Holiday in the heatwave, would you go or hold off a few days?

[ScarlettOHaraHamiltonKennedyButler]

Due to go on a UK break in the peak district at the weekend. Temp to be around 34 from Sun - Tues. We are in the West of Scotland where it has also to be hot but not quite that hot (27 i think).

We are booked Sun - Sun in a lodge (no air con). We are torn about whether to miss the first few days and head down after the worst of the heat or just go as planned and deal with it? It will be too hot to be outdoors for too long and don't want to be stuck in a lodge with two bored DC (9 and 5). All of our planned activities are outdoors.

What would you do?

Plenty of shady river swimming spots in the Peak District

You should be free be fine, I’m not too far from there, just have to be aware of any eejits causing potential fires.

But keep your car in the coolest place possible and lots of water, we always have our dog and twice recently we had to adapt our days due to dog/heat but just the change of scenery was worth sticking to still going.

You know you can buy ice pops in the Peak District.

just plan some indoor things or better still some cave sightseeing days! It’s always cold in caves.

Where exactly are you going?

A few years back or was it last year?, we were in Ravenglass, hottest weather in its history apparently, it was scorching. We went swimming in the river and also Wastwater and also the sea, went on the little train ride, went driving around the mountains, visiting villages, tried a bike ride but I had the wrong bike so struggled in the heat.

That’s the Lake District!

Ooh I’d dream of my U.K. holiday coinciding with a heatwave rather than the usual rain.

Peak District there will be lots of shade and streams to cool down in. Countryside will be cooler than towns. Mornings and evenings will be glorious too. Just avoid anything strenuous in the midday sun.

Go!
Spend time in shady woods or in water where there is a bit of breeze. Outdoors in shade.
Go out early in the morning, and in the evening.
Swim.
Visit castles and stately homes (thick stone walls).

People actually choose to holiday in temperatures hotter than this.

Caves and Caverns www.visitpeakdistrict.com/things-to-do/attractions/caverns-and-caves

I understand why you're worried about it. There's a big difference to it being warm and being in a heatwave.
Take a sun shelter and spend the days wild swimming.

Half the world has this weather for much longer than we do!
Cool down in one of the caves at Castleton
Our dc loved the Dovedale stepping stones and did lots of paddling there and still talk about them years later.
Outdoor swimming pools at Hathersage and Matlock bath
Carsington reservoir had a beach area set up when we went.
Loads of shady walks, ice creams, drinks etc

Why are you even worrying about the drive if you have aircon in the car?

Just look forward to your holiday. Don’t forget to visit Bakewell for Bakewell Tart! Or pudding as it is originally known
www.bakewellpuddingshop.co.uk

Yes the drive should be the least of your worries, I could live in the car in the heat!!

Near Bakewell is the Monsal trail and much of this is nicely shaded given the right time of day, plus freezing cold tunnels which are funny when its baking outside

Thanks all for the tips. We will be staying near bakewell but given the red warning put out this morning we will be leaving off heading down until mid week.

First red warning ever put out for heat apparently so not arguing with that!

You're really going to miss half your holiday?

Monday and Tuesday is forcast to be around 36 in Derbyshire, then rain on Wednesday!

Nighttime temps seem cool

I seem to disagree with the majority because I can’t think of anything worse than being stuck in a lodge with 2 DC in a heatwave.

We're just back from the Peak Districts with a couple of very hot days - nothing like what is forecast for next week though.

Activities I'd recommend in the heat - the Monsal trail on bicycles ( I had an electric one) was surprisingly ok due to the tunnels to cool down in - great cafe at Hassop station as well. Lovely lunch at the Peak View Cafe ( open Thursday to Sunday worth pre booking) followed by a walk along Fernilee reservoir which has lots of shade. Matlock Bath is worth a visit for fish and chips, and Bakewell is nice to wander round.
Would tell you more, but we caught covid half way through .

But why would you be ‘stuck in the lodge’?

Surely holiday is absolutely the best place to be in a heatwave. Assume you don't have air con in your home either? Go and enjoy!!

Exactly you wouldnt be in it very much I would have thought.

Home will be a good 10 degrees cooler so nowhere near as much as an issue.

It's not a home v holiday issue it's a 27 v 37 issue iyswim.

Well where would you suggest OP goes with young DC in the middle of the day when it’s high 30s temperature? All the advice about taking sensible precautions involves avoiding going out in that.

First red warning ever put out for heat apparently so not arguing with that!

they have only been doing heat warnings since 2021

Well the Monsal Trail I said earlier in the thread is a good shout, cycling means you have the breeze and its shady along quite a lot of that, the tunnels are very cold.

Further south are more bike trails in deep valleys, Churnet Valley, round Carsington etc.

How very dramatic

I wouldn’t personally take a 5 year old cycling in the middle of the day in those temperatures even if some of it is through tunnels but I’ve never been so maybe it’s a great idea. I did say I was aware I appeared to be in the minority on this. People often ditch the beginning or end of holidays if it’s torrential rain, to me this situation is akin to that.