Nova Scotia, Canada’s adventure capital
With such a lot of wild outdoors to offer, Nova Scotia is a fabulous adventure destination. We’ve picked some of our favourite pursuits to try while you’re here...
How to Maximise Your Annual Leave 2026
With a bit of forward planning, you can make your annual leave in 2026 go much further. By combining weekends and bank holidays, you can turn a handful of days off into extended breaks ideal for travel, family time or simply recharging. Whether you’re planning a spring getaway, a summer adventure or a cosy Christmas at home, these clever date combinations will help you make the most of your time off throughout the year.
January / New Year
Start 2026 with an early break. With New Year’s Day on Thursday 1 January, you can take Friday 2 January off (1 day of annual leave) and enjoy a 4-day break from Thursday 1 January to Sunday 4 January.
February
With St Brigid’s Day on Monday 2 February, you could take the preceding Friday (30 January) off and enjoy a 4-day weekend from Friday 30 January to Monday 2 February with just 1 day of annual leave.
March / Easter
St Patrick’s Day falls on Tuesday 17 March. If you take Monday 16 off (1 day) and also Wednesday through Friday (18–20 March) off (3 days), you’ll enjoy a 7-day break from Saturday 14 March to Sunday 22 March for 4 days of leave.
Moving into April, Easter Monday lands on Monday 6 April, meaning you can enjoy a 10-day holiday by using just four days of annual leave. Take Tuesday 7 to Friday 10 April off and enjoy an extended break from Saturday 4 April to Monday 13 April, the perfect time for a spring getaway.
May
In May, you can create another long stretch by using four days of leave. The May Bank Holiday falls on Monday 4 May, so if you take Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 May off, you’ll get a 9-day break from Saturday 2 May to Sunday 10 May, ideal for an early summer escape.
June
June offers the same opportunity. With the June Bank Holiday on Monday 1 June, book off Tuesday 2 to Friday 5 June and enjoy a 9-day break from Saturday 30 May to Sunday 7 June using just four days of annual leave.
August
The pattern continues in August, when the August Bank Holiday falls on Monday 3 August. By booking Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 August, you can take another 9-day break from Saturday 1 August to Sunday 9 August with only four days of leave.
October
October is another great time to plan a getaway before winter sets in. The October Bank Holiday is on Monday 26 October, so by taking Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 October off, you can enjoy a 9-day break from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November, perfect for an autumn trip.
Christmas / Year End
With Christmas Day on Friday 25 December 2026 and St Stephen’s Day on Saturday 26 December 2026 (which means a substitute day or equivalent benefit is likely) you can take Monday 21 to Thursday 24 off (4 days) and also Monday 28 to Wednesday 30 off (3 days) and enjoy a 12-day break from Saturday 19 December to Wednesday 30 December using just 7 days of annual leave.
Mexico Couple Getaway
This fourteen night journey through Mexico is designed for couples who want a relaxed beach stay with a small number of well chosen sightseeing days included. It combines an adults only resort in Costa Mujeres with a second week in the Riviera Maya, giving you a comfortable base to enjoy the coast while also visiting some of the region’s best known Mayan sites.
Discover India
This fourteen night small group journey through India is designed for travellers who want a structured, well supported way to experience the country’s major cultural, historical and wildlife highlights. Led by a National Geographic trained expedition leader, the route moves at a steady pace from Delhi through Varanasi, Lucknow, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Pushkar and Udaipur, combining landmark sights with local experiences that give context to what you are seeing along the way.
