What a summer!: readers’ favourite holiday discoveries of 2022 | Top 10s

We wrapped up effectively, Iceland

We visited the low-rise, one-village island of Hrísey throughout our round-Iceland tour. It sits within the Arctic-facing inlet of Eyjafjördur, 20 minutes by ferry from Árskógssandur, north of Akureyri – the fourth largest city in Iceland. We wrapped up effectively for the crossing, earlier than following a 6km path across the south of the island. There was a heat welcome from the islanders we met, however the birds had been the star attraction. Ptarmigans thrive right here at sea degree – they appeared nearly tame. We encountered fascinating historical past too: fish-drying racks, vintage tractors and the splendidly named Shark-Jörundur home, inbuilt 1885-86 utilizing timber from Norwegian ships that ran ashore at Hrísey in 1884. We gained such a way of the previous lifestyle right here.
Paul Gamble

Seals and mountains, County Down

Avoiding chaotic airports, we took the ferry to Belfast and stayed at a cottage in County Down. We visited Murlough Bay a 282-hectare (700-acre) NT nature reserve close to the majestic Mourne Mountains. Sandy paths traverse hummocks of heather, with carpets of wildflowers main all the way down to a large expanse of seashore, which faces south-east. To the north, seals bask around the bay whereas the Mournes dominate the skyline within the south. The place is blissfully quiet and a paradise for marvelling at stunning shells. Recent air and freedom.
Bridget Mellor

Nautical and knowledgable, Salcombe, Devon

Salcombe Maritime museum, which we visited whereas staying at close by East Portlemouth, proved a gem. It’s a small museum made up of two rooms in a constructing full of reveals ona primarily nautical theme together with pictures and artefacts from shipwrecks. There are additionally reveals and tales from the second world conflict and interactive shows for youngsters, together with a dressing-up field. There was a extremely knowledgable information on the entrance desk and the place is free to enter.
Tracy Evans

Lovely B&B, Auxerre, France

Planning our journey dwelling from the French Alps, we determined to cease in a single day on the midway mark. In Auxerre, we discovered essentially the most stunning B&B we’ve ever stayed in. At Villa Ribière, on Rue Hippolyte Ribière, we acquired a heat welcome from Bathilde, and had been proven right into a gorgeously adorned suite for us and our daughter. We loved a beautiful breakfast within the morning within the charming eating room (the backyard in higher climate) earlier than heading off. We are able to’t wait to return.
Nicky Dodd

Paris by bike

My older youngsters (17 and 21) and I are visiting Paris on a funds. We had anticipated to get round by strolling and utilizing the Métro however the Vélib’ Metropole bike rent app has been a revelation. Most of Paris within reason flat and you’ll rent a traditional bike for €5 for twenty-four hours (€10 for an electrical bike). We’ve been capable of take a tour of the key websites with out breaking the financial institution and have loved it immensely, to not point out that we’ve labored off the beautiful cheeses and wines. There are separate cycle lanes in most elements of the town and the stands to gather and return the bikes are dotted round at roughly 300-metre intervals.
Caroline

Cranberries and dunes, Frisian Islands, the Netherlands

For our vacation, we took the ferry from Harlingen and pedalled alongside the cycle paths of Vlieland on a tandem. Everybody cycles as guests usually are not permitted to convey automobiles. Largely made from sand dunes, the island is a pretty and tranquil nature reserve. Cranberries develop right here – having been found on a seashore on neighbouring Terschelling in 1845 by a neighborhood man as he walked alongside the dunes; that they had apparently been blown off the deck of an American ship. You’ll be able to choose them from mid-September. Most eating places serve scrumptious savoury and candy dishes with the tart fruit. We went twice to hotel-restaurant De Herbergh van Flielant for beautiful meals within the one village, Oost-Vlieland, and meandered again to the campsite after sampling attractive dessert wine.
Monique Gadella

Household journey, County Antrim

Staying within the north of Northern Eire with my mother and father, my brother and our respective kids, we took a visit to Rathlin Island. It began with a fairly priced and really scenic 30-minute ferry trip from Ballycastle, sweeping into the harbour of the small island. This was adopted by a stroll to one of many lighthouses, a chicken sanctuary, a small sandy seashore amply supplied with picnic benches from which to observe the development of varied sandcastle masterpieces, a pub serving Guinness and a swing park. It made for a beautiful day with household.
Katy

Latvian sea breeze

Riga was our discovery of 2022. The previous city is flat and sensible to discover, with car-free streets, wood homes, medieval church buildings and stylish cafes. A pleasant household meal for 4 was about £25. There are beautiful Latvian sea breezes coming off the Baltic to maintain everybody good and funky. It’s a brief €1 prepare experience to Jurmala seashore, the place the sand and sea (the water temperature is mostly a few levels larger than off the UK south coast) are very good: you possibly can have a picnic on the seashore and sunbathe and swim in comfy temperatures with out the crowds or warmth of the Med. We’re going again subsequent yr!
Invoice Cox

Solo feminine vacation in Norway

There’s greater than a little bit magic in consuming a sandwich at 1,516 metres, sitting on curly white lichen – “reindeer meals”– with 12 feminine buddies who solely yesterday had been full strangers. I’m on my first solo vacation post-divorce, feeling concurrently nervous and courageous. Some had by no means walked up a mountain earlier than, others had been unsure in the event that they nonetheless may, but we conquered Ruten, Rundhø and Sprenpiggen in addition to our innermost fears and supported one another all the way in which up and down. I booked the journey with Walking Women.
J Courtney

On a household street journey to Billund in Denmark we had an superior stopover in Lübeck. I like marzipan and so I used to be all the time going to make a beeline for the Café Niederegger. A marzipan espresso with a slice of Othello cake was completely wonderful and quenched any want for marzipan (for a day a minimum of). Plus there’s an entire great Hanseatic metropolis to discover.
Darren Atkinson

Please use the feedback to share particulars of discoveries you’ve made in your summer time jaunts, wherever they’ve been