A precious free week. Where should I go?

[OrdinaryMoment]

I am a 72yo woman who has been a full time carer for three years for my DH who has dementia and other debilitating health conditions. In June this year, DH is going into a care facility for a week to give me a respite break and I will be able to get away on my own for a few days. So - where should I go? All ideas welcome.

I love the outdoors but don’t want to be isolated. I’m not a city lover at all. I’m pretty fit for my age, so activities such as walking (or even horse riding) etc might be an option. The idea of a cruise makes me shudder with horror, so that’s a definite no! In the UK or a short flight away: I’m flexible on cost and content with my own company or equally happy to be part of a group.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Bumping for you as I love this idea, but have nothing helpful to add.

good for you, enjoy every minute :)

Would you like a spa break? A cottage by the sea in north Norfolk?

Centreparcs and choose fun activities/spa/

You could walk around the Isle Of Wight in a week. Beautiful scenery and nearly always near the sea.

I recommend Iceland! You can fit in some incredible things in just a few days - tours with groups eg glacier, geysers etc; amazing landscapes, spas and geothermal baths all over the place; boat tours of northern lights, whale watching. So much to do and so very different from the uk

What do you love? Where do you love?
Are there people you want to see or not?

what budget roughly? Where are you travelling from?

sorry about your husband.

My friend did a walking trip in Albania and loved it. She is single and went with a mixed group. Also similar in Croatia I have heard of

What about going to Orkney? Get the long days in, pristine beaches. Or Shetland.

Enjoy your break wherever it may be.

I think I'd stay in the UK and make the travel part of the break. I'd tour Yorkshire or the lake district or the Highlands. Go on some organised tours so I didn't need to do all the leg work and might get to meet some interesting people, then also do my own thing.

Did this based neat York in 2019, lovely small bus tours with mainly well travelled visitors to the UK so plenty to talk about and a fresh perspective on what I take for granted.

Some great ideas here…. Thank you. Will have to get into doing some research.

I should add that I’m happy to drive/own a car so anywhere in the uk is accessible. Iceland is a thought. I hadn’t considered it, but will look what’s available. I’m getting excited now 😀

I’d join a walking group in an area I haven’t explored before; try the Natural Adventure Company, or Macs.

I'd go somewhere with a lovely view. One place I enjoyed was Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj in Slovenia. Beautiful views and places to walk, with Bohinj being much quieter. However airport travelling will eat into your time, so I would also consider staying closer to home.

Would you walk part of the Camino de Santiago in France/Spain? June should be nice without being overly hot (although these days that’s not guaranteed!) and you’d be rural without being isolated.

Iceland is amazing, good idea! Don't miss Jokulsarlon if you go there. You could do the Camino from Sarria to Santiago in 5 days if that appealed (but it is a lot of walking!). It rains a lot in Galicia though, so be prepared!

Mallorca and Menorca are lovely islands where even the cities are not too big. Palma and Cuitadella are beautiful. Menorca has some really beautiful walks along the coast - Cami De Cavalls. Mallorca has a lovely wooden tourist train to Soller and tram down to Port de Soller which is lovely. Valledemossa also gorgeous and there is a walk all through the area called the dry stone route.

Have a wonderful time whatever you decide.

How do you feel on weather, would you prefer somewhere warm and sunny or cooler but more scenic?

We travel a lot but in Europe I absolutely love Greece, we rent a car and there is so much to do - islands like Crete, Corfu or Rhodes are larger with a lot to see. You can do wine tasting, horse riding, visit ruins, see turtles. Stay in a small boutique hotel close to restaurants so you can wander around in the evenings. Old Hersonnisos is a lovely area for that.

You sound lovely and I hope you have the most amazing week wherever you end up!

I’d do this too, apparently you can hook up with other solo travellers online and arrange to meet whilst away if you wanted to try this, my friend did this and found it great to meet new people also solo travelling

Since you like the outdoors, but don't want to be isolated, maybe have a look at a trip/tour on the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland. It is amazing. Or base yourself in Galway and visit Connemara. I did the latter a few years ago and it was great. I'm similar age to you. Fly into Shannon, Knock, or Dublin. Or take the ferry and drive yourself!