Scotland offers a huge choice of things to do for the holiday traveller – from oceans to mountaintops, quaint villages to bustling cities, nature to history and everything in between.

Whether you wish to stay within one city, expand to a region, or visit the entire country, Scotland has so much to see and do.

There is also a dizzying variety of accommodation available when you holiday in Scotland. Modern contemporary hotels can be found in both urban and rural parts of the country, while hostels, cosy cottages, charming B&Bs and a range of Scotland luxury lodges are also available.

Outdoor activities are very popular in Scotland and have been for generations. Being the birthplace of golf, there are many challenging courses across the country, attracting a wealth of amateurs and professionals alike.

Bird watching is a popular pastime and there are many opportunities to indulge in a spot of twitching. It’s highly likely that you will catch a glimpse of a rare species such as the capercaillie if you venture into the more rural parts of Scotland.

Other popular outdoor activities include hiking and trekking – from shorter trails to mountain peaks, the views will be spectacular. A relaxing alternative is fishing. From fly to freshwater, the Lochs and rivers of Scotland offer a great variety to satisfy any keen angler.

With its long proud history, Scotland abounds with hundreds of castles and historic sites which make great days out for the family. Through the numerous museums and visitors centres, a glimpse into life in Scotland and how it evolved throughout the ages is both educational and enlightening.

In difficult economic times holidays abroad are often seen as an unnecessary luxury. This has led to many people staying at home and taking British holidays – affectionately termed ‘Staycations’.

If you’re thinking of taking a Staycation, the following five destinations are great for holidaying in Britain, whether you plan to go as a couple or will be taking the whole family:

1) Scotland

Mountains, lochs and stunning scenery; Scotland’s dramatic landscape is a paradise for those who love everything outdoors. From golf courses to whisky trails there is a whole variety of things to do in Scotland and the best way to explore this magnificent place is to base yourself at one of the British holiday parks that are dotted throughout the country.

2) Wales

Wales is loved by holiday makers and famed for its caravan parks that attract thousands of visitors every year. There really is something for everyone in Wales, from the very beautiful Snowdonia region, to family resorts such as Rhyl or Prestatyn. The capital Cardiff is also fantastic for shopping and is steeped in history.

3) Dorset

The beachy resorts of Dorset, including Bournemouth and Poole, are incredibly popular destinations in the summer months. Bournemouth, the largest town in the county, has a glorious seven-mile sandy beach which attracts visitors from all over the country. It is also home to the world-famous Monkey World, which is a great day out for both kids and adults alike.

4) Cornwall

Cornwall is one of the UK’s most loved counties and is an incredibly popular destination for holiday makers. With over 140 beaches stretching to almost 400 miles of dramatic coastline it’s one of the worlds hottest surfing locations. It is also home to the famous Eden Project – a huge indoor wildlife exhibition set in three eye-catching biomes.

5) Norfolk

Norfolk, on the east-coast of England has mile upon mile of sandy beaches and stunning stretches of countryside. The Norfolk Broads attract a great variety of wildlife and it is a great place for bird watching – many of the country’s rare breeds nest here.

Some people like to explore and won’t go to the same place twice. However, there is something about the small, Mediterranean island of Majorca that always seems to bring us back time and time again.

Package holidays in Majorca are available from high-street travel agents and online retailers alike. Not only are they easy to find, you can usually pick up a fantastic deal, meaning you have more money to spend when you are actually there, rather than on just the flights and the hotel.

There are a number of reasons why the lure of Majorca keeps bringing us back to its sunny shores. The first, most obvious reason is its fantastic weather. Summer temperatures regularly top 30 degrees, and even out of the holiday season it enjoys mild conditions all year round. With almost guaranteed sunshine and clear, blue skies, it’s difficult to keep away.

Secondly, the flight times are very short. Considering the difference in weather conditions compared to back in Britain, it’s amazing when you think that the flight to Majorca only takes 2 hours from most international airports in the UK. This means that flying with children is relatively stress-free, making the destination great for families. It also means that you have more time to spend relaxing on the beach, rather than feeling tired after long flights.

The next point about why package holidays in Majorca keep bringing us back is about the island’s amazing beaches. There really is something for everyone here, with a mix of long, white stretches of sand, and smaller, quieter coves. A particular highlight is the Alcudia beach on the northern coast of the Island, which has an uninterrupted 7 miles of sand hugging the warm, Mediterranean Sea.

The final point is that Majorca offers something for everyone. With a range of self-catering, Bed and Breakfast and all-inclusive hotels and accommodation available across the island, it is easy to find a holiday to suit you. With some parts of the island, namely Maguluf and Palma Nova, attracting a younger crowd of party animals, and areas like Alcudia or Port de Pollenca which cater more to families, everyone will be pleased with what is on offer to them.

The southern half of Majorca is known for its great beaches, amazing weather and somewhat pulsating nightlife. It’s somewhere that attracts thousands and thousands of British visitors every single year. There are also a number of fantastic attractions that help bring people back again and again.

In this article we look at five of the very best attractions the south of this Spanish, Mediterranean island has to offer, when you decide to take your holidays to Majorca:

1) Pirates Adventure - This amazing display of gymnastics and acrobatics tells a story of four pirates, with the aim of as much audience involvement as possible. The evening shows, only for over 18’s are particularly special, where drinks are available all night. Guests sit together on large tables enjoying the show, while the pirate staff provides you with pitchers of beers, cocktails and bottles of bubbly, making it an evening you won’t forget in a hurry.

2) Aqualand – The biggest water park in Europe will provide small and big kids alike with hours of fun. With huge water flumes, slides and massive pools, it’s likely that they will want to come back for a second day. It’s recommended that you book online to find the best price deals. Many of the hotels that offer all inclusive holidays to Majorca that also include discounts on admission fees to the park.

3) Palma City – A Majorca holiday isn’t entirely complete unless you pay a visit to the Island’s capital of Palma. The fantastic, historic city is full of culture, wonderful buildings as well as an array of shops, bars and cafe’s to help you really unwind. Try taking a horse-drawn carriage tour around the old parts of the city – you can usually barter the price for one of these tours to pick up a good deal.

4) BCM – One of the most famous nightclubs in Europe, BCM has a special event booked most nights throughout the summer season. Famous DJ’s including Tiesto, Judge Jules, DJ Sammy, Calvin Harris and David Guetta have all regularly taken to the stage in this huge club, which has one of the most exciting laser light shows in the world.

5) Fantasia Golf – There are many crazy golf courses on the island of Majorca, but the Fantasia Golf course in Palma Nova is easily the best. Three separate 18-hole course make up this huge area, which is surrounded by waterfalls, caves, lakes and pond-life. The Fantasia golf course is sure to provide hours of fun for the whole family.

Fed up with the miserable autumn weather? Regretting that summer?”

Luckily, there is no end of cheap holidays to warm, foreign locations in the autumn and winter months.

How about taking a trip to Bulgaria? While the winters are cold enough for skiing, the summers are a lot hotter than at home – which means warm summery autumn months, and cheap holidays on the Black Sea coast. Bourgas, near the Turkish border, is still hot enough for a suntan in December.

Turkey, with its Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines, is a popular winter sun destination. This is especially true of the Dalaman region, which enjoys short winters of 17 – 20oC and virtually no rainfall. With an average of 6 hours sunshine a day, cheap holidays can be booked in resorts like Marmaris and Icmelor. Alternatively, try Bodrum, which sits squarely on the Med. While the Bodrum region as a whole experiences cool temperatures between November and March, the Bodrum resort is a little sun trap, with temperatures averaging 15 – 18oC in winter.

When it comes to cheap holidays, the Mediterranean is particularly good value. Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete are warm enough for winter sunbathing. Choose from mainland resorts like Benidorm and Alicante, or Balearic islands like Majorca and Ibiza (which is a lot quieter once the clubs close for winter). Spain’s other islands, the Canaries, are located just off the North African coast, offering warm sandy beaches backed by a fascinating volcanic landscape.

North Africa means cheap winter holidays in Tunisia and Morocco. But top choice is the Egyptian Red Sea. Too hot for British skins in summer, the autumn and winter months see the resorts fill up with UK families – all taking advantage of cheap holidays in luxury resorts. The Caribbean is another option. Whether you cruise or fly, you’ll find cheap holidays in destinations like Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic; perfect for a Christmas holiday away from home.

Fuerteventura is the second largest island in the Canaries, and also the oldest. Located just 100 km from the North African coast, Fuerteventura holidays can be booked throughout the year, introducing you to an island that is as exciting and vibrant as it is enigmatic and mysterious. With black volcanic beaches, spectacular caverns, a surreal, lunar landscape and a cultural history spanning 12,000 years, cheap holidays to Fuerteventura offer you far more than just hotels, beaches and year-round sunshine.

Fuerteventura burst from the ocean in three volcanic explosions, over 20 million years ago. At one time the volcano Betancuria was over 3000 feet high, now eroded to just a few hundred. However, this dramatic arrival left a spectacular legacy. Fuerteventura holidays should always include a visit to the Cuevo de Lllanos, or Cave of the Plain. Created over a million years ago from a cooling lava pipe, the 640 metre cavern is studded with dead fossils and home to one living one: a sightless spider found nowhere else on earth. 10,000 years ago human occupants lived here too, yet the cave itself remains something of an enigma. Seemingly, there is no volcano it could have erupted from …

Puerto de Rosario is today the island’s capital. However, Fuerteventura holidays aren’t complete without seeing the original one: Bentacuria. Founded in 1404 before being abandoned after repeated pirate attacks, its architecture is like a page from history. The island was first mentioned by Homer, and has been occupied by the Phoenicians, Portuguese, and, latterly the Spanish – aided by British tourists, who began arriving in 1964. The most recent historical event was the ocean liner SS America, who sank off the coast in 1994 on her way to a refit.

The trade winds and Atlantic swells make the island a magnet for sailing enthusiasts, who can race the waves with marlin, dolphins, whales and even turtles. Exercise junkies, meanwhile, seek out cheap holidays at the sports resorts – where fitness TV stars regularly film their shows.

Majorcan resorts have everything for a perfect holiday by the sea: golden beaches with warm swimming waters, snorkelling, sea caves, marine parks, boat trips and aquariums – including the deepest one in Europe. Majorca holidays revolve around the sea – and the life that lives under it.

Majorca is blessed with a wide diversity of marine life, which can only be appreciated at close quarters. Practically every resort has snorkelling and diving facilities, but if you don’t fancy going underwater you can book a trip on a glass bottom boat. These take you to Majorca’s fantastic marine parks, showing you a tantalising view of the sea-grasses, corals, jellyfish and other undersea inhabitants. Wherever you book your Majorca holiday, you can be sure there will be a glass-bottom boat trip nearby.

The value-packed resort of Magaluf goes one better, with Underwater Safaris in the Nemo submarine. A 20-minute boat trip is followed by 50 minutes out at sea, diving up to 20 metres to see ship-wrecks, schools of jewelled fish, and forests of sea anemones. There’s even a dive show where frogmen feed the fish while you watch from inside.

Back on dry land, Magaluf’s other watery attraction, Marineland, is the largest of several such aquatic centres. As well as dolphin and sea lion shows, there’s a large aquarium showing the local marine life. Better still is the Palma Aquarium – actually 55 aquariums, plus a zoological park. Big Blue, Europe’s deepest aquarium, houses over 200 species – including some fearsome looking sharks.

However, if you want to get really up close and personal, book your Majorca holidays near one of the island’s marine reserves and get some diving tuition. The Cala Ratjada, Palma Bay, Illa del Toro, Cape Salinas and Cabrera Llevante reserves are just some of Majorca’s prime diving sites. After a few lessons, you will be entering a magical world of caverns, tunnels and shipwrecks, inhabited by Moray eels, barracudas – and even the occasional mermaid, if you visit Islas Margrats.

If you want cheap holidays steeped in beauty and cultural attractions, why not your book holidays to Dalaman. The gateway to some of Turkey’s largest and most popular resorts, it boasts a spectacular coastline, fabulous mountain scenery, year-round sunshine and a rich cultural heritage. With fantastic beaches and a wide range of land and water sports, Dalaman appeals to all ages.

Dalaman is the gateway to Aegean resorts such as Fethiye and Olu Deniz, to the south, and Mediterranean hotspots like Marmaris and Dalyan, to the north. Although the airport city of Dalaman is mainly seen as a transit point, it is also an attractive resort in its own right. The Dalaman River offers excellent opportunities for white water rafting, while the attractive beaches of Gocek Bay are just 8 km from the airport.

Dalaman brings you to an area of almost unimaginable scenic beauty. Marmaris, Datça, Dalyan, Sarıgerme, Fethiye, Ölü Deniz, Kalkan and Kaş are among the most beautiful resorts in Turkey, combining stunning bays and beaches with spectacular scenery.

The Lycian, Roman and Ottoman Empires have all left their mark, making Dalaman a cultural magnet. Explore fascinating Lycian rock graves at Göcek, Şerefler, Bozbel, Dalyan, Dalaman and Fethiye, or see the Cleopatra Baths at Kapıdağı. Visit the ancient cities of Hippokome and Telmessos, in Dalaman and Fethiye – more can be found at Kaunos, Tlos, Letonya, Datça and Xanthos. The area also has a number of mediaeval attractions, such as the Karaağaç Monastery.

Dalaman’s picturesque harbour towns of Fethiye and Turunc mean an endless supply of Mediterranean seafood restaurants, while at ancient Dalyan you can see rare sea turtles and other marine life. Marmaris offers cheap holidays in a vibrant, party resort atmosphere, while neighbouring Icmelor offers tranquil coves and stunning mountain scenery. Olu Deniz, on the Aegean coast, is probably Dalaman’s most photographed resort, with a stunning lagoon backed by swathes of pine forested hills.

The largest of the Canary Islands, the volcanic island of Tenerife is just 300 km off the coast of Africa. Renowned for its cheap holidays and pleasant climate, Tenerife is dominated by the Mount Teide Volcano – the third largest in the world. With fantastic forests, arid deserts, and beaches of black volcanic sand, holidays to Tenerife offer a truly unique experience.

When to go

Tenerife experiences temperatures ranging from 24ºC in the summer months, to 15 ºC in the winter. Tempered by the Trade Winds, and with little climate variability, it’s the perfect year-round holiday destination. The island’s unique localised microclimate system means that those booking holidays to Tenerife in winter can enjoy swimming and sunbathing on the beach, before riding the cable car to the snow topped summit of Mt Teide.

In February, Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz, hosts the world’s second largest carnival. This historic city is where the first shots of the Spanish Civil War were fired, but it also has broad sandy beaches, shops, restaurants and cultural attractions. To the south, the mysterious Pirámides de Güímar, ancient step pyramids of uncertain origin.

Best beaches

The volcanic nature of the island means the beaches tend to be black shingle, interspersed with imported golden sand. Los Gigantes, named for its towering cliffs, is a popular resort close to the scenic Teno Mountains.

Playa Las Americas, Tenerife’s biggest resort, has cheap holidays to suit all ages, with sandy beaches, water sports, nightclubs and bars. However, families prefer the soft yellow sand and quieter ambience of the Costa Adeje resorts like Fanabe and Los Cristianos. Holidays to Tenerife’s Golf de Sur golf resort are popular with older travellers. Historic Puerto de la Cruz offers colonial buildings, guided walks, botanical gardens and a zoo. As with all holidays to Tenerife, the forests and lunar landscape of Teide National Park are never far away.

It’s one of the most popular and accessible resorts in Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh offer excellent value for money, particularly during the autumn and winter months. Sharm’s sparkling clear waters and wealth of marine life have led to it becoming known as the Diving Capital of the World. However, the beaches, excursions, entertainment and nightlife make holidays to Sharm el Sheikh the perfect choice for anyone wanting a winter holiday by the sun-drenched Red Sea.

Located on the Sinai Peninsula, between the “horns” of the Gulf of Suez and Aqaba, Sharm enjoys year-round sunshine. With temperatures hitting 35oC or more in the summer months, UK families generally book out-of-season cheap holidays between late autumn and early Spring. With 5 – 6 hour flight times, 15 minute airport transfers and temperatures averaging 22oC even in the depths of winter, it’s one of the leading destinations for winter sun vacations.

If you are looking for Egypt holidays in a cheerful, bustling resort packed with restaurants, shops and entertainment, then Sharm El Sheikh is for you. If you want a quieter, more authentic experience, you can take a trip to one of its neighbouring resorts of Dahab and Nuweiba, which have retained more of their Bedouin roots and are close to cultural sites like St Katherine’s Monastery, Mount Moses, and Abu Galum village. You can also explore the desert by camel or jeep safari. While you may feel Egypt holidays aren’t complete without seeing the Pyramids, be aware that, while excursions are available, it’s a round trip of about 300 miles.

One main reason people book holidays to Sharm el Sheikh is for the coral reefs and beaches. The best diving in the area will be found at the scenic Ras Mohammed National Park, which also has fantastic desert and mountain scenery. Even if you don’t want to swim underwater, you can still explore the reefs and marine parks on a glass-bottom boat trip – available from most resort areas. For sunbathing, sand castles and gentle swimming, Na’ama Beach is central for the shops, hotels and tourist amenities.