The locations with the most expensive delivery costs

We all know that Christmas seems to come around quicker every year – especially when shops and high streets are determined to conjure up a sea of lights and snowmen the instant the last Halloween pumpkin has been sold.

There’s even a name for this phenomenon: it’s called ‘Christmas Creep.’ But whether you love or loathe the creeping encroachment of jingle bells into the autumn months, there are times in which it’s very handy to think about Christmas early – especially when it comes to the extra time it takes to send packages to loved ones in remote locations.

That’s why we’ve put together this list of the 24 hardest UK locations to deliver to – just in time for Christmas. We’re also breaking down five of the more unusual delivery situations – and the creative workarounds local services are using.

Sending parcels to less accessible locations is a costly business. Not only do couriers Yodel and DPD advise of an additional five and three to five working days respectively to complete deliveries to places such as the Isles of Scilly and Outer Hebrides, but charges can be hefty. DPD costs an additional £21.50, Amazon requests £18.95 and Hermes £2.40.

Those trying to reach loved ones on the Island of Guernsey, Isle of Man, Isle of Arran, North Ayrshire, Orkney Islands and Perth and Kinross have a similar challenge. But it’s not all bad – Yodel only requests an additional one-day in delivery time.

So, if you are poised to send a parcel to Pembrokeshire or a hamper to the Highlands and Islands, here’s an overview of the postal situation in a few of these locations to help you ensure your gift is delivered on time, whilst also preparing you for the cost.

The Orkney Islands

Admittedly, it’s not the most surprising reveal in the world to find that Orkney ranks at number eight on the list of difficult-to-reach locations: a collection of islands off the northern coast of Scotland is, after all, about as remote as it gets.

In fact, delivery difficulties in Orkney have led the Royal Mail to take drastic new steps – including, in October, the trial of a drone-based postal service, allowing flying robots to deliver up to 100kg of post to some of the island’s reclusive residents.

Isles of Scilly

The remote Orkney Islands might be lonely places, but they’re in good company on this list. The Isles of Scilly rank at number one on the list of most difficult-to-reach delivery locations – and, like Orkney, the Royal Mail has been resorting to drones to carry vital supplies like Covid tests and PPE to residents.

For those who need to use couriers, however, time and expense will quickly mount up.

Pembrokeshire, Wales

Surprisingly, these costs and expenses aren’t limited to islands. Places like Pembrokeshire also made the list – and, although it’s surrounded by sea on all three sides, you don’t need a boat to get there.

Despite being a popular holiday destination, Pembrokeshire still made the list at number 24 – showing that you can’t make any assumptions when it comes to tricky parcel deliveries.

Outer Hebrides

It’s not all surprises, of course, and the Outer Hebrides rockets us back up the list to number two.

In fact, Scottish islands like this have been historically associated with the ‘Postcode Penalty,’ whereby around a million Scots face additional fees for deliveries.

Here, island communities in particular face a 500% mark-up compared to standard delivery prices, according to Citizens Advice Scotland.

Highlands

If you want an idea of timescales and costs to factor into your Christmas parcel sending, number four on our list (the highlands) offers a great illustration.

If you wanted to send a parcel to – for the sake of argument – Invergarry via courier, you could face delivery charges of £21.50 and between three and five working days of additional delivery time.

So, if you’re the kind of person who likes to save your shopping for Christmas Eve, maybe spare a thought for your remote or island-bound relatives – who may otherwise find a surprise package dropped off by drones sometime in the New Year.

Michael Foote is founder of Quote Goat