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It hasn’t been the easiest summer to make leisure plans – and certainly not if they involve going abroad. However, the pandemic restrictions have shifted the focus on "staycations" in the sense of us taking holidays within the UK, not the couch-bound kind.

As we invite you to Dive into Summer on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 4 Extra, there’s no shortage of options, stretching from Aberdeen to Zachary’s Copse, taking in castles, breathtaking scenic walks, cultural pursuits in spectacular settings and even zipwires!

It has been a tricky time for the biggest arts festival in the world. The festivals were completely cancelled in 2020 and things looked uncertain for a while this year. The International Festival – which programmes music, theatre, opera and dance – was the first to signal plans for outdoor events, with a purpose-built marquee, but it will also be hosting events at indoor venues across the city. Meanwhile, the Fringe, with its chaotic collection of comedy, theatre and general happenings, has now appeared in a much reduced – though not insignificant form.

Woolacombe Beach, North Devon

The beach will be one of the first thoughts on the minds of many as they make their getaway, even if the weather doesn’t look that promising. Woolacombe Beach, on the coast of North Devon and surrounded by National Trust-managed countryside, is one that is often mentioned as coast with the most, winning a number of awards to that effect. Picturesque with facilities that cater for people of all ages, Woolacombe’s three-mile beach also enjoys breaking waves from the Atlantic and so is a mecca for surfers.

Minack Theatre, Cornwall

It’s not often that the drama on a stage is matched by that of the setting itself but the Minack (from "meynek" –the Cornish for "rocky place") would give even the Bard a run for his money. Located in Porthcurno, not far from Land’s End, the Minack is carved into cliffs looking out over the Atlantic. The Minack’s story began in 1929 with a remarkable local called Rowena Cade who, after helping out with open-air Shakespeare productions, started to convert her clifftop garden into a venue with the aid of a band of helpers. Armed only with handtools, the Minack took Rowena, then 36 years old, most of the rest of her life. However, she has left an incredible legacy, one which is still home to Shakespeare plays along with a wide variety of other performances.

Zipwires may conjure up images of Boris Johnson being suspended in mid-air (before he was Prime Minister), however, they are also a highly popular tourist attraction. There are quite a number criss-crossing the North Wales landscape, including ones that go underneath Snowdonia! The area lays claim to the fastest zip wire in the world (over 100mph!), the longest overground zip wire in Europe and the longest underground zipwire in the world.

Glyndebourne, East Sussex

Located near Lewes in East Sussex, Glyndebourne is a 16th-century country house and, since 1934, the site of a now world-renowned opera festival. Initially the festival was geared towards works by Mozart, before diversifying with Britten, Verdi and Rossini and now even Wagner. Originally the theatre seated 300, rising to 850 in 1977 and, in 1994, a new opera house was built that holds 1,200. Picnicking in the beautiful gardens during the long interval is a tradition. With livestreamed performances on offer, Glyndebourne now reaches about 150,000 people very year across over 120 performances. And if you can't travel to Glyndebourne, the 2021 autumn tour takes in Milton Keynes, Canterbury and Norwich.

Wainwright's Lake District walks

Although accountant-turned-writer Alfred Wainwright’s seven-volume guide to the Lakeland Fells was published between 1955 and 1966, it remains the go-to for exploring this breathtaking area. Wainwright detailed 214 "official" peaks, with all but one over 1000ft. Topping all these summits is, unsurprisingly, considered "the ultimate feat of peak bagging in the Lake District." Not many attempt this, as it involves a total distance of 320 miles (515km) and an ascent of 118,000ft (36,000m), and the world record for completion stands at over 6 days! But don’t worry, you can enjoy Wainwright's walks in a much more modest way. In fact, one of the fell walker’s favourites was a route called "Haystacks" in Buttermere – only 597m (1958ft). Wainwright liked it so much he had his ashes scattered there.

With a rich history and a packed programme of current events to match, Cardiff Castle is one of Wales’s foremost tourist attractions. The Romans were the first to develop the site, with the Normans adding a keep. The Castle passed through the hands of many noble families until in 1766, it transferred by marriage to the Bute family. The 2nd Marquess of Bute was responsible for turning Cardiff into the world’s greatest coal exporting port. The Castle and Bute fortune passed to his son John, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, who by the 1860s was reputed to be the richest man in the world. With architect William Burges, the Marquess set about transforming the castle with ornate decorative additions. Cardiff Castle survived the two World Wars, and during the Second World War provided shelter for 2000 local residents. For the last 25 years, the Castle and a majority of its grounds have been owned and operated by the City of Cardiff. As well as historical exhibitions, there are lots of musical performances and other cultural events.

The County Londonderry coast

The beauty spots around the County Londonderry coast are spectacular but for some visitors they will have an extra resonance. Not only are the Binevenagh mountain and the surrounding Antrim plateau striking in themselves (as well as both being designated Areas of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), with amazing views across Lough Foyle and the Sperrin Mountains, they also doubled as the "Dothraki Grasslands" in Game of Thrones! Meanwhile, the nearby National Trust beach of Portstewart Strand was used as the coast of Dorne in a memorable episode involving Jamie Lannister. The small town of Portstewart itself is definitely worth a visit. No dragons required!

Windsor Castle

Recently crowned best UK attraction to visit for a day out, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, home to 39 monarchs over 900 years and still used to welcome visiting heads of state and leaders. Open throughout the year, there’s a lot to see in the castle, including the State Apartments, Queen Mary's dolls' house, St George's Chapel and the Albert Memorial Chapel. There are also a number of events at the castle, such as concerts, the Royal Windsor Horse Show and there’s even been a table football competition!

Ben Nevis

Ben Nevis is a former volcano that collapsed in on itself after exploding – you can still see evidence of this at the summit in the form of granite. Translated from Gaelic as "mountain with its head in the clouds" or "venomous mountain", this Highland icon is 1,345 metres (4412ft) above sea level, but that doesn’t deter visitors – it receives 125,000 of them each year. Anyone wanting to conquer Ben Nevis should have some decent hill-walking experience behind them, whether they are using the Mountain Track (sometimes called the Tourist Track or the Pony Track) and especially for the more difficult Carn Mor Dearg Arête route.