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UK travel

Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Everywhere is England is rammed

221 replies

Hyperfish101 · 31/08/2020 08:09

Maybe different elsewhere in UK but Covid has certainly wiped out options for a peaceful day out anywhere. Or so it seems.

Went to a local beauty spot for a walk yesterday. At 10 am cars queuing for the car park. All the NationL Trust type places swarming. Even little walks by our local river are overrun with people.

Had a week in a usually quiet place in the Scottish Borders. Nope. Jammed. The usual quiet beach was overrun. Car park rammed. Rubbish everywhere.

It’s horrible. I realise I was there too so limited grounds to complain but I’ve been going to these places for years and suddenly I can’t even park.

That’s even before mentioning the ‘wild camping’ we saw in the Lakes. Tents abandoned, rubbish everywhere.

I’m hoping when people can stop ‘staycationing’ and go abroad, things will settle down. I feel as if there are no unspoilt areas left now.

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 31/08/2020 08:10

Have NT stopped ticketing, even for outdoors?

RoseAndRose · 31/08/2020 08:12

I’m hoping when people can stop ‘staycationing’ and go abroad

Surely it's the middle ground, between these two - the holiday in the UK that's causing the issue?

Though I suppose you can't tell the difference between a holidaymaker and a staycationer just by looking

Darker · 31/08/2020 08:12

I am furious about the rubbish. I can’t get my head round the mindset of people who leave tents and plastic and other stuff behind.

BayLeaves · 31/08/2020 08:13

I don't think it's the staycationers but more that people are spending their leisure time outdoors when they'd usually be going into town, shopping, meeting in cafes, restaurants, pubs etc.

Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 31/08/2020 08:13

I just meant NT type places in general. Still rationing places I think though.

OP posts:
Abraid2 · 31/08/2020 08:14

I don’t think we realised how much we owe the spanish for taking some people off our hands in the holiday period.

georgedawes · 31/08/2020 08:14

I live in the peak District and it's crazy at the minute. So much rubbish, cars parked illegally, people using the place as a toilet :(

Darker · 31/08/2020 08:16

I am also mildly irritated by the word ‘staycation’ which used to mean saving money by staying in your own home while doing holiday things.

speak2me · 31/08/2020 08:16

@AuntieStella

Have NT stopped ticketing, even for outdoors?
No, you still need to pre-book tickets. We went to one yesterday and whilst not 'quiet', it was much less busy than normal for this time of year.
FlySheMust · 31/08/2020 08:16

NT and EH still ticket only.

giletrouge · 31/08/2020 08:16

I'm on holiday in Sussex and we've had three or four days out and I've been really surprised how quiet it's been. One castle with gardens, limited tickets, hardly saw anyone, one garden place, we were first there, almost empty, two galleries, limited ticketing, not crowded. plus meals out in places where everyone well spaced out. Nothing rammed at all. I've been pleasantly surprised. Where are you looking to go next OP, what area?
Plus my DH has been on walks and seen almost no-one (I stay home reading when he walks for hours!).

Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 31/08/2020 08:16

@georgedawes ugh. Not surprised though.

I don’t get the mindset of going somewhere because it’s nice. Then trashing it.

OP posts:
DobbyTheHouseElk · 31/08/2020 08:18

NT still pre-book, but they’ve increased the capacity per time slot. In our local place it was 57 each half hour now it’s 97 per half hour. Everyone can stay til closing so it’s so so busy now.

We aren’t going. Takes the enjoyment out of the day now.

Original poster
Hyperfish101 · 31/08/2020 08:19

I’ve been to Peak District, Scottish Borders. , Northumberland and Lake District this summer. All full. The Lakes is always busy but Northumberland is generally quiet. Not this year.

OP posts:
Medievalist · 31/08/2020 08:22

I don’t get the mindset of going somewhere because it’s nice. Then trashing it.

Me neither. Surely people go to the Lakes etc because they're so lovely. So why then make so much mess?

More than ever I'm finding it very depressing that so many people are so disgusting and ignorant.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 31/08/2020 08:23

But yes, everywhere is full of people like I’ve never seen before. I’m sure it’s down to people not going abroad.

On Saturday we had to stop in the road because there was a group of 10 or more taking selfies in the road. It’s a country road, pretty in summer, bleak in winter, but they were taking selfies. Couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Bonkers.

Little secret places are now busy, it’s so strange. I’ve never known a summer like it. Usually the holiday makers keep to the attractions, but now they are closed or pre bookable, they have invaded the little hidden places. It’s a shock to see these places full of people. The paths are getting eroded. So much footfall.

YouJustDoYou · 31/08/2020 08:23

We live on the coast in a v popular area for tourists. Locals go out very early, and come home very early, because there are one hour (minimum) queues for things like the country parks etc by 11am. It wouldn't be so bad if the fucking tourists wouldn't leave their bloody rubbish everywhere - in all the years we've lived here we've never seen people trash areas so fast and with so, so little disregard.

Medievalist · 31/08/2020 08:23

I don’t think we realised how much we owe the spanish for taking some people off our hands in the holiday period.

^^ This!

YouJustDoYou · 31/08/2020 08:24

*with so little regard

Mintjulia · 31/08/2020 08:24

I went cycling early yesterday in the lanes round north Hampshire. I kept off the main roads and it was blissfully quiet.

I saw some dog walkers and a couple of tractors. No traffic. Plenty of blackberries, pheasants. And litter Angry

DobbyTheHouseElk · 31/08/2020 08:24

@Medievalist

I don’t think we realised how much we owe the spanish for taking some people off our hands in the holiday period.

^^ This!

Yes!
Unescorted · 31/08/2020 08:24

@georgedawes

I live in the peak District and it's crazy at the minute. So much rubbish, cars parked illegally, people using the place as a toilet :(
It is grim isn't it. I love having visitors because our village economy depends on it.... but please take your rubbish with you and park considerately (a friend of ours died because the ambulance couldn't get through)

We have seen a worrying trend of people who think they can drive to a well known waterfall....that is a 3 hour walk from the nearest parking point. Our Mountain Rescue team have been out almost every day / night for weeks. They are volunteers who have to get up for their day jobs...

Kiki275 · 31/08/2020 08:25

The rubbish and blatant disregard for others and the environment is awful. Let's just hope though that they are spending money in otherwise quiet areas that rely on tourism,even if it's just a cake and a brew from the local cafe or a cone of chips.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 31/08/2020 08:29

Been to a variety of unpopular places. It wasn't jammed, or dirty. We've had massive clean beaches, pleasant walks, nice meals. We've holidayed in previous years in Snowdon and Lakes- and it was extremely busy then in a normal year.

mummmy2017 · 31/08/2020 08:30

The thing that has shocked me most is men... Not us gals but men peeing everywhere.
A friend is by the seaside, and men are going into her garden down the side of her house to pee, about 6 each day and more at night.
Do men have so little pride or control.

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