Looking to help travellers find first-class, lesser-searched spots for their summer getaways, HomeToGo – the marketplace with the world’s largest selection of holiday rentals – has released the 2023 edition of its annual guide to the UK’s most stunning under-the-radar holiday destinations: the Hidden Gem Index.
Using exclusive search data from the marketplace with the world’s largest selection of holiday homes, alongside extensive insights as to weather, activities, pubs and scenic settings, the Hidden Gem Index pinpoints picturesque and well-appointed places in the UK that have managed to stay more under-the-radar than most. While all of the small towns and villages that feature are located in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, none appear in the list of the top 1,000 most-searched locations for summer 2023 and beyond.
This year’s edition of the HomeToGo Hidden Gem Index is bigger and better than ever, featuring 50 destinations across National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty from the Cairngorms to Cornwall, and from the Causeway Coast to the coast of Norfolk. The village of Bushmills in County Antrim soared to fourth place, surpassed in the ranking by only Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds, Hathersage in the Peak District, and Bala in the Snowdonia National Park.
On the attractions of Bushmills, HomeToGo wrote: “This pretty conservation village on the coast of County Antrim may be a hidden gem, but it’s surrounded by some of the UK’s most iconic attractions. The otherworldly Giant’s Causeway is close by, and sitting within its bounds is the Old Bushmills Distillery: the oldest licensed working distillery in the world. Head to Tartine at the Distillers Arms after a day of taking in the sights for elevated dining in a cosy setting.”
Visit http://www.hometogo.co.uk/united-kingdom/countryside-breaks/#methodology for full index methodology