Weekend breaks offer the chance to get away and recharge the batteries without major upheaval, or the hassle of booking weeks off work. Here are a few ideas for weekend breaks.

Exploring new cities in the U.K. is eminently possible through weekend breaks. A weekend is often long enough to see the highlights without getting bored, and in the U.K, there is slightly less chance of encountering a language barrier.

Thanks to the budget airlines, it can now be just as cheap to visit foreign cities on weekend breaks. The Euro zone means that spare holiday cash is easily used at a next visit, and barring volcanic ash, navigation is simple thanks to the ubiquity of English speakers.

Denizens of the Big Smoke can escape to the country easily through weekend breaks, and perhaps the most straightforward way of doing this is by going camping. After the initial spend on gear, these kinds of weekend breaks are very affordable, too.

If you are more of a couch potato than an intrepid explorer, weekend breaks can be a good way to start expanding your horizons; both geographically, and in terms of leisure activities. Mountain biking weekends throughout the U.K. can introduce you to the sport with proper tuition, and without the need to fork out on expensive equipment if you are just trying it out.

During winter, weekend breaks are also a great way to gain a similar introduction to skiing in the Scottish Highlands, most years. The last season was the best for decades; but even in a more average season of lower snowfall, there are at least 6 ? 8 good weeks of skiing typically on offer.

If time off work is in short supply, but money is not, tour operators like Cresta Travel make it possible to go exotic with weekend breaks; try Barcelona or Istanbul, for example. Best to bring a phrase book.

You can of course always stretch the idea, and go for a cheeky 7 days away; youll get a proper break without breaking the bank.