Conquer the British Countryside with Patria Travel

Indulge your inner wanderer this year with a journey that is bound to be the talk of any gathering. Patria Travel creates one-of-a-kind experiences that turn the British countryside into your personal playground.

A lot of people travel to London and never venture beyond the city limits. But the true magic of Britain lies in its countryside—a patchwork of micro-cultures and landscapes as varied as they are welcoming. From windswept moors to chalky cliffs, and sparkling vineyards to medieval castles, the countryside is a treasure chest too often overlooked.

That’s where Patria Travel comes in. Specialists in bespoke journeys across the British countryside, they curate experiences you won’t find on your average itinerary. These trips aren’t just holidays—they’re stories you’ll retell for years to come.

The sparkling wines and chalk stream trout fishing of southern England

If you think France has a monopoly on world-class bubbles, think again. In the past decade, England’s sparkling wine scene has exploded onto the international stage, with vineyards on the chalky soils of Kent, Sussex and Hampshire producing bottles to rival Champagne. When French powerhouse Taittinger planted vines in Kent ten years ago, it was the ultimate seal of approval. This year, their Domaine Evremond released their first classic cuvée. Boutique producers like Dermot Sugrue, recently took home top honors for his “The Trouble with Dreams” 2009 magnum at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

A Patria Travel itinerary pairs the best of England’s sparkling vineyards with experiences that elevate wine tasting into something unforgettable. Imagine a leisurely day that begins with a guided vineyard tour, moves into a long, locally sourced lunch, and finishes with a sunlit tasting of the estate’s finest bottles. Stay nearby in gorgeous, picturesque villages that’ll remind you of Cameron Diaz and Jude Law’s romance in “The Holiday,” hopping from vineyard to vineyard to find your favorite sparkling wine.

If you love both the outdoors and a good vintage, Patria Travel offers something truly unique: fishing and sparkling wine tasting on the River Test in Hampshire. Renowned for its gin-clear waters and thriving trout and grayling, this iconic river flows right past vineyards producing some of England’s most exciting sparkling wines. It’s the only place in the world where you can enjoy these two passions side by side.

Wild sheep hunting on the Angus Coast

Move over, red stag. A new, almost mythical creature is luring some of the most adventurous travelers to Scotland’s Angus coast: the wild Soay sheep.

Originally from the island of St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides, these sturdy sheep live along the rugged coastline, clinging to sheer cliff lines and grazing on rocky outcrops above the North Sea. Hunting them is unlike any other stalk in Britain. Instead of tramping through wooded glens or misty mountains, you find yourself skirting the cliff edges, the sea as your backdrop, on a bright day stretching endlessly blue and green below.

It’s a conservation-minded, highly unusual experience—one that even seasoned hunters rarely get the chance to try. If you visit in the fall, you might get the chance to try a unique twist on the traditional “Macnab” challenge. Instead of the classic combination of a stag, a pair of grouse, and a salmon, you’ll stalk a male Soay sheep, shoot pink footed geese, and fish for fresh catches from the North Sea.

For those who crave variety and tradition, Patria Travel also offers hunting for grouse, pheasant, and the revered red stag. But the wild sheep hunt on the rugged coast of southeast Scotland is what will have your friends leaning in when you recount your travels over glasses of Scottish whiskey.

Northumberland: England’s hidden gem under the stars

Tucked away in England’s northeast corner, Northumberland remains one of Britain’s most underrated destinations. Its variety alone makes it worth the journey: golden beaches at sunrise, the rolling Cheviot Hills, and moorland that glows purple in late summer. It’s the kind of landscape that pulls you outdoors, whether for a picnic on the beach, a walk along Hadrian's Wall or a fly-fishing session on the River Tyne, England’s most prolific salmon and sea trout river. While few can claim to have caught a wild Scottish Salmon, even fewer can say they’ve caught a wild English salmon!

Northumberland’s food scene is a revelation, with fresh crab and lobster pulled from the coast, alongside small-batch gins distilled in picturesque villages. And then there’s the history—castles, abbeys, and ruins, each whispering tales of border wars and ancient kings—and in the case of Alnwick Castle, a little Hollywood magic too, since it was used as a filming location in the first few Harry Potter films!

Come nightfall, Northumberland offers a spectacle few places in Britain can match. Near Kielder Forest, the skies open into one of Europe’s largest designated dark-sky reserves. Here, the Milky Way burns bright, and if the stars align on a crisp, clear night, you might even see the northern lights shimmering above the English countryside.

Go to patriatravel.co.uk to send an inquiry or email: patrick@patriatravel.co.uk.