A Guide to Embracing Rain on a UK Staycation
Weather in the UK is famously unpredictable. When it comes to the seasons, the rules just don’t apply. It’s not surprising to see snow in June or experience T-shirt weather in December. Sometimes those days will catch us off guard and hinder our best-laid plans.
Now, with varying roadmaps to exit lockdown for all four nations of the UK, and a successful vaccine drive pushing the country towards greater freedom, there is optimism that staycations will be allowed to go ahead during the summer.
However, the choice of a UK summer holiday is vastly different from the experience of going abroad. While we can expect heatwaves and gloriously sunny days, we must brace ourselves for a rain check.
Having a back-up plan for those rainy days on a UK staycation is essential for keeping your holiday on track. But thinking of what to do when the weather keeps us in our own lockdown can be difficult.
Here, we take a look at the best ways to have the weather on your side during your holiday, come rain or shine.
Sit back and relax
After the year we’ve had, we shouldn’t take a little bit of relaxation for granted. While we’d love to do this on a sunny deck chair, there’s always the chance that the rain will keep us in. Make sure that you’re prepared to stay indoors while using the rain as a tool for relaxation.
The rain has a regular and predictable pattern. This means that it can help our brain relax while processing the calming sound. Take advantage of these moments to sit back and enjoy your time. When it rains you can:
– Read a book
– Do some yoga
– Write a postcard
– Create some art
– Have a massage
– Sleep
Use the sound of the rain as a tool for meditation when you’re on your staycation. It can help you feel relaxed and make you appreciate the quiet moments a little more. After all, what do you go on holiday for if not to relieve our stresses?
Embrace the storm
Staying in when it rains can be relaxing but embracing the weather can be just as enjoyable. Rain only gets in the way when we don’t expect it. Preparing for a rainy day means that you can plan an exciting activity that utilises the wet weather.
For families, playing in the rain can be an exciting and unusual activity. Although it can be messy, you’ll make amazing memories during your staycation.
Children can use containers to measure the rain and see how quickly they can collect a cup of water. Sending paper boats down flowing bodies of water can lead to exciting and high-stake races. Even stomping, jumping, and running through puddles can be a welcome and fun break for any child. Make sure that you’re prepared with a kids umbrella while they enjoy the wild weather. Embracing the elements is very important after a year of lockdown and staying indoors.
Grin and bear it
It’s great to feel the sun on your skin, but good weather is never promised on a UK staycation. Sometimes we just have to endure the cold and enjoy the time while we can.
You can still do many of the same activities you planned to do on your staycation in the rain. Fancy going on a hike? Just make sure that you’re well wrapped up and that you take a quality windproof umbrella to fight the gusts and rain. The world is transformed when it rains, and it should be seen. Climb to the top of a wet and slippery hill and enjoy the views of rainbows and a town under a deluge from the sky.
Even botanical gardens look better in the rain. See rain hit flowers while taking shelter under a tree for a picnic. Visit local attractions and see the true nature of a UK village, town, or city. This country was built in the rain, so it’s important to remember that you’re getting the full cultural experience during your staycation.
Any type of holiday will be enjoyable after enduring the past year, so a spot of rain on your staycation is unlikely to ruin your plans to have a relaxing break. Making sure that you’re well prepared with warm coats, good plans, and quality umbrellas is the best that we can do to make sure that everything runs smoothly.