Travel expert Simon Calder has identified three European locations that are 'guaranteed' to offer respite from heatwaves and deliver a 'coolcation'. As severe heatwaves have battered Europe this summer, with France recording its warmest day on record and Spain hitting its highest daily average since 1950, many Brits are seeking alternatives to the scorching temperatures.
Scottish islands
When questioned about where people ought to travel to avoid the heat, Simon said on his weekly podcast, The Travel Expert with Simon Calder: 'Well, it is very straightforward, just head north. Scotland, obviously being closer to the North Pole, has a lot more cool options.'
'If you go all the way to Shetland, the northern most group of islands than you are two thirds of the way to the North Pole. You are on the same latitude as Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki. You are going to be guaranteed not to be too warm. I would suggest everybody should explore these beautiful islands in midsummer is the time to be here as it is almost the midnight sun.'
Tarifa, south of Spain
Not everyone fancies heading closer to the North Pole for their summer getaway, so Simon's Travel Expert podcast co-host Greg Dickinson put forward Tarifa in southern Spain. While it lies in one of the warmest regions of Spain, the town sits on the Strait of Gibraltar and benefits from Atlantic breezes.
Greg said: 'As a result, it is four or five degrees cooler than places like Malaga and Almeria. My tip for a little microclimate in the South of Spain is Tarifa.' Simon added: 'I am so fascinated that you could be so close to the so-called "frying pan of Europe", Seville, and yet still be cool.'
Pyrenees
For those still keen on visiting France and Spain but hoping to avoid the sweltering temperatures, Simon recommends the Pyrenees, which form the border between the two nations. He described the region as 'incredibly easy to reach' by flying into Lourdes airport before taking trains or buses into the hills.
Simon suggested basing yourself in spa towns and venturing out 'to your heart's content'. He said: 'Fantastic food, lovely places to stay and you are guaranteed to be away from the excessive heat.'
