Climate breakdown was certainly on my mind when I stopped taking flights seven years ago, but, honestly, it didn’t top my list. And while I’m a big fan of the British seaside, I can’t claim to be an early adopter of the swish staycation trend either. Self-preservation, rather than cutting my carbon footprint or becoming a no-fly trendsetter, motivated me.
I hate flying. From a healthy fear of falling out of the sky, to the ignominy of “lounging” in the departure hall when a flight is delayed, the whole experience rattles my nerves. I tried for more than three decades to suppress my anxieties, forcing myself on European hops (turbulent), transatlantic trips (terrifying) and even helicopter rides (pass the airsickness bag). But sitting in the sky eating microwave meals just doesn’t do it for me. Stressing out about the flight home clouded many a holiday, so I decided to stop torturing myself and embraced slow travel and the romance of rail instead.
Although my reasons for joining the no-fly movement were personal, the climate emergency became more and more of a driver. My 15-year-old son was in the first wave of UK climate youth strikers. Inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg (who hasn’t flown since 2015), he dared to skip school to make his voice heard. As he told reporters in the shade of Big Ben: “I may be missing my maths lesson, but at least I have a maths lesson to go to. Will my children be so lucky?” After watching David Attenborough’s chilling documentary, Climate Change: The Facts, being a no-fly family gave him solace.
With climate awareness on a steep ascent, a UK-based drive for a flight-free 2020 is gathering pace. Even the airlines are getting on board: in July 2019, Dutch airline KLM launched a campaign asking people to fly less, encouraging them to take the train instead.
It makes sense. Consider a trip to Nice, France for a family of four: by rail you’re looking at 124kg of CO2 per traveller, compared with 1.3 tonnes on flights, or 362kg per car traveller. The aviation industry could produce as much as 16% of all the world’s manmade CO2 emissions by 2050, but the rising “no plane pioneers” are hoping to counter the issue. Campaigners argue that people have only had access to low-cost, short-haul flights for a relatively short time – switching to staycations is not draconian, it’s a return to the norm.
Climate concerns and a love of local adventure mean the UK’s coast is getting a second wind
The feel-good factor of no-fly travel may be rooted in sustainability, but trains, I find, make for a marvellous replacement. I felt no sense of sacrifice on that Riviera-bound rail journey – nor on local trips. There’s something satisfying about moving overground, watching the landscape change around you. And when you board a plane, you hand over control to the airline. No-fly travel is more autonomous; you can book at short notice, be spontaneous. Bespoke itineraries, with any number of stops, can be built.
When I first stopped flying, I was something of an anomaly, but in the past five years, short, flexible and high-end holidays closer to home have become much more desirable. I’ve spoken to friends drawn to no-fly travel for myriad reasons: busy jobs, small children, beloved pets, health or access issues. Last year, a friend travelled to Australia by train and boat for the sense of adventure travelling overland provides.
Some simply want in on the thriving trend for local holidaymaking – and who can blame them? Since I stopped flying I’ve trained it to spa breaks in Brighton, long weekends in Liverpool and a culture-fest in Glasgow. The stellar choice of hipster B&Bs and luxurious hotels nationwide, coupled with the rejuvenation of pretty seaside towns, interest in local artisan food and real ale, and a newfound joy in classic British pastimes such as hiking and wild swimming, is fuelling the staycation movement. Even “daycations” are growing in popularity, whether that’s a simple train trip to the beach, or something more indulgent. Couples can book themselves into a high-end hotel for day use, including access to a plush room, spa facilities and fine dining, without the price tag of an overnight stay.
No-fly summer 2019 is setting the bar for many sustainable staycation seasons ahead. I committed to no-fly travel to swerve those white-knuckle 747 rides, but now it plays a huge part in my effort to live greener – and I’m loving the possibilities of local tourism. There’s so much to be gained from keeping your feet on the ground.
It’s not just environmental efforts and the UK’s amped up holiday offering that has us feeling good about local, overland travel; whether you’re taking a crew on a Family & Friends Railcard or making the most of your 26-30 discount, a railcard can cut a third off British train travel – leaving more money for all that local ale, luxe accommodation and ice-cream. Learn more about getting a railcard at railcard.co.uk
