But it seems that fears over the credit crunch as well as the pressure of rising fuel and living costs may have been pushing more British people to holiday closer to home, with many travelling from surrounding counties to stay in Northamptonshire.

Rather than spend their money on plane tickets and holidays abroad, some families and individuals seem to have been opting to use this cash on closer-to-home activities, such as camping and fishing vacations, adventure sports and leisurely sojourns along the county stretch of the Grand Union canal.

In this feature, the Chronicle & Echo has focused on some of Northamptonshire's most popular holiday hotspots to find out what is available and why people are opting to visit or stay in the county to spend their days off.

Billling Aquadrome
For the Sizer family from Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire's Billing Aquadrome has become a favourite destination for either a short break or longer holiday.

Sid and Karon Sizer have a sentimental attachment to the place, having spent their honeymoon at the Northampton holiday park, and last weekend they made a return visit, along with four children.

Mrs Sizer said that taking British based holidays can prove cheaper for them than jetting off abroad.

Although the family is planning its first trip abroad later this year, Mrs Sizer said they would definitely be returning to Billing Aquadrome in the near future.

The 43-year-old admitted the rising cost of food and fuel does influence holiday destination decisions. She said to stay in a tent at the park for one weekend cost about £23.

She said: "You only get the same money but you have to make it stretch further.

The children still want to go away and you can either go once to somewhere very expensive or somewhere local two or three times for the same price."

Mrs Sizer, who works as a cleaner, said: "If money was no object then I would like to take all the children abroad, but it still involves quite a lot of hanging about in airports. Here children can straight away go and enjoy themselves and they are not stuck waiting anywhere for hours."

Billing Aquadrome has long been one of Northampton's best known holiday hotspots, with its touring and camping facilities and activities such as fishing, pedalo hire and crazy golf.

One of the latest attractions proving popular with visitors is the hydrosphere, which enables participants to climb inside a large, inflatable 'hamster style' ball and roll across water.

Karen Joseph, Billing's visitor centre and events manager, said: "There has definitely been an increase in people holidaying here. Obviously the fuel prices have had an impact on people going abroad and people are coming inland more.

"We have a mixture of visitors, ranging from people coming from a fairly close radius to people from all around the country.

"We are a family holiday park and we do have weekend events; some bigger than others."

Outdoor Adventure
Whether it be a fishing vacation while staying in a luxury chalet, or a white knuckle quad bike safari, both can be found in Sibbertoft, on the Northamptonshire and Leicestershire border.

Farmer Jasper Hart and his wife, Mary, created the lake at Brook Meadow Farm 16 years ago and started building chalets there about 15 years ago.

An area of woodland was planted by the family and the end result has produced a getaway location for keen fishermen and walkers alike.

It was Jasper's late son, David, who, with colleague Robin Sawyer, set up the separate business, Avalanche Adventure, about five years ago from a different part of the farm.

At Avalanche Adventure, thrill seekers turn up to be entertained with a host of activities, ranging from quad biking to off road driving, paint-balling and clay pigeon shooting.

Mr Hart said: "We planted 45 acres of trees. People can come here and no one knows where they are, they are out of sight and out of mind. People like that."

Mr Sawyer, owner of Avalanche Adventure, said: "We have a quad bike safari with 7km of tracks. We have the most extensive amount of quad biking you can do in the Midlands.

We take people out around the farm, not just around a little track. We do 4x4 off road driving and you can hire one of our vehicles or bring your own."

"Adventure sports have grown in popularity.

The British public has become far more adventurous."

He added: "There are definitely more people wanting to take local holidays. More people are stopping having more than one holiday a year abroad as they feel guilty about their carbon footprint and there are people who can't afford to go abroad."

Leon Mangan, aged 38, a sales director from Guilsborough, visited Avalanche Adventure last weekend for a university reunion.

The location was one of the factors which attracted this group of friends to the farm.

"There were people from London and all over who came and we chose it because it was very central.

We went clay pigeon shooting and competed against each other.

It was really well run and a nice place too."

Canal Cruise
When it comes to holidays, it seems that the option of taking time out of the hustle and bustle to drift along stretches of Northamptonshire's canal system has proved popular with increasing numbers of visitors.

Last month the Chronicle & Echo reported a boom in boating, with figures released by British Waterways showing a 13 per cent increase in the number of people using waterways across the country; whether by hiring canalboats or simply walking, cycling or angling.

Through the narrowboat hire company UK Boat Hire (details of which can be found at www.ukboathire.com/booking.htm), holidaymakers can plan a canal break and hire a narrowboat from different locations throughout the country.

One of the advertised starting points is at Gayton Marina, from which people can drift away along a Northamptonshire stretch of the Grand Union canal.

Marketing and sales manager, Haley Shurmer, said: "Depending on the time of year or size of the boat, hiring a narrowboat can cost as little as £370."

She added: "We have recently launched our Greener Holiday campaign.
"The 'Green Fund' has been initiated by UK Boat Hire in association with The Waterways Trust to offset the impact of our customers' holidays on the environment.

"UK Boat Hire is giving a percentage of profits from each holiday booked to The Waterways Trust Green Fund.

The Green Fund is being used by the Trust to invest in low carbon technologies and other environmental projects, such as creating new habitats. These projects will help mitigate carbon emissions and environmental impact of managing the waterways."

She continued: "The development of the Green Fund in association with The Waterways Trust underlines the fact that taking a narrowboat holiday doesn't 'cost' the earth.

In fact, cruising the waterways is estimated to be some 20 times better for the planet than spending two hours flying for a holiday overseas."

DAY TRIPS
Rockingham Castle
Originally built by William the Conqueror, this has been home to the Watson family for about 500 years.

Richard the Lionheart is said to have used the castle, and King John left his treasure chest in the Great Hall.

For information log onto www.rockinghamcastle.com

Holdenby House
This historic stately home, which has royal connections dating back 400 years, boasts gardens and a falconry centre.

The house was built by Sir Christopher Hatton to entertain Elizabeth I, later becoming the palace of James I and the prison of Charles I.

For information log onto www.holdenby.com

Irchester Country Park, Wellingborough
Acres of forest and parkland can be found at Irchester Country Park, making this a scenic place for families to spend the day.

Admission is free. For more information log onto www.northamptonshire.gov.uk

Cottesbrooke Hall, Northampton
Cottesbrooke Hall is open to visitors from the beginning of May until the end of September.

Reputed to be the inspiration for Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, Cottesbrooke is a private house with beautiful gardens.For information log onto www.cottesbrookehall.co.uk