Hike the Wales Coast Path
Opening on 5 May, the Wales Coast Path (walescoastpath.gov.uk) will be the first continuous footpath to run the entire coast of any country. Four days won't be enough to tackle the whole 870-mile route, but there are plenty of shorter sections that you could squeeze into a long weekend (see website for maps and suggestions). The Llyn peninsula and Menai is a particularly rewarding stretch, comprising small fishing villages, estuaries and sandy beaches, all against the mighty backdrop of the Snowdonia national park. Less well-trodden than the Pembrokeshire coastal path, much of this coastline is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty. Alternatively, if you'd like to give a nod to the jubilee celebrations, explore the Anglesey coast path, which skirts the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with its fascinating geology.
Foodie weekend in Getaria
For a low-key alternative to foodie San Sebastián, try the Basque fishing village of Getaria, which has the same mix of old-world charm, sandy beach and fabulous seafood restaurants. It makes a great long weekend destination. The Saiaz Getaria (i-escape.com/saiaz-getaria.php) hotel in the heart of the Old Town has mullioned windows and dates from the 15th century. It has just 19 cosy bedrooms (from £74 a night, room-only) some with sea views. One of the Basque country's finest restaurants, the charmingly old-fashioned Elkano (restauranteelkano.com), is a short walk away, but if you wish to spread your culinary wings, the legendary pintxo (Basque tapas) bars and Michelin-starred restaurants of San Sebastián, which is 15 miles away, can be reached easily on a charming little train from nearby Zarautz. Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from Stansted to Santander (from £136 return for the first week in June) or Biarritz (from £120 return).
Canoeing in Sweden's lake district
Immerse yourself in the great outdoors on a canoe trip in Sweden's lake district. An hour's drive north of Gothenburg, Dalsland is a region of deep forests and glittering lakes, perfect for a wilderness adventure. Swedish operator Nature Travels (01929 503080, naturetravels.co.uk) has a new seven-night self-guided trip suitable for families with overnight camping on the lake shores, and all equipment, canoes and maps, for £167pp. Norwegian (norwegian.com) launches new flights from Gatwick to Gothenburg in March, with return fares from £99 for the first week in June.
Bluebells at the Dandelion Hideaway, Leicestershire
Enjoy a weekend exploring the Leicestershire/Warwickshire border on a bicycle made for two. Use of a tandem is one of the more unusual extras for couples booking the new Bluebells retreat at the Dandelion Hideaway (01455 292888, thedandelionhideaway.co.uk). The glampsite on a farm on the edge of Charnwood Forest will open a deluxe "canvas cottage" for two this spring, complete with en suite rolltop bath, sleigh bed and vintage-chic decor. A four-night break for two over the jubilee weekend costs £485, including unlimited wood for the fire.
Camping in Italy's Majella national park
Italian campsites tend to be of the all-singing, all-dancing variety, but Kokopelli (+39 085 8599207, kokopellicamping.co.uk), an intimate new campsite opening in May in the Abruzzo region, is breaking the mould. The helpful owners will pick you up from Pescara airport and within 40 minutes you can be amid the wildflowers, forests and limestone crags of the Majella national park. Take your own tent or opt for a pre-pitched bell tent, a retired VW camper or a double room in a converted barn. Maps, itineraries, walking routes and crag guides are available from the owners. Pitches €8pp, bell tents, VW or barn room from €16pp. Ryanair (ryanair.com) has return flights from Stansted to Pescara from £248 on the bank holiday weekend.
Fal River Festival, Cornwall
The Thames will play host to the diamond jubilee pageant on 3 June, but Cornwall will have a river celebration of a more intimate kind. The Fal River Festival (falriver.co.uk/festival) runs from 1–10 June and is expected to attract more than 100,000 people to its programme of boat races, community swims, guided nature walks, art workshops, open studios, beach barbecues, live music and fish festival. In Falmouth, Highcliffe B&B (falmouth-hotel.co.uk, doubles from £90) makes a suitably nautical base with smart, contemporary rooms, some of which have great views across the harbour.
Sea kayaking the Calanques
Just a short drive south-east along the coast from the urban sprawl of Marseille is an area of dramatic limestone sea cliffs, gorges and turquoise creeks. Known as the Calanques, the area was designated a national park last year in recognition of its heritage and fragile ecosystem. Trains and buses from Marseille will take you to the more accessible Calanques, but some of the most spectacular sights – such as Cosquer cave in the Calanque de Morgiou, with its prehistoric paintings, and the creek at En Vau, with its dramatic cliffs – can only be reached on foot or by kayak. The guided sea kayak excursions offered by Raskas Kayak (raskas-kayak.com) are suitable for novices, with prices from €30 for a three-hour excursion to €145 for a three-day trip, excluding accommodation. Holiday-rentals.co.uk has a selection of holiday cottages on the outskirts of Marseille and in the attractive fishing port of Cassis with prices from €60 a night. BA (ba.com) flies to Marseille from £215 return in the first week in June.
Iceland short break
Take advantage of new low-cost flights to enjoy a great-value short break in Iceland. Start-up airline WOW Air (wowair.com) launches its Stansted-Keflavík service three times a week from 3 June, with returns from £240 for its first week of operation. On the outskirts of Reykjavik, The Blue House (+354 847 5337, bluehouse.is) offers cosy and affordable B&B accommodation in the seaside suburb of Seltjarnarnes, with great views of the Snaefellsnes Glacier. A three-night stay in June costs from £210 for two based on two guests sharing a double room. The guesthouse is a short drive from the city centre and makes a good base for day trips to the Blue Lagoon, Gullfoss waterfall, the Great Geysir and Thingvellir national park.
Cycling the Welsh borders
Bicycle Beano (01982 560471, bicycle-beano.co.uk) has introduced a five-day guided cycling tour of the Welsh borders designed to make the most of the extra bank holiday weekend. Arriving on the Friday evening (1 June) and finishing on the Tuesday afternoon (5 June), guests will spend the intervening days exploring the quiet back lanes and canals of north Shropshire and south Cheshire. Accommodation is at The Grange, a Georgian mansion on the edge of the market town of Ellesmere, with oak-panelled dining room, croquet lawn, organic kitchen garden and wildflower meadows. The break costs £490pp, including vegetarian breakfast and evening meals and daily route maps.
Barcelona city break
Under the Thatch is known for its authentically restored rural cottages, so the addition of a funky one-bedroom flat in Barcelona is a bit of a departure. But this colourful bolthole in the El Raval district has been kitted out with the same flair. With murals by Dutch industrial designer Jan Habraken and lots of quirky bohemian touches, it's a short stroll from the city's main attractions. Best of all, at the time of going to press it still had availability for the jubilee bank holiday weekend (underthethatch.co.uk/ramon). A three-night stay starting on Friday 1 June costs £276. EasyJet (easyjet.com) flies to Barcelona from £220 return for these dates in June.
A fisherman's cottage in Kinsale, Ireland
The harbour town of Kinsale, 15 miles from Cork City in southern Ireland, has become something of a foodie magnet. You can happily spend a long weekend wandering the medieval streets, browsing the boutiques and galleries and getting out on to the water for whalewatching, sailing and angling boat trips. Fishy Fishy on Pier Road (fishyfishy.ie) and Crackpots on Cork Street (crackpots.ie) are popular spots for sampling the regions's famous seafood. A five-minute walk from the centre, Scilly House is a lovely period house with three holiday cottages in its grounds (tinyurl.com/carascottage). Cara's Cottage, a charming 19th-century fisherman's cottage with harbour views, sleeps four and costs €125 a night in June. Ryanair (ryanair.com) flies from Stansted to Cork from £73 return in the first week in June.
