There are few places quite as wild as Scotland for a winter cabin fever tonic. All in all, Scotland celebrates an open door policy, revealing a truly wild world where eagles soar, deer roam and snow-dusted mountains beckon.

It's not easy to know what sort of Christmastime getaway will be possible this year, but we're keeping a close eye on restrictions so you don't have to. Here are our best bets for a winter break based on what we currently know, and a few ideas for spring.

Here at Byway we are all about helping you get away from the norm, exploring the ‘other’ and, if you’re staying close to home, seeking out UK staycations that are natural nirvanas. Here are some of our favourite UK holiday destinations, with slow journeys through spectacular places many of which are well off the beaten track.

Slow travel is, some might say ironically, fast becoming the way to go. By opting for trains, buses, bikes, ferries or even your own two feet for a holiday, you are joining a rapidly growing group of people who not only want to reduce their carbon footprint but also slow down and experience the journey as part of their holiday.

Among the towns, cities and villages that make up the south west of England, there are hundreds – probably thousands – of fascinating places to visit, brilliant and creative people to meet, and divine local produce to sample. 

We’re big fans of Cornwall at Byway and can’t resist the stunning coastline scattered with endless wide sweeping beaches and pretty fishing harbours. Here we’ve chosen a few of our favourite secret spots to share with you.

We are delighted to announce that we are now a member of ABTA, the UK's largest and most trusted travel industry trade body. With our ABTA membership and bond, we can now offer you fully protected package holidays, including accommodation. This means our holidays now include delightful handpicked places to stay as standard 🙌

This September, Rob and Catherine went on a walking weekend to the wild Yorkshire Moors. Enjoying slow travel, they stopped in London and York on the way, before spending two nights tucked away in the countryside in a cosy shepherd’s hut.

Last week, Lizzie from our operations team travelled north from London to work remotely from the west coast of Scotland near the Isle of Mull, discovering the joys of the half-holiday.

Byway customers Megan and Scott share their slow travel adventure in the Scottish Highlands, which took them along the West Highland Line to the Isle of Mull, Loch Lomond, Oban, Fort William, and the sweeping Isle of Skye.