Where possible this year I’m taking the pressure off. Maybe we’ve learned to live like that the past couple of years but I’m all for it. If you do things because you want to not because you have to I think it’s half the mental battle. So I could sit and say my ‘goals for this year’ or what I want to achieve, but honestly they’re a bit boring which is why I’ve not bothered. So instead here’s my bucket list for 2022, the things I just want to do.

Visit the Cotswolds 

I’ve never been to the Cotswolds and I’m desperate to which is why this is top of the list. Some of my favourite accounts to follow are some girls who live down there and it just looks fabulous. We’ve always gone to the Lakes just because it’s so easy to reach, and the four/five hour drive has always put me off. 

Previously if I had to take that long to get somewhere I’d have always preferred to jump on a flight. The last two years has definitely changed that, and it’s all about making the most of weekends and annual leave. There’s some good bank holidays to make the most of this year too. I’m very much enjoying doing my research and I’ve narrowed it down to a few places.

Stay at Hallow & Crux

Every year we watch all the Harry Potter films over the Christmas break, and this year as we were mid ‘Goblet of Fire’ I was researching somewhere to stay up in Alnwick for a friends wedding in spring. Hallow & Crux appeared and that was it, we were booked.

We obviously have friends up in Amble and Warkworth who go to Alnwick all the time, but I hadn’t been for years until a few weeks ago when we were at the caravan. I’m looking forward to returning when it’s not quite so gloomy, although it did really set the tone for a Harry Potter themed stay. 

See more of Northumberland

We have been to and done a LOT in Northumberland the past couple of years, but there’s still so much to see and do. I loved our visit to Beadnell and Bamburgh, and had some great days out to Hadrians Wall last year too. Very lucky to have it all so close by.

Go on a Greek holiday

I don’t know about you but I need a proper sunny summer holiday. The kind you lie in the sun all day and eat good food and drink cocktails at night. Pre pandemic I was ready for a holiday like this anyway, as everything Id done for years was so fast paced. Even our holiday to Italy was pretty active. 

Greece/Cyprus was somewhere I went every year as a child and I really want to go back. I’ve been to Santorini and truthfully wouldn’t go back. I really want to go to a couple of lesser known islands, but I’d narrowed down to two hotels in Crete by this time in 2020 and well, we know what happened next. 

I’m going to have another look but definitely keep those two in mind, at this point I’m not even against all inclusive- as long as it’s good. It could go either way, a small boutique place somewhere small, or a luxury resort. 

Get back to Amsterdam 

During the days of lockdown Amsterdam was somewhere I really missed, probably because it’s worth a trip regardless of what time of year it is. It felt like home away from home for a long time, as did Copenhagen. I have a lot of KLM air miles sat waiting to be spent from those days, and it’s so easy to get there on such a short flight I literally just need to pick a date. 

Read all my past Amsterdam blogs here, couldn’t recommend more for a city break.

Do a Christmas Market… or New York

I’m torn about a Christmas trip, all I know is that I will be doing one. I was very annoyed at myself in December when so many people were off to New York, and I wasn’t. (Here’s my 5 day itinerary if you’re going this year). I also really missed the European city breaks at Christmas time, they’re just something else. I’d love to take Kieran to Copenhagen too, so I think this wherever we end up will just come down to the cost at the time.  

Stay at South Causey Inn

In one of those fabulous hot tub rooms that also allow dogs. Every time I find a suitable date to do this in our calendar they’re fully booked, so hoping this year I manage to find one.

Go glamping somewhere different 

I loved both of our glamping trips last year, and would like to do it again this year. As much as I adored the Shepherd Hut at Beadnell with the hot tub and private garden last summer, I was very pleasantly surprised by a much colder Autumn trip to Cheviot Glamping over Halloween weekend. 

It’s definitely made me consider it in the colder months as long as you choose the right type of place – preferably with a view, a pub nearby and a cosy log burner. 

Sunday Lunch at William de Percy Inn and the Red Lion in Alnmouth

I saw the William de Percy Inn shared by Rachel of life_in_geordieland the other week and I am very partial to a good Sunday lunch. It’s attached to Le Petit Chateau in Northumberland and looked delicious. 

We had a very good Sunday lunch at The Whittling House in Alnmouth last October, and I’ve also been recommended the Red Lion so I’d like to try there too. 

Have dinner at Khai Khai

Another place I’ve been trying to get to since it opened, and we did have it planned for restaurant week but Kieran double booked with his haircut (you can imagine how well that went down). To be honest though I’d prefer to visit when it’s the proper menu so will hopefully make it there soon.

Visit more of Yorkshire

As kids we spent a lot of time in Yorkshire as my grandparents and wor Nige are from there. I also went to Leeds Uni, and love going back for day trips or weekends. York is obviously somewhere we go a lot as it’s so handy, but I do have other places on my list.

Two of them I’ve already done which by the end of January isn’t bad is it? We went to Middleton Lodge which was somewhere I had to rearrange so many times last year, and I went to Haworth last weekend which is somewhere I’d wanted to go since I drove through during my university of Leeds days. 

I’d like to go back to Whitby and Scarborough on the coast to see how much they’ve changed since I spent many summer days on the beach there.

That’s pretty much it really, I wouldn’t say anything is too ridiculous so sorry if you were expecting elaborate adventures it is a bit tame! Like I said I’m taking the pressure of some areas of life this year and just want to enjoy myself.

What’s on your list for this year? 

Other posts you might like:

A 10 Day Itinerary for the Scotland North Coast 500

Valentine’s Day ideas in the North East

A Stay at Middleton Lodge, North Yorkshire