Our 4 favourite Northern UK destinations for getting away this Easter

We’re still keeping our fingers crossed for a sunny Easter weekend this year - and maybe you’re planning on a small holiday on yours! For the last few years, UK ‘staycations’ have been steadily rising in popularity. Now, we think you can probably work out what kicked off that trend in 2020, but even the international tourism now starting to recover, as a country it looks like our enthusiasm for UK holidays has remained.

Every year here at Intack Self Drive, we provide daily car hire and weekly car hire to holidaymakers looking to enjoy some sunshine and cheer on our very own shores. So if that’s something that’s looking appealing this year, here are our top four suggestions on where to go!

The Lake District

The Lake District is an area that’s made one of our top roundup lists before, and to be honest we stand by it! It’s without question one of the most beautiful places in the UK, encompassing about sixteen lakes, surrounded by towering mountains and rolling hills and grasslands. It’s honestly quite spectacular, so really it’s no wonder that in recognition of its beauty and cultural significance, it’s been crowned as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. 

The region encompasses a number of little towns and villages that are often named as holiday destinations in their own right, including Keswick, Kendall, and Windermere. Windermere Lake is one of the most popular in the region (and rightly so), but there are lots of quieter ones too, such as Ullswater Lake.

The Ribble Valley

The Ribble Valley shares a comparable (and equally enviable) status of special significance along with the Lake District, having been officially designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Even just a relatively quick visit will show you why. Enjoy sweeping views of the unspoiled countryside by scaling the mighty Pendle Hill, or take a wander through its many green meadows.

There’s a tonne of history to explore as well. The lack of large-scale intrusive development has left the Ribble Valley’s many historical monuments left untouched, including Clitheroe Castle - often said to be the smallest Norman keep in the whole of England. Or you can set yourself on the Trail of the Pendle Witches, and discover more about one of the most famous (or infamous) witch trials in English history. It’s admittedly a pretty dark tale, so if you’re in the mood for something lighter, you could always embark on the Tolkien Trail. The author of the peerless Lord of the Rings series was reportedly heavily inspired by local Lancashire scenery in his creation of the Shire and Hobbiton - so it’s as close as you can get to physically stepping into his world!

Whitby

Narrowing our focus a little to a specific town, let’s turn our eyes on the lovely seaside! Whitby is a town in the North East of England that’s well known for encompassing many forms of beauty, from the quaint charm of its seaside residences to the eerie majesty of Whitby Abbey. 

If you’re interested in local history, the Abbey is certainly worth checking out. It’s now almost 1400 years old, estimated to having been built some time in the 650s. However, it fell into disrepair half a millennium ago during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, when Henry VIII decided that its assets would be put to better use funding his military campaigns. 

Whitby Abbey also inspired Bram Stoker to start writing his influential Dracula books, and it makes appearances in several of his stories - the titular vampire takes refuge from his enemies in the shadow of the abbey’s ruins. 

Scarborough

Another amazing seaside town - in the newly lovely weather of Spring, what better place to make the most of it? As one of the UK’s most famous seaside towns, it’s often cited as the perfect destination for a quick weekend trip, whether alone or with loved ones. It encompasses two family-friendly beaches and a variety of exciting attractions, including many traditional seaside pursuits like funfairs and fish and chips. And if you’re in the mood for some history, you can pay a visit to the headland overlooking the ocean, where you’ll find the dramatic ruins of a 12th century English Heritage castle.

Those are just a few of our suggestions for destinations around the UK - you might already have some of your own favourites in mind! Wherever you’re planning on going, you can trust us to help you get there here at Intack Self Drive. With hundreds of vehicles to choose from, we’re determined to offer the very best prices on daily car hire. 

And if you’re not exactly sure how long you’ll be away for, make sure to check out our Flexi Hire service, which gives you more freedom to hire a vehicle for a period that suits you - and all at a reduced rate compared to daily or weekly car hire prices. 

If you’ve got any questions or you need any advice, feel free to give us a call on 01254 57811, and we’ll be happy to help however we can!