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Telegraph
23-06-2025
- Telegraph
The 10 best British holidays for people who hate the heat
This summer is starting to swelter. And there may be more extreme heat to come. According to a Met Office study published in June 2025, there's a rapidly increasing likelihood of record UK temperatures being hit. 'The chance of exceeding 40C is now over 20 times more likely than it was in the Sixties,' says Dr Gillian Kay, Met Office senior scientist. 'Because our climate continues to warm, we can expect the chance to keep rising.' Perhaps unsurprisingly, as the weather keeps getting hotter, so internet searches for 'coolcations' have also rapidly increased – up 300 per cent year-on-year. Destinations with brisker climes – Canada, Scandinavia, Iceland, the Alps – are trending. But there are ways to avoid the heat at home too. You just need to pick the right activity and the right accommodation in the right place. If you want to survive your staycation sweat-free, here are a few cool ideas. 1. Shoot the sea breeze on the Shetland Islands Summers on Britain's most northerly outpost are short, cool and breezy – ideal for the heat-averse, and for exploring the archipelago on foot. A wealth of wildlife likes to over-summer here too, so look for whales and dolphins as you stroll at Sumburgh Head, spot great skuas on the cliffs as you round the Ness of Hillswick, and see puffins up close on the isles of Yell and Unst – as far north as it's possible to go. Ramble Worldwide (01707 331133; rambleworldwide) offers a seven-night guided Shetland trip from £2,009 per person, half board, including flights from Glasgow; departing July 5, August 9 and September 6 and 20 2025. 2. Take the posh plunge in Shropshire What's cooler than staying in a stately home? Especially one with its own Georgian plunge pool. Salwey Lodge, near Ludlow, was built in the 1740s and has remained in the Salwey family ever since. Now it welcomes guests. Sleep in one of the four elegant bedrooms, share field-to-fork feasts in the dining room, explore the extensive grounds and dip in the 18th-century baths. There are also wonderful walks from the door, including into Mortimer Forest, a 1,000-hectare green space, perfect for forest bathing in the shade. Salwey Lodge (07766 545515; thesalweylodge) offers a two-night Ludlow Weekend package from £290 per person, full board. 3. Mix hills, vales and waves in Pembrokeshire North Pembrokeshire receives fewer visitors than the south, and offers many ways to escape the heat. Head to genteel Newport and stay at Y Sied – the cottage's thick stone walls should keep temperatures down. There are good spots nearby for sea dips: Newport Sands, Aberfforest, Pwllgwaelod. You can also take breezy walks in the Preseli Hills, which rise behind; perhaps seek shade beneath the 5,500-year-old dolmen of Pentre Ifan. Then explore hidden-away, fern-frilled Rosebush Quarry – one of Wales's best wild-swimming spots. Coastal Cottages (01437 765765; coastalcottages) offers a week at Y Sied, sleeping two, from £719. The Forest of Bowland may only be eight per cent trees, but it's still a good place to escape the heat. Orchard Glamping, set on a forest-edge farm, is a good-value, nature-immersed base. Head off on moorland and riverside walks into the National Landscape, or head to Wyresdale Park where a huge lake offers paddleboard hire and regular wild swimming sessions (£5.50). For a quirkier kind of cool, go to the Flower Bowl activity centre, home to England's only curling rink (taster session £22; theflowerbowl). Orchard Glamping (07725 185366; orchardglamping) offers pods, sleeping up to 6, from £200 for two nights. 5. Drink yourself chilled in East Sussex There's nothing more refreshing on a sweltering day than a chilled glass of something delicious, sipped amid the countryside from which it was made. The new Rother Wine Triangle trail links seven vineyards in the Rother Valley, between Rye, Hastings and Flimwell, all of which offer tours and tastings, and most of which offer accommodation overlooking the grapes (sussexwinelands). Alternatively, disappear into the nearby woods of Glottenham Castle estate: book Rosetti, a glade-tucked cabin with pre-Raphaelite styling, an outdoor shower and a tree growing through its middle. Canopy & Stars (0117 204 7830; canopyandstars) offers four-night stays at Rosetti, sleeping five, from £435. 6. Cool down on the coast in County Down Northern Ireland doesn't tend to get that hot. And even if it does, you'll get sea breezes from all sides at St John's Point lighthouse. Stay at one of the two 1830s keepers' cottages that sit beneath the beacon on this wave-surrounded headland, then visit Strangford Lough, the largest sea lough in the British Isles, where you can walk woodland and coastal paths, and explore by kayak or canoe – paddle over to the Boretree Islands to look for basking seals. Irish Landmark (00353 1 670 4733; irishlandmark) offers two nights at the St John's Point cottages, sleeping four, from £386. 7. Find calm on the canal in Staffordshire The Shropshire Union Canal is a cool corridor of green and blue space, stretching from Chester to the edges of Wolverhampton. It's a rural waterway, fringed by farmland, woodland and quiet countryside, offering an escape from both the heat and the modern world. Hire a boat from the historic market town of Brewood for a gentle journey to Market Drayton and back via deep cuttings, arched bridges, pretty villages, a handful of locks and towpath pubs before mooring up at Gnosall's Boat Inn for a refreshing pint. Drifters (0344 984 0322; drifters) offers a four-night August break aboard Sir Ulfius, sleeping four, from £1,097. 8. Live it up with the oaks in Devon For shadiness at its most English, head to Chevithorne Barton estate. This ancient patch, between Exmoor and the Blackdown Hills, is home to the UK's biggest collection of oaks, as well as a walled garden, bright summer borders and other rare trees. Visit on a free open day (July 7 to 13; August 4 to 8 2025) or, better yet, stay on site in the most tasteful of treehouses. Verte is a RIBA award-winning build of wood and glass where you can row on private lakes and live stylishly amid the trees. Unique Homestays (01637 881183; uniquehomestays) offers a week at Verte, sleeping 10, from £3,795. Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park is an untamed vastness, with miles of rivers, swathes of woodland and 22 lochs. A great way to explore is by hiking the 48km Great Trossachs Path, from Inversnaid to Callander. For the coolest take on the route, join a hike-swim trip that combines walks via waterfalls, RSPB reserves and lofty Munros with refreshing dips – a coach can help with your technique or you can simply float and enjoy the views. Responsible Travel (01273 823700; responsibletravel) offers a five-day guided Trossachs trip from £995 per person, B&B, including lunches, excluding flights; departing July 17 2025. 10. Embrace the cold in North Yorkshire Without the Gulf Stream to warm it, Britain's North Sea coast offers a brisker seaside break than the west. For a very cool break, stay at Saltmoore which, opened in 2024, sits on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. Its Sanctuary Spa offers a wealth of wellness, from a Brass Monkey ice bath to a cryotherapy chamber. It's only a 10-minute walk to Sandsend beach, a sweeping strand with views to Whitby Abbey, bracing swimming and good surf – you can hire surf boards, kayaks and paddleboards (whitbysurf).
The Independent
19-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
UK set for first tropical night of the year as 33C heatwave approaches
The UK could see its first tropical night of the year as the country is expected to enter a heatwave by the end of this week. The hot spell is set to peak on Saturday, where temperatures could hit 33C in the south east, while remaining generally warm across the UK with highs of 26C in Manchester and 25C in Edinburgh. The Met Office predicts hazy sunshine with isolated showers and possible thunder. But as temperatures are set to remain high into Sunday, it's possible the UK could see its first tropical night of the year on Friday night, in which overnight temperatures do not drop below 20C. Tropical nights are expected to become more common in the UK during the summer months, particularly for parts of south-east England, as the Met Office revealed that UK heatwaves could become longer and hotter due to escalating climate trends. Scientists have said that the chance of temperatures exceeding 40C in the UK is accelerating at a rapid pace due to climate change after the forecaster marked the sunniest and driest spring on record. Senior scientist at the Met Office, Dr Gillian Kay, recently published a new report underscoring the need for organisations to prepare for new heat extremes in the near future. Dr Kay said: "The chance of exceeding 40C has been rapidly increasing, and it is now over 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s. Because our climate continues to warm, we can expect the chance to keep rising. We estimate a 50-50 chance of seeing a 40°C day again in the next 12 years. We also found that temperatures several degrees higher than we saw in July 2022 are possible in today's climate.' Yellow heat-health alerts have been put in place by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for all regions of England except the north east and north west. These came into force at midday on Wednesday and will last until 6pm on Sunday. The health body's alert suggests that health and social care services may be significantly impacted by high temperatures, with a rise in deaths possible among those aged 65 and above and people with health conditions. Younger age groups may also be impacted, as the service predicted a 'likely increase in demand for health services '. Temperatures in care settings may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment and impact workforces. Thursday Cloud and patchy light rain across Scotland will steadily clear northwards. Elsewhere dry with sunny spells, but the odd shower possible in the far southwest later. Breezier, especially in the southwest, but still very warm. A fine evening but turning cloudier with the odd shower in the southwest by dawn, most places remaining dry. Very mild and muggy in the west, with a strengthening breeze. Friday Very warm, dry and sunny once again. Isolated showers possible across northern Scotland and southwest England, isolated thunder possible in the southwest. Breezy along southern and eastern coasts. Saturday to Monday Hazy sunshine on Saturday with isolated showers, perhaps thundery. Occasional bright spells on Sunday with cloudier skies arriving into Monday. Feeling warm to start then turning fresher from Sunday.
Telegraph
18-06-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
Climate change ‘could lead to 45C summers in Britain'
Climate change could lead to 45C summers in the UK, the Met Office has said. A study by the forecaster found there was now a 50-50 chance that the country sees 40C again in the next 12 years. The Met Office analysed a model of the summer of 2022 – which saw temperatures in the UK surpass 40C for the first time – and global climate trends. Data show that there is a 4.2 per cent chance that the mercury climbs above 40C at least once in any given summer. The likelihood of this extreme temperature occurring is now six times greater than it was in the 1980s, and three times more likely than in 2000. Dr Gillian Kay, a senior scientist at the Met Office and the study's lead author, said: 'The chance of exceeding 40C has been rapidly increasing, and it is now over 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s. 'Because our climate continues to warm, we can expect the chance to keep rising. We estimate a 50-50 chance of seeing a 40C day again in the next 12 years.' Under current projections, the model also predicts a 1 per cent chance per year of temperatures reaching 42C. The maximum temperature that could conceivably be reached, according to the analysis, is 46.6C, and month-long heatwaves are also a possibility. 'Far higher temperatures – over 45C – and more sustained heatwaves may be possible today,' the scientists wrote. The model also found it was possible that in the South East – the area most prone to extreme heat – there could be five days above 40C in a single month. The current definition for a heatwave is three days with temperatures in excess of 28C in London and the South East. It is 25C for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Data in the study show a possible scenario where two thirds of the summer days are above this threshold. One simulated summer had more than a month of consecutive days above 28C which would officially create a 39-day long heatwave. Dr Nick Dunstone, a Met Office science fellow and co-author of the study, said: 'The well-known hot summer of 1976 had more than a fortnight above 28C, which is a key heatwave threshold in south-east England. 'Our study finds that in today's climate such conditions could persist for a month or more. These findings highlight the need to prepare and plan for the impacts of rising temperatures now, so we can better protect public health, infrastructure and the environment from the growing threat of extreme heat.' The findings, published in the journal Weather, come as the UK is predicted to have its first heatwave of the year this weekend, with temperatures of more than 30C forecast. On Tuesday, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a heat health alert for most of England, starting on Wednesday at noon and lasting until 6pm on Sunday. The yellow heat health warnings are in place everywhere except the North West and North East. Officials issue such notices when vulnerable and elderly people will be more prone to heat-related health concerns. The Met Office study found that during the record-breaking summer of 2022 when the UK hit 40C for the first time in recorded history, there were almost 3,000 heat-related excess deaths. During the four days at the peak of the heatwave, there were more than 1,000 excess deaths in over-65s, according to UKHSA data. 'We have estimated the chances and characteristics of extreme hot episodes in the UK in the present-day climate, and how they have changed over the last six decades,' the scientists wrote. 'We find that temperatures several degrees above those recorded in July 2022 are plausible, with a simulated maximum of 46.6C. 'The model simulates up to two thirds of summer days exceeding 28C, and over a month in continuous heatwave. Twelve consecutive days of [a maximum temperature] above 35C is also possible. 'The rising chance of 40C in the UK over the last decades suggests that an intense heatwave such as that seen in 2022 should not be dismissed as an isolated occurrence. Similar, or even more severe, events should be viewed as a hazard of the current climate and prepared for accordingly.'
The Independent
18-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Months-long 40C heatwaves could become the new normal in the UK, Met Office warns
Temperatures in the UK could soon soar to 40C and beyond, new analysis from the Met Office has found, as Britain continues to experience sweltering heat. The record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in the UK remains 40.3C in summer 2022, in Coningsby, Lincolnshire. But heats of 45C or more 'may be possible' in today's climate, the forecaster says. Experts from the office have given a 50:50 chance that a heatwave of this unprecedented level could occur in the UK within the next 12 years. And alongside the incredible heat, the weather phenomenon could also last for months at a time. The Met Office reached the findings by using global models to create a large number of climate outcomes in current conditions. Their study, published in Weather Journal, shows the chance of temperatures hitting 40C is more than 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s, and has almost trebled since the year 2000. Dr Gillian Kay, senior scientist at the office and lead author of the study, said: 'The chance of exceeding 40C has been rapidly increasing, and it is now over 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s. 'Because our climate continues to warm, we can expect the chance to keep rising. 'We estimate a 50:50 chance of seeing a 40C day again in the next 12 years. 'We also found that temperatures several degrees higher than we saw in July 2022 are possible in today's climate.' Looking at heatwaves, the Met Office study found that 'much more severe' extremes could occur in the current climate. Their climate model shows that up to two-thirds of summer days could be above the heatwave threshold of 28C in south-east England, with more than a month in continuous heatwave. Up to 12 consecutive days above 35C is also possible, the study says. The ongoing 'mini-heatwave' in the UK could reach highs of 32C this week as parts of the country grapple with drought and heat-related health issues. The heatwave of 2022 contributed to the deaths of 3,000 people, it was found, most over 65. Met Office experts said the findings showed the need to prepare and plan for the impacts of rising temperatures and extreme heat. Dr Nick Dunstone, Met Office science fellow and co-author of the study, said: 'The well-known hot summer of 1976 had more than a fortnight above 28°C, which is a key heatwave threshold in south-east England. 'Our study finds that in today's climate such conditions could persist for a month or more. 'These findings highlight the need to prepare and plan for the impacts of rising temperatures now, so we can better protect public health, infrastructure, and the environment from the growing threat of extreme heat.'
