SEEING the Northern Lights from the Isle of Skye has been named the top must-do UK staycation experience, according to research.
The spectacle, also known as the aurora borealis, is more frequently visible from Scotland when conditions are right – including limited light pollution and strong solar activity.
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A study, of 2,000 adults, also saw the Eden Project in Cornwall, the Titanic Museum in Belfast, and Stonehenge in Wiltshire, among the top 30 things to see and do within the UK.
Also on the list was a trip to the home of spectacular caves, cliffs, and Cheddar cheese – Cheddar Gorge, in Somerset.
The 84-mile round-trip on the Jacobsite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig in Scotland, which takes you across the Glenfinnan viaduct as seen in Harry Potter, similarly ranked within the top 10.
The must-do activities that should be on the nation’s bucket list was compiled by UK travel expert, Richard Madden, and Sykes Holiday Cottages, which commissioned the research.
It found more than eight in 10 (81 per cent) feel you don’t have to travel to far-flung destinations abroad to expand your horizons.
Graham Donoghue, the chief executive of the holiday let agency, said: “There is so much on our doorstep when it comes to holidays and activities, with the UK boasting a whole host of exciting things to see and do.
“Our research has shown that Brits have a strong desire to tick off a wide range of experiences in this country, including must-visit museums, natural phenomena, and popular nature spots.
“While the UK might be smaller in size in comparison to other countries, there is still plenty to pack into a staycation.
“Sometimes it’s just knowing where to start, but this jam-packed list should provide some inspiration.”
The research also found 78 per cent of Brits are determined to explore more of the UK, with a quarter having a dedicated bucket list of UK experiences they want to tick off.
But money (50 per cent), the unpredictable weather (35 per cent), and work commitments (22 per cent) mean they don’t always do this as much as they would like.
Of those who holiday in the UK, 44 per cent do so because of the convenience of it, and 33 per cent consider it to be more affordable.
But 54 per cent simply want to explore more of what the UK has to offer, according to the OnePoll.com data.
It also emerged that 45 per cent are still yet to explore interesting places within an hour’s drive of where they live, despite the average adult typically venturing as far as 216 miles from home to holiday somewhere else within the UK.
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Documentaries and non-fiction TV series provide the most bucket list inspiration to travellers (37 per cent), along with family (33 per cent), friends (32 per cent) and the films they watch (23 per cent).
Award-winning travel writer and author Richard Madden, added: “It’s great to see that travellers’ sense of adventure is just as strong while on a staycation as it is when abroad.
“During my time as a travel writer, I’ve discovered that the UK is not short of unforgettable locations, historic landmarks, unique experiences, and impressive wildlife.
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“Hopefully this new research will spark ideas for trips closer to home this year.”
Sykes Holiday Cottages’ Graham Donoghue, which has created a guide on the UK’s top 30 experiences added: “Some of the activities that have topped our bucket list might only be a stone’s throw away from where you live and with summer officially beginning, there is no better time to head out your door and explore.”
