For the travel savvy among us, there are going to be lots of opportunities in 2023 to maximise your annual leave and make the most of upcoming Bank Holidays. In fact, by planning trips in advance, you could potentially enjoy 55 days of annual leave in 2023 while only using 25 days of your holiday allowance.
With this in mind, Sykes Holiday Cottages has rounded up a selection of its best staycation spots on key dates throughout spring, summer and winter to help make maximising your annual leave that much easier.
Easter Weekend - Eight days leave for a 16-day break
2023 will see the Easter Bank Holiday weekend falling April 7-10, meaning you can turn eight days of annual leave (April 3-6 and April 11-14) into 16 days of holiday when you include weekends. That means plenty of time for Easter egg hunts, walks out in the fresh spring air, and adventures with family and friends.
Overlea Coach House – Hayfield, Derbyshire
Sleeps: Two
Price: Seven nights from £927
Overlea Cottage is a stylish lodge located in the charming village of Hayfield in Derbyshire. A great base for couples looking to explore the Peak District National Park, guests can spend their days in the nearby towns of Buxton or Glossop or enjoy the wealth of walking trails on the cottage’s doorstep. End the day watching a movie by the woodburning stove or take a dip in the private hot tub while testing out your stargazing skills.
Early May Bank Holiday - Four days leave for a 10-day break
If you have more annual leave to spare, take advantage of the extra Bank Holiday to mark King Charles’ coronation for a ten-day trip away. Combining the May Bank Holiday on the 1st with the additional bank holiday on the eighth will earn you a full 10 days' holiday for just four days’ leave when taking off the days between May 2-5.
Pheasant Cottage – Rigsby, Lincolnshire
Sleeps: Four
Price: Seven nights from £772 in May
Pheasant Cottage can be found nestled in the village of Rigsby in Lincolnshire. The property has its own private garden where guests can have breakfast on the patio before heading out to explore the local area. In the evenings, visitors can relax by the electric fire to catch up on their favourite Netflix shows with a glass of wine in hand.
The cottage has stunning panoramic views of the Lincolnshire Wolds, plus a picturesque working farm nearby which houses 280 acres of crops and cattle. Equipped with outdoor bike storage, cyclists can also try the nearby routes to take in the rural scenery.
Late May Bank Holiday – Five days leave for a 10-day break
The spring bank holiday for 2023 takes place on May 29. Savvy travellers can take the week prior off (May 22-26) to enjoy 10 days of consecutive holiday using just five days of your annual leave.
Broom Cottage – East Rudham, Norfolk
Sleeps: Four
Price: Seven nights from £1,320 in May
This chocolate box end-terrace flint cottage is tucked away on the edge of East Rudham, Norfolk. Broom Cottage has retained many of its original character features, including beamed ceilings, a wood burner and Suffolk latch doors, and holidaymakers are invited to bring their pooches to play in the enclosed, gravel garden.
A local village shop is within walking distance for necessities, while the town of Fakenham and pretty market towns of King’s Lynn and Burnham Market area few minutes’ drive away, with a selection of shops, eateries, and pubs on offer.
August Bank Holiday - Five days leave for a 10-day break
Take advantage of a late summer break by embracing the August bank holiday on August 28. Taking the week of August 21-25 as annual leave will offer you another 10 days of consecutive holiday to explore the great British summer while using only five days' leave.
Moor Skies – Oxenhope, West Yorkshire
Sleeps: Two
Price: Seven nights from £357 in August
Moor Skies is a shepherd’s hut surrounded by the rolling hills of Yorkshire, near the village of Oxenhope. This romantic bolthole is located on the owner’s grounds, and guests can enjoy a late evening meal on the patio warmed by the chimenea, before visiting the horses on the nearby paddock.
There are plenty of footpaths in the area for a romantic stroll, including walks around the reservoirs and the Bronte Falls. Bronte Way, a local walking trail, will take guests to Bronte Bridge and out onto the moors to find Top Withens, an old farmhouse which is said to have been the inspiration for the Earnshaw’s family home in Wuthering Heights.
December bank holiday – Three days leave for a 10-day break
Make the most of Christmas 2023! Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day lie on Mondays and Tuesdays next year, meaning bank holiday time to spend with friends and loved ones. Book off the 27th – 29th December to give you a full 10-days of Christmas holiday cheer.
Yr Hen Oriel – Ceunant, near Llanrug, North Wales
Sleeps: Four
Pricing: Seven nights from £993
This barn conversion is located in the owner’s grounds in Ceunant near Llanrug in Gwynedd, Wales. The open-plan living area boasts high ceilings and exposed walls, with underfloor heating and a woodburning stove. The nearby village of Llanrug is perfect for exploring North Wales and its coastline over the Christmas period, with two pubs, a lovely deli butchers to pick up your Turkey, and convenience stores within easy reach.
Keen walkers can tackle the various routes nearby. Or for those who prefer a more leisurely activity after a night of mulled wine and a mince pie or two, the Snowdon Mountain Railway runs from Llanberis station and climbs to the summit of Snowdon.
To book one of these breaks, visit www.sykescottages.co.uk or call 01244 617683.
