The novel coronavirus has change all of our lives in ways which, not so long ago, might have been unimaginable. It’s change the way we work, the way we socialise, and the way we exercise. But among the most fundamental change has fallen upon the travel industry. The crowded interior of an aeroplane is a perfect breeding ground for a virus – and when the vehicle itself is carrying passengers (and their pathogens) across vast distances, this becomes a considerable problem.

Domestic flights, at least, are easily dispensed with. The government advice recommends walking – but this isn’t always possible. There are other modes of transport that’ll get you from place to place, and allow you to enjoy that domestic ‘staycation’ without worrying about getting through an airport.

Train Travel

Perhaps the easiest way of getting from one place to another is a train. You don’t need any special skills or a license to travel; you won’t have to worry about the cost of parking; you can occupy yourself along the way with a good book.

Of course, in the age of coronavirus, the train carriage is a nerve-wracking place to be. Wearing a facemask is obligatory, even when there are few other passengers on the same carriage. And even with all of those precautions taken, the risk may still be substantial enough to dissuade many.

There’s also a practical consequence of travelling by train: you won’t be able to access the more remote regions. If you’re going on a hiking holiday in the Scottish Highlands, for example, then you may prefer a car to get you to the more remote trails.

Car Travel

Given that trains are, by definition, likely to stop only at more crowded cities, towns and villages, they won’t get you to that out-of-the-way cottage in the middle of the countryside. What’s more, they won’t allow you the flexibility to set your own itinerary, and to decide on a whim to visit some different part of the country.

For commuters who ordinarily rely on trains, a car might seem a major purchase – especially as we don’t know what the state of play will be in a year’s time. As such, a short-term lease, or a second-hand purchase with a view to resale, might make the more sensible option. Jardine Motors stock the Audi A3, which recently scooped WhatCar’s award for best Used Car of the Year.