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How Brits are escaping the heat without going south | Tips & Advice

Colourful harbour houses in Bergen, Norway
Tips & Advice · 7 min read · July 30, 2026

How Brits are escaping the heat without going south

Wildfires and record heat have made large parts of the Mediterranean genuinely hard going this summer. A growing number of UK travellers are heading the other way instead, and finding just as much scenery, food and adventure in the process.

Short on time? Let us summarise this guide for you.

It has been a hard summer to love the Mediterranean. Spain and France have both battled serious wildfires through July, on top of a brutal June heatwave, and forecasters are warning that the wildfire risk will stay high through August. None of that has stopped the crowds, but it has changed the calculation for a lot of people quietly rebooking their summer plans.

The good news is that cooler does not have to mean duller. These seven destinations trade blistering heat for fresh air, open space and, in most cases, a lot fewer people. Here is the case for each one.

1. Bergen, Norway

Norway's second city sits between seven mountains and a working harbour, and its climate rarely strays far from a comfortable 19 to 21°C in August. Bergen packs a proper city break into a small space: the UNESCO-listed Bryggen wharf, a fish market that doubles as lunch, and a funicular up Mount Floyen that gets you into genuine wilderness in under ten minutes. Long summer daylight means there is time to fit in a fjord cruise the same afternoon.

2. The Faroe Islands

If there is such a thing as the ultimate coolcation, this is probably it. August highs on the Faroes typically sit at just 11 to 14°C, and the islands trade heat entirely for drama: sea cliffs, waterfalls that appear to fall straight into the ocean, and hiking trails where puffins are still around through most of the month. It is a small, self-contained archipelago that rewards a few unhurried days rather than a packed itinerary.


3. The Azores

Out in the mid-Atlantic, Portugal's Azores islands barely notice what is happening on the mainland. Their position keeps temperatures remarkably stable year round, typically 23 to 25°C in August, with none of the extremes hitting continental Europe. Sao Miguel, the largest island, swaps baking beaches for volcanic crater lakes, steaming hot springs and a genuinely green, lush landscape that feels closer to the tropics than southern Europe.


4. Donegal, Ireland

On Ireland's wild northwest coast, Donegal offers Atlantic beaches and dramatic cliffs with August highs typically no more than 17 to 20°C. Slieve League's cliffs rival any in Europe for scale, and the county's beaches, several of which regularly pick up awards for water quality, are usually a fraction as busy as their southern European equivalents even at the height of summer.

5. Annecy, France

While lowland France has been sweltering, the Alpine resorts around Annecy stay noticeably cooler, generally 23 to 26°C in August. Annecy itself is one of France's prettiest towns, built around a turquoise lake that is genuinely swimmable, with canals and an old town that has earned it the nickname "Venice of the Alps". A short drive gets you up into proper mountain air, with hiking and paragliding both easy to arrange.

6. Skagen, Denmark

At the northern tip of Jutland, Skagen sits at the point where the Skagerrak and Kattegat seas meet, visibly, in a line of churning water off Grenen beach. Summer temperatures here rarely become oppressive, typically 20 to 22°C in August, and the town pairs sandy beaches with excellent seafood and some of the best cycling country in Denmark. It has also long been a magnet for painters drawn to its unusual light, and it is easy to see why.

7. Lake Bled and the Julian Alps, Slovenia

Slovenia can get warm, but its Alpine northwest holds onto noticeably cooler air than the Adriatic coast, generally 24 to 27°C in August. Lake Bled, with its island church and hilltop castle, is one of Europe's most photographed views, and it is also a working base for hiking, rowing and swimming in the surrounding Julian Alps. Triglav National Park is close enough for a day trip and offers proper mountain scenery without the crowds of the more famous Alpine resorts further west.

Why more people are choosing this over the usual summer spots

None of these destinations are new discoveries. What has changed is how many people are actively choosing them instead of the Mediterranean, rather than settling for them as a fallback. Between the heat, the wildfires and a summer of overtourism protests and new visitor caps across Spain, Greece and Italy, cooler and quieter has started to look like the smarter choice rather than the consolation prize.

Seamus McCauley, Head of Public Affairs at Holiday Extras, said:

"This summer has made the choice a lot starker than usual. Wildfires and record heat in Spain and France have coincided with a summer of overtourism protests and new visitor caps across the Mediterranean, so it is no surprise that more people are looking north instead of south."

"What is interesting is that none of the destinations on this list feel like a compromise. Bergen and Annecy are proper city and lake breaks, the Faroes and Donegal deliver some of the best coastal scenery in Europe, and the Azores and Lake Bled prove you can still get lush green landscapes and warm evenings without the heat. Escaping the heat does not mean giving up a good summer holiday, it just means picking a different map."

About Holiday Extras

About Holiday Extras
Holiday Extras is the European market leader in airport parking, airport hotels, worldwide airport lounges, destination car hire, airport transfers and holiday insurance. Established in 1983, Holiday Extras helps more than 11 million travellers have a better holiday every year. Flextras ensures it is easy and free to cancel or change bookings. The company has been listed eleven times in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For.


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