Seasonal Newsletter

WELCOME TO OUR SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2026

Follow the sun…

“Summer afternoon – summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.”

So wrote Henry James. We’ll most certainly go along with that. They evoke so much. A shady, woodland walk. A long-promised dip in the sea. A riverside picnic. A warm breeze. A tea on the lawn. A snooze in a hammock. A sun at its hottest. A balmy evening. A riot of garden colour.

Then, fine words and thoughts aside, it’s ‘up and at ‘em’, exploring or re-discovering England, Scotland and Wales, visiting those places we’ve boasted about to foreign visitors but not seen ourselves.

Let’s follow the sun to the Yorkshire Dales, Stonehenge, Leeds Castle, the Broads and the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge. And also Edinburgh Castle and the Highlands, Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons.

Scotland has more than 30,000 lochs and lochans (lakes). Some, like lochs Ness and Lomond, are large. Some, like lochs Drunkie and Gamhna, are small; and some, including Loch Morar and Lochan a’ Chladheimh, are mysterious…and difficult to spell! Walking the stunning coastline is an adventure. The Moray Coastal Trail is one of the best. And the beaches, with their land yachting, sand castling, sea birding and rock pooling, are world renowned. See (www.visitscotland.com).

Wales celebrates five amazing National Landscapes (formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The magnificent Anglesey coast; the Gower Peninsula; the Llŷn Peninsula; the Clwydian Range and the Dee Valley and the Wye Valley are a stunning reflection of Wales’ finest hills, valleys, coastline and islands. The Wales Way offers another opportunity to see the country at its best, via The Coastal Way, The Cambrian Way and The North Wales Way. And there are those 600 castles! See (www.visitwales.com).

Let’s look in on England’s regions. The north-east boasts the York Vikings, Durham’s fairy-tale castle and the Yorkshire Dales.

The south-west has the honeyed Cotswolds, rugged Cornwall and elegant Bath. The east wants to share Constable Country, the Broads and Cambridge’s colleges.

The north-west has Blackpool rock, the Lakes and Roman Chester. Central England enjoys Lincoln Cathedral, the Peaks and Robin Hood Country.

The south-east offers Brighton Pier, the New Forest and Oxford’s spires. See (www.visitengland.com).

It’s so easy to find first-rate places to stay and enjoy the British summer. Use our website and brochure of bed and breakfast accommodation and self-catering cottages – The Little Green Book.

All the B&Bs and cottages have been specially selected to ensure high quality. They range from country cottages to town houses, manor houses to farm houses – all offering a warm welcome and good value. The hosts are all keen to promote their part of the country and suggest fun days out and the easiest way to get there.

Some more ideas…

July

• 2 – 5 Jul – Formula 1 British Grand Prix
• 3 – 5 Jul – The Scottish Game Fair
• 3 – 5 Jul – Kent County Show
• 4 – 5 Jul – The Cotswold Show
• 4 – 5 Jul – Dorset Seafood Festival
• 8 – 12 Jul – RHS Badminton Flower Show 
• 9 – 12 Jul – Goodwood Festival of Speed
• 11 Jul – Leeds Castle Concert
• 11 Jul – Newport Show
• 12 Jul – Pontefract Liquorice Festival 
• 12 – 19 Jul – The Open, Royal Birkdale
• 14 – 17 Jul – The Great Yorkshire Show
• 17 – 19 Jul – The Royal International Air Tattoo
• 17 – 26 Jul – Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival
• 20 – 23 Jul – The Royal Welsh Show  
• 23 – 26 Jul – Latitude Festival
• 23 – 26 Jul – WOMAD Festival
• 24 – 26 Jul – Bug Jam Festival 39 
• 24 – 26 Jul – The Game Fair 
• 28 – 30 Jul – New Forest Show
• 31 Jul – 7 Aug – Sidmouth Folk Festival

August

• 1 Aug – Tenbury Countryside Show
• 1 – 2 Aug – Seaham Food Festival
• 1 – 7 Aug – Cowes Week Bicentenary Regatta
• 1 – 8 Aug – National Eisteddfod
• 2 Aug – Bridge of Allan Highland Games
• 7 – 9 Aug – Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
• 7 – 29 Aug – The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
• 7 – 31 Aug – Edinburgh Fringe Festival
• 8 – 10 Aug – Whitby Regatta
• 13 – 16 Aug – Eastbourne Airshow
• 13 – 19 Aug – 79th Edinburgh International Film Festival
• 15 Aug – Stirling Highland Games
• 15 – 16 Aug – Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
• 15 – 30 Aug – Edinburgh International Book Festival
• 20 – 23 Aug – The Southport Flower Show
• 20 – 23 Aug – The Green Man Festival
• 21 – 23 Aug – Just SO Festival 
• 22 – 28 Aug – Whitby Folk Week
• 26 Aug – Egton Horse & Agricultural Show
• 26 – 29 Aug – Dartmouth Royal Regatta
• 27 Aug – Bucks County Show
• 27 – 28 Aug – Clacton on Sea Airshow
• 29 – 31 Aug – England’s Medieval Festival

Plenty more in our Days Out Diary

See details of how to receive our brochure – The Little Green Book

Happy travelling!

Sue Opperman and The Team at:

Bed and Breakfast Nationwide

PO Box 10894

Frinton-on-Sea

Essex

CO13 3AN

T:   +44 (0) 1255 672377

E:   office@bbnationwide.co.uk

W:  bedandbreakfastnationwide.com