The UK’s Top 15 Destinations to Unplug on a Screen-Free Family Adventure this Summer

As families look for ways to spend more quality time together away from screens, and with online searches for ‘screen-free activities’ and ‘family outdoor holidays’ up 81% and 284% respectively over the past month alone, the UK’s great outdoors offers the perfect escape.

Whether you’re planning a campervan adventure, a week under the stars in a tent, or a day out closer to home, we’ve created a Family Digital Detox Index to guide you through the UK’s top 15 destinations for a screen-free family adventure this summer.

How the Family Digital Detox Index was created

Analysing a combination of online search data, Tripadvisor reviews, information from official tourism boards and councils, mobile coverage data and geological data, Custom Size Beds has ranked destinations based on popularity, seclusion, dark sky visibility, screen-time availability, natural beauty, diversity of activities and proximity to campsites so families can feel at one with nature.

Based on these factors, each destination has been given a score out of 40. The higher the score, the more ideal the destination is for a digital detox adventure. Any destinations receiving the same score were then ranked according to online popularity.

The 15 destinations featured in the index are:

• Beddgelert, Snowdonia, Wales
• Elsdon, Northumberland, England
• Eskdale, Lake District, England
• Exmoor, Somerset, England
• Isle of Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
• Slaidburn, Lancashire, England
• Rostrevor, County Down, Northern Ireland
• Kingsand & Cawsand, Cornwall, England
• Blanchland, County Durham, England
• Elterwater, Lake District, England
• Gortin, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
• Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons, Wales
• Cadgwith, Cornwall, England
• Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales, England
• Moffat, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Top 15 UK Digital Detox Destinations for Families in 2026

1. Beddgelert, Snowdonia, Wales

Topping our list with a near-perfect score of 39 out of 40, Beddgelert is renowned as a “perfect walker’s haven” by travellers, offering stunning river views and serving as the gateway to Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park.

Explore the winding tunnels of Sygun Copper Mine, spend your day hiking around one of the six main trails within Eryri National Park, or go wild swimming in Llyn Dinas.

One Tripadvisor reviewer described it as a “stunning area for a lovely walk around this beautiful lake”, praising its lush greenery, natural beauty and birdsong along the route from Beddgelert to Llyn Dinas.

Phone signal is notably patchy, particularly around nearby campsites, allowing you to truly switch off and spend the night under the stars as a family. Eryri National Park is officially a Dark Sky Reserve, so few places offer better visibility for stargazing.

Steeped in culture and history, and the perfect base for exploring Snowdonia, Beddgelert has everything you need for the perfect screen-free family getaway this summer.

2. Elsdon, Northumberland, England

Taking second place on our list of the UK’s top 15 destinations for a screen-free family adventure is Elsdon, with a score of 38 out of 40.

This stunning hamlet is situated within Northumberland National Park, the least-populated National Park in the UK. You’ll have the unique opportunity to discover some of the UK’s lesser-known walking trails, immerse yourself in nature and enjoy some of the clearest skies at night.

According to one Tripadvisor review: “This is such a beautiful, wild and extensive area of the British Isles. One can walk for miles and enjoy breathtaking scenery and spectacular views by day and enjoy star-filled clear skies by night. This is a very special area indeed and well worth visiting.”

The best part? With only 1,000 Instagram posts using the hashtag #Elsdon, you’ll be left to uncover the unspoiled landscapes of this hidden Northumberland gem in peace.

3. Eskdale, Lake District, England

Whether you want to go hiking, swimming or climbing, the Lake District is an obvious choice for an off-the-beaten-track family adventure this summer. However, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is a very popular family holiday destination, so how can it make our list of the UK’s secluded hotspots?

Set against the backdrop of Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain, and scoring 38 out of 40, the picturesque valley of Eskdale rounds out the top three thanks to its quiet charm and rugged natural beauty.

Wave goodbye to phone signal as you walk along the River Esk to Tongue Pot, a spectacular wild swimming spot with its own waterfall. There’s no better place for you and the family to cool down on a hot summer’s day than in its crystal-clear water.

Undiscovered Eskdale is proof that the Lake District still has corners the summer crowds haven’t found yet.

4. Exmoor, Somerset, England

Next on our list of the best digital detox getaways for families this summer is Exmoor, scoring 37 out of 40.

Perfect for families who love wildlife, hiking and history, Exmoor National Park has everything you could look for in a screen-free adventure holiday, including ancient woodlands, rugged sea cliffs, native Exmoor ponies, a 1,000-year-old medieval fortress and the Tarr Steps, a prehistoric stone clapper bridge.

For families staying in caravans or tents, Exmoor National Park is also a designated Dark Sky Reserve, meaning you’ll experience some of the best conditions for stargazing each night.

5. Isle of Coll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland

Woodlands and hiking trails aren’t the only ways to switch off as a family this summer. You can still enjoy an uninterrupted beach staycation on the Isle of Coll, which is why it has scored an impressive 36 out of 40.

This remote, tranquil gem is renowned for its 30 pristine beaches, where you can spend your days sunbathing, swimming and admiring the beautiful coastline. Like many of the destinations on our list, the island is also recognised as a Dark Sky area.

Imagine watching the sun set over the water before spending the evening stargazing from one of the island’s beautiful beaches.

Arinagour, the main settlement on the island, is home to just 50 residents and has fewer than 150 Instagram posts using the hashtag #Arinagour, so you can look forward to true privacy.

6. Slaidburn, Lancashire, England

Scoring an impressive 36 out of 40, Slaidburn is a fantastic destination for those wanting to experience the magic of the Forest of Bowland.

A small and genuinely quiet village with a family cycling loop around a nearby reservoir, safe river paddling spots and notably patchy phone signal, Slaidburn is the perfect base for a screen-free adventure.

From there, explore the Forest of Bowland, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty known for its enchanting woodland walks, wildlife, deep valleys and remote walking trails.

According to one Tripadvisor review: “The area is undoubtedly missed by many who head for the Lakes or the Dales, but that means that we can keep it mostly for ourselves!”

7. Rostrevor, County Down, Northern Ireland

For literature and film fanatics, Rostrevor is a must-visit this summer, which is why it has scored 36 out of 40.

The gorgeous village of Rostrevor is widely celebrated for being one of the primary inspirations for C.S. Lewis’ magical world of Narnia. When you look towards the dramatic Mourne Mountains, it’s easy to see why.

Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor even has a Narnia trail for the whole family to follow.

According to one Tripadvisor review: “This is the Garden of Paradise. A real fairy glen of waterfalls, meandering trees, rolling hills, colours of green, gold and purple. Magic is in the air, here is Narnia. It’s for the young and the young at heart.”

With patchy phone signal and stunning landscapes everywhere you turn, Rostrevor is the ultimate celebration of the big screen, without the screen time.

8. Kingsand & Cawsand, Cornwall, England

Cornwall is a family favourite every summer, but if you’re seeking somewhere quieter and more secluded, away from the crowds, why not try Kingsand & Cawsand?

Scoring 35 out of 40, these twin villages on the Rame Peninsula offer sheltered sandy beaches, deer to spot in nearby woodlands and a fraction of Cornwall’s usual visitor numbers.

One of Cornwall’s best-kept secrets, there are fewer than 150 Instagram posts using the hashtag #KingsandAndCawsand, and the phone signal is notoriously unreliable.

9. Blanchland, County Durham, England

With an impressive score of 35 out of 40, the ninth-best destination in the UK for switching off as a family this summer is Blanchland.

While other destinations on the list force you off the grid through their remoteness and lack of signal, Blanchland takes you back to a time before tablets, televisions and phones.

Recreated in the 18th century from the ruins of a medieval monastery, this picture-perfect village feels like stepping back in time.

Blanchland also sits within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the River Derwent and is renowned for having some of the darkest skies in the UK. Spend the day feeling as though you have travelled back through history before sleeping under the stars.

10. Elterwater, Lake District, England

The second Lake District destination to make the list, with a score of 35 out of 40, Elterwater is a must-visit for families looking to get off the grid and away from screens this summer.

Like Eskdale, Elterwater offers a quieter, less commercialised alternative to popular Lake District hotspots.

Situated in the valley of Great Langdale, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to outdoor activities. Will you go hiking, cycling, climbing, wild swimming, or all of the above?

11. Gortin, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

It’s no surprise that Gortin has made our list of the best family digital detox destinations, scoring 34 out of 40.

This charming village is quietly nestled in the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains and is home to Gortin Glen Forest Park. With walking trails, mountain biking trails and a play park, you could explore all day and still not cover everything.

According to one Tripadvisor review: “What a wonderful place. Amazing forest walks, the challenging climb to the giant on the mountain, the views. Just stunning. The facilities are outstanding, with first-class parking, an excellent cafe, decent toilets, well-marked and well-kept trails. A place to reconnect with nature.”

12. Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons, Wales

The Brecon Beacons National Park became a certified Dark Sky Reserve in 2013, and Crickhowell sits right inside it, nestled in the Usk Valley.

Scoring 34 out of 40, this picturesque market town is the perfect base for outdoor adventures.

Families can swim in the River Usk by the town’s old stone bridge in summer, hike up Table Mountain, or Crug Hywel, an Iron Age hill fort with panoramic views, before camping beneath the stars.

13. Cadgwith, Cornwall, England

Another Cornish gem making the list of the UK’s best places for outdoor family adventures is Cadgwith, with a score of 33 out of 40.

Cadgwith is a working fishing cove on the Lizard Peninsula that sees a fraction of the visitors St Ives receives each summer, despite having a sheltered, shallow beach that is ideal for family swimming.

One of the highlights of Cadgwith is the Devil’s Frying Pan.

According to one Tripadvisor review: “This outstanding geological feature is a collapsed sea cave, which previously formed a blowhole through the action of a rough sea. Over the centuries, the sea has broken through the cliffs and formed a sea bridge some 25 feet above the water. The cliff is about 100 feet from the sea and forms an almost perfectly inverted, steep-sided cone covered in grass. It is a very photographic stop on a sunny day, and probably even more so when the weather is blowing.”

14. Upper Wharfedale, Yorkshire Dales, England

If you truly want to switch off as a family this summer, there are few better places to visit than the Yorkshire Dales. In particular, Upper Wharfedale is a small valley with roads too narrow for most trucks and buses.

This off-the-beaten-track valley has scored 32 out of 40 and is renowned for its rivers, streams, ancient woodlands and grasslands.

Stop by Kettlewell for the day, a gorgeous village where you can go fishing, wander along nature trails and go wild swimming in the River Wharfe.

15. Moffat, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

Last on our list of the UK’s top destinations for digital detox adventures this summer is Moffat, the world’s first certified Dark Sky Town, scoring 31 out of 40.

One of Scotland’s dedicated Walkers are Welcome towns, Moffat is the perfect base from which to discover the magic of the Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall before hiking the nearby Corbetts. Each one offers wild terrain, remote paths and spectacular scenery.

With some of the best views for stargazing each night, the whole family can compete to see who can count the most stars or recognise the most constellations.