Whether it’s Gordon Brown, David Cameron or Nick Clegg running the show, it’s quite possible things are not going to be all that much better come Friday morning.
Here’s five ways to escape the squabbling politicians and the newspapers telling you how rubbish everything is…
1. Party with the Pope
What better way to escape the grind of democracy than by, well… escaping democracy altogether? Vatican City is tiny, home to the holy and run without recourse to parliamentary democracy. You could say it’s the antithesis of election fever – and you can reach it by train from the UK by connecting in Paris. You can use our Rail Europe journey planner here.
2. Play it cool in Iceland
The quirky land of plane-grounding super volcanoes is also home to the Althing, the world’s most ancient parliament, meeting continuously since 930AD. As Brown, Cam, and Clegg intensify their campaigns, why not escape on a cruise to the land of fire and ice? Taking the Eurostar to Brussels, connecting on a Thalys high-speed train to Denmark and then sailing on a Smyrilline cruiser to Iceland, this is an incredible adventure waiting to happen. See http://www.smyrilline.com for sailing times.
3. Surfing like a Viking
So maybe you’re desperate to get away, but don’t want to flex your passport? Your options are wide, and you don’t get spaces more wide than those at Thurso, the UK’s most northerly railway station. Thurso lies as far north as the Alaskan state capital of Juneau, and offers picture-postcard scenery and long, long evenings on the Scandinavian level. Not surprising, it was run by Vikings until 1230. This surprising little town even boasts a massive surf scene (pictured) – with 20-second long waves being ridden that have been compared to the surf at Hawaii. We’re not sure quite how the rest of the place measures up to the Pacific islands, though. Get a train all the way, and remember to pack your surfboard.
4. Have an eggsellent time (just don’t mention the war)
Devon Riviera town Torquay might not be the first choice of holiday for many of you. It’s come a long way since the days of Fawlty Towers, however – and if you’re looking to escape the political din, it’s officially the quietest town in the UK, according to a survey by Widex. You can get there on the train to relax away from the cut and thrust of political campaigning. D-Cam has already passed through this way, fresh from his recent egging in Plymouth. It’s a fair bet that you won’t see his co-runners within 20 miles. As commentator Tanya Gold said in The Telegraph: “It’s hard to wander around Devon waving at people without looking ridiculous.”
5. Toss your caber in splendid isolation
If you really, really want to escape, there’s only one place you can go. It’s so secret it doesn’t have a name, just co-ordinates. Grid reference NH02020 77000 is officially the most remote place in the UK. Near Carnmore in the Scottish Highlands, at an elevation of 2,000 feet, you’re more likely to be shot by a deer stalker than petitioned for your voting intentions. Ordnance Survey measure remoteness by distance from the nearest road, and this spot tops anywhere in the country. Nearly six and a half miles from the closest thoroughfare, the best way to get there is by train to Garve (Garve, Highland, IV23 2QF, 0845 601 5929?). From there, you can hike it cross-country and, of course, camp where you like thanks to Scotland’s awesome wild camping laws. Sometimes it’s sweeter to be under canvas, not getting canvassed.
Find out more about flight-free holidays here
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