and some excursions are included.
Retreat to the Isle of Wight
Book an island escape tailored to your interests at The Grange on the Isle of Wight. Operated by the team behind Skyros, the breaks feature masterclasses in everything from writing, art and mosaics to yoga, mindfulness, walking and comedy. Perfect for solo travellers, who make up around 70% of guests, you’re guaranteed some like-minded company.Priced from £295 for twin-share accommodation, full board, the retreats run from May to November. Single upgrades are also available.
Retrace the south-east’s Norman history
Discover some of England’s most magnificent Norman buildings on a guided tour of south-east England this autumn with Martin Randall Travel. The three-night break visits great castles and churches across Kent and Sussex, tracing England’s Norman and early Plantagenet history. Along with stops in Canterbury, Rochester, Dover and Battle Abbey, you’ll visit picturesque spots including Rye and Bodiam.Priced £1,470 for a room for sole occupancy in four-star hotels, including breakfast, two dinners and one lunch, plus an expert lecturer.
Action Stations
Walking in Northumberland
Explore one of the UK’s most beautiful coastlines, discovering Northumberland’s castles, beaches and gardens. The five-night Ramblers Holidays break has a mix of walking and sightseeing, including Alnwick and Chillingham castles, a chance to visit Lindisfarne, as well as walking St Cuthbert’s way with a guide.
Five nights costs from £699 half board with no single supplement. Dates are available between June and October.
Try your own Tour de Yorkshire
You needn’t be a world-class cyclist to enjoy a cycling break in England this summer with a supported trip from Saddle Skedaddle. The 170-mile Way of the Roses coast-to-coast cycle route runs from Morecambe in Lancashire to Bridlington in Yorkshire, using traffic-free paths and quiet country lanes to journey past historic Lancaster and York and through the Lune Valley and Yorkshire Dales.Departing in June and September, the six-day break costs £705 for a twin-share room, including breakfast and lunch every day, with an option to upgrade to a single room.
Pampering cruise in Scotland
Join a small group all-inclusive cruise through the beautiful scenery of the Scottish Highlands with European Waterways. The luxury Scottish Highlander hotel barge trip sails along the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness between May and September, with daily excursions such as Urquhart Castle, a whisky tasting at the Tomatin Distillery and a private falconry display.The cruise costs from £5,090 for a solo double cabin, gourmet meals with wine and open bar, plus bike rental.
March 2021