10 things you shouldn't take on holiday

If you are anything like me, your holiday packing is either large-scale and full of silly extras that will only be useful in very specific situations (that top that only goes with that skirt and the whole outfit will only be worn at all if the weather is unseasonably tropical) or last-minute, chaotic and missing several essential items. What to pack for your holidays obviously varies greatly depending on where you’re going and what you plan to do while you are there, and there are a range of helpful blog posts advising travellers on what they should take, such as this one from The Telegraph.

Thinking about the perfect packing list got us wondering about the things you should never take on holiday. Here is our top ten list of things to leave behind when you go on a Sheepskin break.

1. A huge holiday to-do list

We’re great believers in doing your research and working out which things will interest you in the area you are staying. However, a punishing to-do list that takes up all available holiday time will either leave you exhausted (if you complete it) or disappointed (if you don’t). Allow for a few lazy mornings and sleepy afternoons in your plans and you will come back from your UK break far more refreshed.

2. Clothes that don’t fit

Pack clothes that are too large and you’ll feel swamped and shapeless, too small and you will feel uncomfortable and miserable. When packing clothes for a UK break you need to be practical and be prepared for most types of weather. No need to take your entire wardrobe, just pack clothes you can layer up and remember some sturdy shoes and a waterproof coat. If I have time, I use packing for a holiday as a great excuse to go through all my clothes and send everything that no longer fits to the charity shop – life is too short for aspirationally small trousers and you certainly don’t need them on your holidays with you (they suck all the joy out of freshly baked scones or a piping hot Cornish pasty)!

3. The family jewels

Taking expensive jewellery with you on holiday may seem safer than leaving it at home whilst you are away, but the worry of losing it could mar your enjoyment of your break. Leave precious valuables with a trusted family member or pay to leave them in a safety deposit box, so you can relax properly.

4. All the food for your entire stay

Whilst it’s not quite as adventurous as eating frogs’ legs in Paris or dried fish in Hong Kong, or even fuelling a trip across south-east Asia by eating crickets, a trip to any region of the UK should involve sampling local delicacies. Enjoy a pasty or two in Cornwall, eat Welsh cakes in Snowdonia, and feast on Fidget Pie in Shropshire. By pre-planning every meal and using only ingredients bought at home you risk missing out on discovering your new favourite food.

5. Too many guidebooks

It is good to have the benefit of other people’s experience when you visit a new region, but too many voices and recommendations just confuse matters. Find a guide you like the tone of and buy the most up to date version (going to the bother of finding an out-of-the-way independent coffee shop recommended in an old guide, only to find it has been driven out of business by the nearby outlet belonging to a huge corporation is no fun at all). It may even be worth ditching printed guides altogether and relying on internet searches and reviews, but again, don’t read too many! If you have any unanswered questions, use it as an excuse to talk to the locals and find hidden gems that the guides don’t know about.

6. Anything you need to think twice about

If you need to think ‘will I really need this?’ you probably won’t and, in the unlikely event that you do, you can probably buy it locally. Take the sun cream for your UK holiday, as it’s not out of the question that you may need it, but the bumper multi pack that includes several bottles of after sun is probably a little bit too optimistic. One of the best things about holidaying in the UK is that there are shops you are familiar with around most corners, so you can travel light and pick up items that you haven’t brought along the way.

7. Pretty shoes

I love stylish, impractical shoes (my husband would say I have an unhealthy obsession with the genius footwear produced by Irregular Choice), but a rural UK holiday is not really the place for your favourite stilettos – you won’t be comfortable and you may damage them on rough ground. After a long day spent walking, cycling or exploring, enjoy the comfort of slippers or flip flops. On cold days, put on a cosy pair of thick socks and warm your feet in front of the log burner. Save the heels for a trip to a nice restaurant during your next city break.

8. More people than a property can comfortably accommodate

It’s tempting to reduce the cost per person of a holiday cottage by telling your best friend that they can camp in the living room for a few days during your holiday, but when you’ve tripped over them in the night a couple of times or inadvertently rested your arm in a patch of dribble on the arm of the sofa, it loses its appeal somewhat! We have worked hard to create ‘the Sheepskin experience’ at all our properties, but this is compromised by overcrowding (plus our owners don’t like it as it contravenes their insurance conditions). If your friends or family do want to join you for a day or two, please let us know and we will recommend local accommodation options to suit their budget.

9. Your mother-in-law

Only joking! Some people are blessed with in-laws with whom they can perfectly happily enjoy a week’s holiday. However, for others, multi-generational holidays are undertaken more out of obligation than genuine enthusiasm. Given that our annual leave is gold dust and should not be squandered on a lacklustre break, choosing the right property for a multi-generational holiday is hugely important. We feel that the potential stresses of such holidays can be relieved or even eliminated by a good holiday cottage.

10. Any expectations about the weather

The UK is an island and the weather is pretty changeable, so any predictions of the likely conditions are sometimes wide of the mark. Be ready to decamp outside with your dinner and a glass of wine if a cloudy day gives way to a beautifully sunny evening and be flexible enough to change your day at the beach into an informative day at an interactive museum if the predicted sunshine turns into relentless drizzle. If you can be as spontaneous as our Great British weather, you will have a far better holiday!