January is not far away, and there’s no better way of beating the seasonal blues than going on a weekend trip away with the family. While you might not be able to get the time off work for a holiday abroad to find some sun, there are several places in the UK where there’s a good chance you can enjoy some reasonably mild weather, even in midwinter. Here are three of the best.
Gwynedd
First on the list is Gwynedd in North Wales. Not the first place you’d think of when looking for mild weather, but due to a particular meteorological effect, the area is often very comfortable indeed. Over the last century, 17 degree weather in January has been recorded just eight times in the UK, and each time was in Gwynedd. Much of Snowdonia is in Gwynedd, and there’s even a train to the top of Snowdon if you’ve got kids too young to make the long walk. Although Snowden is the highest mountain in England and Wales, it can actually one of the easiest to ascend because some of the routes to the top have very gentle inclines.
Isles of Scilly
This tiny cluster of islands off Cornwall is particularly interesting. Temperatures in winter are generally the warmest in the UK, but colder in summer. You’ll be able to see flowering plants and towering palm trees all year round. For kids, there are a variety of water sports available, and glass-bottomed boat tours are great for seeing local wildlife and even sunken ships.
Pembrokeshire
The south coast of Wales isn’t quite as warm as the north, but it is one of the sunniest places in the UK. The beaches here are beautiful, and kids will find plenty to do in the seaside resorts. There is also a theme park to be enjoyed if you decide to visit again in the summer. There are numerous places to stay. It may be a little too chilly for camping at this time of year, but there are caravan parks, hotels and lodges aplenty.
Somerset
While not as sunny, and a little bit wetter than other options on the list, Somerset is generally quite mild. This area is famous for its cider, but there are also numerous sites of historical interest for the kids to get interested in. Tor Farm near the impressive Cheddar Gorge is an ideal place to stay.
Gwynedd
First on the list is Gwynedd in North Wales. Not the first place you’d think of when looking for mild weather, but due to a particular meteorological effect, the area is often very comfortable indeed. Over the last century, 17 degree weather in January has been recorded just eight times in the UK, and each time was in Gwynedd. Much of Snowdonia is in Gwynedd, and there’s even a train to the top of Snowdon if you’ve got kids too young to make the long walk. Although Snowden is the highest mountain in England and Wales, it can actually one of the easiest to ascend because some of the routes to the top have very gentle inclines.
Isles of Scilly
This tiny cluster of islands off Cornwall is particularly interesting. Temperatures in winter are generally the warmest in the UK, but colder in summer. You’ll be able to see flowering plants and towering palm trees all year round. For kids, there are a variety of water sports available, and glass-bottomed boat tours are great for seeing local wildlife and even sunken ships.
Pembrokeshire
The south coast of Wales isn’t quite as warm as the north, but it is one of the sunniest places in the UK. The beaches here are beautiful, and kids will find plenty to do in the seaside resorts. There is also a theme park to be enjoyed if you decide to visit again in the summer. There are numerous places to stay. It may be a little too chilly for camping at this time of year, but there are caravan parks, hotels and lodges aplenty.
Somerset
While not as sunny, and a little bit wetter than other options on the list, Somerset is generally quite mild. This area is famous for its cider, but there are also numerous sites of historical interest for the kids to get interested in. Tor Farm near the impressive Cheddar Gorge is an ideal place to stay.
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