Adventures in Anglesey
Need to escape your adoring public on a remote island? Wills and Kate chose the windswept Isle Of Anglesey off the north coast of Wales to set up their love nest. If you want to be rescued by your own prince, drop into the White Eagle, a favourite pub of RAF-ers and the royal couple. Venture north to Trearddur Bay, where the Duchess had her first official engagement – the, um, glamorous duty of naming a new lifeboat. Or head to Rhoscolyn, near Wills’ RAF base. It’s one of the most secluded beaches on the island, with miles of untouched white sand. You could almost be in the Seychelles. Almost. And don’t forget to stop for supplies at Waitrose in Menai, where Kate does her weekly shop.
A royal rest Kate and Wills have a farmhouse on the south-west of the island, but glamping is the way to experience Anglesey’s rugged charms. Book a yurt or tipi at Anglesey Tipis (Angleseytipis.co.uk), from £50 a night self-catering. Top-end tipis have wood-burning stoves and all have the cosy factor thanks to futons and sheepskin rugs. Plus it’s eco-friendly, so Charles will be happy.
Cosy up in a yurt (left), and make like Kate to get supplies at Waitrose
A-list St Andrews
Sweeping beaches, stunning vistas, and, er, golf
The town where the couple fell in love has such a special place in their hearts that they named one of the tables at their wedding reception after it. Aww. Have your own Highland fling by visiting the university where they studied – one of the oldest in the world. And make sure you seek out the site where Wills met Kate, the picturesque St Salvator’s Halls. While you’re in the centre of town, have a cider at Ma Bell’s, a bar popular with William and his bodyguards. Crown your royal weekend with dinner for two at West Port Bar & Kitchen, a former haunt of the King- and Queen-to-be, who’d sit in a quiet downstairs booth and eat fish and chips. Sounds good to us.
A royal rest Treat yourself at the luxe Fairmont Hotel (Fairmont.com/standrews, from £169 a night B&B), where K-Middy modelled that see-through dress and Wills was a regular at the resort’s spa and health club.
Capture love’s young dream at the swish Fairmont hotel, right
Balmoral on a budget
Royal and rugged Balmoral
Royal and rugged Balmoral Kate spent last summer with her in-laws at the castle of Balmoral in Aberdeenshire. As well as mountains, lochs and glens to squeal over, you can really rock it like a royal as the Castle Gardens are open to the public until the end of July. Go fishing on the River Dee in the grounds,
Kate shooting at Balmoral
enjoy a guided walk, try your hand at shooting or take a Luxury Landrover safari (from £60 per person). The whole Windsor clan often head to the Braemar Gathering, a traditional festival on the first Saturday of September with Highland dancing, bagpipes and the hilarious-sounding tossing of the caber (Braemargathering.org, tickets from £10).
A royal rest Unfortunately, while us commoners can’t stay in the castle, there are cottages available to rent on the estate (Balmoralcastle.com). They’re booked up for the rest of the summer, but you can reserve now for next year. Choose from five self-catering lodges, sleeping from five to 13 people, costing from £450 per week. Embrace the chintzy charms of chandeliers and tartan, and don’t forget your Barbour.
Windsor weekend
Windsor Castle is the official residence of Her Maj, and Wills and Kate’s weekend pad. Practise your royal wave while being driven in a horse-drawn carriage through the Great Park (Orchardpoyle.co.uk), hop on a boat trip from Windsor to Maidenhead (Boat-trips.co.uk), then visit Wills’ old school in nearby Eton. And finally, no trip would be complete without picking up a Kate ‘n’ Wills tea towel from a regal-themed souvenir shop.
Weekend breaks don’t get more regal than this
A royal rest The Macdonald Windsor Hotel (Macdonaldhotels.co.uk, from £148 a night, room only) is so close to the castle you can see the changing of the guards ceremony without leaving your king-size bed.
Be queen of the castle from your bed
