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Am in a real quandary about this one. I’m lucky enough to live by the beach in Cornwall, I’ll keep myself away from people out on my surf ski or paddle board. We have one hospital which is already at crisis point. I’m concerned about lots of people arriving to holiday/isolate in an area with an aged population. I’m exposed enough as a secondary teacher but others I know are keeping away from others on the beach. This is especially concerning with people coming in from London where according to the chief science and medical officers the population has greater exposure already. The earlier poster nailed it describing how large scale movement will affect the accuracy of the modelling. There was a rumour a couple of weeks ago of shops in Polzeath closing due to a city gent coming down to self isolate and visiting the shops.
It is clear that the advice about not making unnecessary journeys should include holidays. They are not essential, they are desirable. However I have lots of friends who’s livelihoods depend on tourists arriving, hence the quandary I find myself in.
Not sure I’ve added to the discussion!
On the point about people moving around and predicted demand on services...
Are services in tourist areas not already designed to cope with an influx for parts of the year?
So if, for example, nobody goes to Cornwall, there will be over capacity there and under capacity in the areas where the non-holidaymakers have stayed at home?
Hope that makes sense.
mariner
Member
Plan is to find many more small anchorages throughout the Hebrides.If you don’t already know it may I recommend Leaves From Rowan’s Log?
A Glasgow surgeon and family go sailing I think in 1920s. Lots of small anchorages listed.Just checked prices online. Wish I still had my copy.
True story. That was written by my great grandfather Dr R Carslaw. I only found out when my mum bought me a copy ten years ago when I coincidentally named my son Rowan. She was born in Helensburgh into a long line of sea-going folk. I now live in Oxford - the place the UK just about the furthest from any coast!
Services in Cornwall aren’t even scaled for the people living here let alone for the influx!! Treliske Hospital is the only major hospital and is constantly in crisis despite their dedicated staff. So no there won’t be over capacity!
Are services in tourist areas not already designed to cope with an influx for parts of the year?
To an extent, yes. Belford Hospital in Fort William deals with all the holidaymakers who get leg injuries skiing, climbers falling off etc. Aviemore has a (unique?) GP practice with some overnight beds for much the same reason. However, rural locations tend not to have the same facilities as large urban or regional hospitals to deal with the longer-term sick and that would be very relevant for the likes of ITU, ventilators etc.
Our ski holiday next week is cancelled. Toying with taking the campervan to wales and riding. In 2 minds. Go as we will be not near very many people or dont go
Got a 4 night break in Snowdonia planned for mid-April, one hotel for a night can be cancelled up until a week before with a full refund, the other 3 nights have been secured with a £50 deposit so barely any loss if I do have to cancel.
Also got a trip planned mid may - already booked, and another end of May - Dartmoor and Wales again.
Self isolation, WFH, lockdown, all I can cope with. But I've been planning this years MTB trips for bloody ages!!! 🙁
Unfortunately they're all 'group' guided trips or staying in places with other MTB'ers so pretty hard to avoid contact. But we shall see.
I am intending to go both backpacking and bike packing trips in the spring. As things stand I still plan to do both trips but will assess again nearer the time
However be will be wild camping and not using public transport
We’d also been planning some time away in the campervan – again, partly to help struggling businesses in other areas – but don’t know if that’s now sensible and, if we do, are more likely to self-isolate anyway.
We booked a week’s camping for September last night, if things have calmed down a bit in this country then I imagine UK holiday accommodation will be at a premium later in the year (if international travel is still advised against and the UK industry has survived).
Yep, this was the first year I had planned a proper credit card tour (for September) which I was really looking forward to but which is dependant on some fairly remote hotels etc. Think I'll book now, only one of them has a policy of keeping some of the deposit (I think, the lady on the phone wasn't clear) so I should only be out £50 or so if it goes wrong. Or I could man up and unearth all the camping gear again but I had been looking forward to some longer distances and easier climbs on a light bike!
I've a fair few hols booked, apart from a week in Holland in July, which I'm pretty sure won't happen, Arran, Mull, Belfast, I'm quite happy for the places booked to keep the cash and defer to a later date.
Tough times.
We have some close friends who live in the states and their daughter is due to get married in Warwickshire in the middle of June at a lovely barn conversion.
Venue is paid for, deposits for catering dj's etc, hotels booked and flights paid for.
They messaged last night and they still think it will go ahead!!!
Got a week at a YHA in the Peak with all the family at Easter. Paid in full already, I've written that off there's no way we'll be going. The chance of getting through a week with 3 little ones without at least one of us developing a fever / cough is slim to nil.
Summer holiday is in the UK, deposit paid with the balance in July. Ironically it's part of a 70th birthday celebration! Looking suspect at the moment but we'll wait and see.
BJ mentioned non essential travel the other day but can’t find it in official advice except for commuting and using public transport. It does say to minimise contact with friends and family though. We are due in Saunton Sands (from Plymouth) over the Easter bank holiday with extended family in a chalet. Can’t see us going for any number of social distancing reasons especially as my Wife is a front line nurse.
We have a cottage booked for mid June in Nairn. Still planning to go. I rate the risk of infection from the occupants the previous week as low. Certainly less thasn the risk I will take between now and then at work ( involves going in and out of hospitals though not frontline and sitting in cars with various other workers) and in normal living like shopping etc. My wife works in a shop which at present remains open so also in daily contact with the public. If we both haven't had the virus by then the risk can't be that high. Most likely we will have had it and recovered as we are both under 60 with no serious underlying health issues. Our son thinks he has it already. He lives in Cambridge and suspects e caught from a workmate with an Italian girlfriend who returned from Italy recently but who knows?)
Hopefully the peak will be past in 3 months anyway.
Obviously should either of us develop symptoms in the previous week or two we wouldn't go. Hopefully the lock down will have been relaxed by then, if not hillwailking and beach walks with the dog will work.
Our three hols (Easter, Whit and summer) are all in the caravan, but can't help thinking sites will shut if this thing progresses. There's part of me wants to go, those areas and businesses will need money as certainly all the overseas tourists won't be going to the Lakes this year.
@gobuchul - do you think the town will be effectively shut down for Easter?
We're supposed to be staying at Annstead Farm in our campervan. I guess in the absence of direct action it's hard for businesses to preemptively close and turn away revenue.
Anyone got a view on CalMac? I'm guessing our trip to Uist in June won't happen also
CalMac? Surely will keep running. The islanders need to eat/get fuel delivered etc. Worst case scenario IMO is reduced frequency and booking needed for cars.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-51937753
Worth a read - applies to holiday cottages just as much as second homes.
ElShalimo
Member
@gobuchul – do you think the town will be effectively shut down for Easter?
At the moment it's business as usual.
However, I think it will be like everywhere else and the pubs and restaurants will be closed soon.
It's going to be disastrous for the village. Apart from farming and a handful of lobster boats, it depends completely on tourism.
Only they could manage to rob you before you’ve even set foot in the place.
Not just them. Currently, it's not possible to get a refund on Eurotunnel standard tickets, even though it's illegal for me to go to France.
I am having the same debate about daytrips from Perth to Fort William to ski at Nevis.
Last season, Cairngorm funicular debacle meant no skiing despite having bought a season pass.
This season, initially no snow, then loads, but run of poor weather weekends. This is likely to be the first "nice" weekend.
In addition, French ski trip cancelled.
Have just booked our September trip, most places offering free cancellation anyway and those that wouldn't normally (Glenelg Inn) are currently not taking deposits as obviously they understand the current scenario.
Generally positive vibes on phone, was worried for Glenelg Inn especially but they can obviously afford to close for a week or two to ride it out.
At this moment and time the biggest issue might be the train journey to our start/finish point, desperate times if we're still advised against public transport by September...
My query about CalMac is that they could cancel tourist bookings if instructed to. We've got a cottage booked.
Any indications that this could happen?
Letting agent has told us that there is no chance of a refund or change of dates.
Ruda in Croyde have emailed to say it's business as usual for our 3 days away next weekend.
Worth a read – applies to holiday cottages just as much as second homes.
Hmm. I can almost see their point - but we pay 150% council tax yet use about 10% of the resources so I think trying to stop people going to their own homes is a bit much.
Plus Easter is an important time for the vast majority of tourism fed businesses in these locations...
@highlandman I'm ashamed to say that panic buying has broken out in Lochaber too, so while you will probably be able to get what you need it might mean visiting several shops.
Not just them. Currently, it’s not possible to get a refund on Eurotunnel standard tickets, even though it’s illegal for me to go to France.
Easyjet can trump that, after an hour long call, they just tried to charge me £40 to cancel my flights (there isn't a button on the website to do it - I guess because I checked in 3 weeks ago). No refund, I just have to pay an extra £40. My insurance won't pay out unless I have proof of cancellation. Lols.
On the flip side, we just (this morning) booked a week in a house in Devon for 2 weeks time. Middle of no-where, can fill the car with enough food for the week and hang out as a group of mates watching the world go to shit. Fully flexible, so we can get a refund up to the day before. Half the economic issues are going to be caused by folks not going around their regular business when they otherwise could, I see no reason not to go at the moment
Mister P.... Did Ruda send a corona virus specific email?
I'm off down there on Friday but hadn't heard a thing so rang them today. Was also told that at the moment things were staying as normal. I'm presuming the club house and swimming pool will be shut but that doesn't make any difference to me as I'll be on my own in the caravan anyway. It might seem unreasonable but I want to go to chill out in the sea and get away from the mass hysteria for a couple of days. It'll still be here when I get back.
A couple of points here, based on what I've seen in the Spanish media:
* When the shit hit the fan and the lockdown was imminent a whole load of people hurried out of Madrid and down to their second homes by the coast. End result: Madrid was a virus hotspot, now the coast has it too 🙄
* I considered going, and thank god I didn't. I've got a small flat near the coast, and it's lovely when the weather's nice. And you're allowed on the beach. Or out of your flat, even. If the UK does go to full lockdown (and who knows?) where would you rather be, in your comfortable large house with a garden, or a small holiday cottage served by a tiny local shop with possible supply problems? (I'm exagerrating here for effect, of course, but it's something to consider).
Not quite a holiday, but we're in the process of selling our house and hoping to self-build in Scotland. I'm hoping that the lock-down is delayed for another week or two to give me a chance to scout-out some plots and maybe getting the buying process underway - even just to park our campervan up in our own plot and while away the summer.
According to some of the local FB groups, they're wary of incomers bringing the virus to the islands because they have little medical support, but at the same time it'll be difficult for many businesses because they're totally reliant on tourism.
Worth a read – applies to holiday cottages just as much as second homes.
Not sure it does. Second homes have lower occupancy in summer than holiday cottages. Holiday cottages are generally full during summer anyway so no change. Most people (me anyway) would cut short a week long cottage holiday if anyone fell ill and head home to use my own GP anyway. In fact as my GP has gone to telephone consultations only we could start the process before driving home.
As a matter of interest I checked the website for the cottage we have booked in June. Still fully boooked until late August at the moment.
Wow. Why are so many people finding it difficult to understand the very clear guidance to avoid non-essential travel? Travelling for a holiday is not essential. Ever. It doesn’t matter a jot if you think you will keep yourself to yourself and just stick to the beach or whatever. By travelling you risk transferring C19 from one bubble of the population to another. You put the population at the holiday location at risk as well as your local population when you return. And anyone else you come into contact with (or leave the virus for) during the journey there and back.
What if one of your party goes ill while away?? Or during the journey.
The simulations at this LINK give a simplified idea as to why the Government are asking people not to travel. By travelling you are one of the people moving the UK from the 4th simulation (Maximum social distancing) to the 3rd simulation (lesser social distancing). That means more people will die and more will die quicker, meaning the NHS will struggle to cope. So yet more die.
It’s not difficult. Don’t be a dick selfish. ‘Holiday’ at home and do your bit to stop transferring the virus. The economy will recover but the dead won’t return. Just think, one of the dead could be a member of your family or a friend.
IMO the Government will take direct action if people ignore the very clear guidance not to travel. France and Italy are proof of that.
Letting company won't let us move dates. Is it just me that thinks that's a bit unfair?
Is there actually any guidance not to travel within the uk? I cant find any on the government website
Where were you staying geomickb? We were booked into Glengorm estate, leaving it until the weekend to see what's happening.
Btw I can only agree with what ginkster is saying, we can only be days away from enforced essential travel. Not sure why people are thinking otherwise.
By travelling you are one of the people moving the UK from the 4th simulation (Maximum social distancing) to the 3rd simulation (lesser social distancing). That means more people will die and more will die quicker, meaning the NHS will struggle to cope. So yet more die.
Not convinced. The only people I need to come into contact with are shop staff. Just like being at home. In three months time the virus will be present in the population throughout the UK so I don't believe travel within the UK in three months time, in the absence of increased social contact, will increase the virus transmission. In fact by taking holiday time I am reducing social contact as I would otherwise be at work in contact with numerous random people every day.
Is there actually any guidance not to travel within the uk? I cant find any on the government website
The only guidance I can find there is (a) not to travel aboard and (b) avoid non-essential use of public transport (c) Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology (d) follow these measures as much as is pragmatic
I'm going we'll get more clarity in next month or so
I live in the Highlands - please don't come. Flipside, there is an outbreak in Dervaig, we may get you.
I also live in the Highlands. Other opiniins are available.
Me three. And it’s already here.
I'm really conflicted by this. Clearly some towns rely on tourism, they need supporting, we should go there and spend money whilst having a great time. Conversely, if germ-spreading holiday makers turn up it could cause problems for healthcare provision locally.
Do you think letting companies will be offering deep clean services to cottage owners?
Do you think letting companies will be offering deep clean services to cottage owners?
Some already are
Not convinced. The only people I need to come into contact with are shop staff. Just like being at home. In three months time the virus will be present in the population throughout the UK so I don’t believe travel within the UK in three months time, in the absence of increased social contact, will increase the virus transmission. In fact by taking holiday time I am reducing social contact as I would otherwise be at work in contact with numerous random people every day.
Who knows what the situation will be like in 3 months time? It is pretty much a day at a time at the moment! If the government’s plan to flatten the curve works we will possibly be at the peak so yes, maybe your trip won’t add much to the risk. But we are not there yet and trips in the next few weeks (Easter hols included) certainly do add to the transmission rate and undermine the attempt to flatten the peak and reduce the risk of swamping the NHS.
If people can go on holiday and have minimal/no contact why can’t they at home? Instead, take your time off work, have a staycation and minimise your exposure. A win, win that does your bit to help the big plan. I really hope things will have eased in 3+ months time as I have a holiday booked in Scotland. Looking at how other countries are coping I am not hopeful! My Easter trip away is not happening now, instead I will be doing all those jobs at home that I never have time for and spending some proper time with the family. Unless I get called up at work!