Everyone wants an unforgettable summer family holiday, which isn’t always the overseas holiday dream.

40 per cent of mums cite stress ahead of school holidays
Parents nostalgic for return to simple childhood joys
Bluestone launches major competition to alleviate strain for mums

Parents today want to recreate perfect memories from their own childhoods – with traditional UK holidays (48%) ranking far higher than holidays abroad (32%) in a recent survey of parents conducted by Bluestone National Park Resort.

They want a nostalgic and stress-free experience where family memories can be made – with beach trips, bike rides and building sandcastles high on the agenda.

But parents are feeling the pressure of getting it right. And mums in particular are feeling the strain – with 40 per cent admitting the lead-up to their summer holidays is stressful and more than two thirds [68%] worried about keeping their children entertained.

Their stress levels reflect evidence that mums are taking on the lion’s share of booking annual summer trips. For example – at Bluestone, 70% of 2026 bookings have been made by women.

To give mums one less thing to think about each summer, Bluestone has launched a competition that will give one lucky family the chance to win a luxury break for the next seven years – the entire length of primary school.

Rebecca Rigby, Bluestone’s Director of Operations, said:

“We know the real magic of a family holiday isn’t in how much you pack in; it’s in the time you get to spend together, without the stress of planning it. That’s what Bluestone and our Salt and Soil summer campaign is about – muddy knees, sandy toes and longer days spent outdoors. From beach days building sandcastles to bike rides around the resort, we take care of the details, so our guests can switch off from the moment they arrive.”

“Our competition takes that a step further. One lucky family won’t have to think about booking a summer holiday again for seven years, no research, no comparing prices, no juggling annual leave. Just turn up, and we’ll take care of the rest. As a mum myself, I know exactly what that peace of mind is worth.”

Full details on how families can win seven consecutive breaks are here