Short drives, cool weather and quiet cottages make these two towns the weekend favourites.

Homestays and boutique properties are the fastest-growing part of the market, offering local food, village walks and a quieter alternative to the crowded mall roads.

What happens next

Industry bodies urged hotels to adopt waste segregation and water-saving measures, saying the hill towns cannot keep growing without them.

Hoteliers say advance bookings for the coming weeks are strong, with weekends and long holidays already close to full in the popular towns. Rates are rising, but off-peak deals are widely available.