Mumsnet Talk

So i am looking for inspiration,,,,, last year i was recommended on here and elsewhere wells next the sea and i loved it truly lovely, yr before isle of wight, jersey again a hit so this year i am asking you lovelies again - fancy somewhere with a lovely beach, eatign places, picturesque, not blackpool on steroids type of place but not without a few things to do nearby.......... we like to stay in nice cottages/ houses or lodges - off you go then hit me with your inspiration......... oooo we in north east so no more than 5hrs in the car before you spill cornwall on me...........

Somewhere on the Norfolk Coast, North Wales, or West Coast of Scotland?

i do like the norfolk coast, wondering about hunstanton as never been, west coast scotland appeals but dh says we will get eaten alive by midgies and wales hmmm kind of says rain to me. tell me somewhere fab u been

Dammit. I was going to say Bude till I saw your rule. You could always fly to Exeter & rent a car to get you to Bude?
Agree Norfolk is lovely too.

Or Brighton. Brighton is fab.

i debated the fly to cornwall thing but it was going to be £megas and as im scared of flying it kind of defeats the object . I really am stuck and dismissed scotland though just read another thread and wondering if it reallyis that midgey ridden in summer - i crave some coast and scenery hmm

brighton makes me think of eastenders and blackpool but a longer drive

Suffolk...? Beccles, etc is meant to be nice.

Kent eg Broadstairs. Not too rainy. Restaurants, nice beaches eg Joss Bay, possible donkeys, ice cream parlours, stuff like that

Woolacombe and Mortehoe in north Devon - proper sandy beach, waves for surfing, great pubs.
Not sure if 5hrs though...

Mortehoe would be more like 7-8 hours from the ne.

I was going to suggest Northumberland but might be too close to home?

I love Dorset and Weymouth is a pretty good seaside resort, lots to do but NOT Blackpool!

North Berwick
Bamburgh / Holy Island - you can rent cottages on Holy Island. Bamburgh is one of the best beaches in the world, IMO.
I would suggest Lyme Regis, but that is a long drive for you.
The Lake District. A cottage in Glenridding, on Ullswater, or perhaps in Borrowdale.
Is Wales too far?
Suffolk: Aldeburgh is pebbles, what about Walberswick / Southwold?

I wouldn't say west coast Scotland would be midge haven - more up north gor that to be a problem.

Careful re Weymouth. Olympic sailing etc is going to be on there.

Don't bother with Hunstanton. A bit further round toward Brancaster is lovely but that may be too close to Wells.

I was also going to say Northumberland. I adore it, can't wait to go back but I live down South. It may be like holidaying at home for you

North Wales is fabulous, So much history, wonderful castles and mines to visit. We are planning to go back this year.

Brighton is nothing like Eastenders it's lovely. you've got the South Downs, Beachy Head, plus all the history and character of Brighton, it's a great place. I lived there for years and loved it, now I'm a bit along the coast in middle aged country

rightyo i am going to get looking, we have hollidayed in northumberland and your right brillbeaches - we tend to pod/ camp over that way for short breaks and cumbria for short breaks also. So midgeys banned where in west scotland which might be like wells or in wales. Not right in wales as that would be dar to far but nearer the north of england might be doeable....... the featherdownfarm brochure landed today hmmm

so hit me with your north wales gig also..........

suffolk hmm not sure as isnt it busy there for ufos andim scared of them too . going to google other places honestly i am taking notice........honest

St Andrews if you're prepared to take the risk with Scottish weather?!

Anglesey has some lovely beaches.

hmm 5 hrs so doeable - we went that side a few yrs back to seaton sands bleurghhh but i do recall some lovely beaches further up you know away from the nuclear genrator factory thingy on the beach... we did have nice weather

North Wales is lovely.

Nice beaches on the llyn peninsular and Anglesey. Small sea world type place on Anglesey as well as a nice national trust property. Snowdon either walking up or the train up. There is a new steam train from the coast to Festinniog.

Nice riverside walks at bethgelert as well as touristy type shops and fab ice-cream. Also a very good copper mine near there that you can go and explore.

Yu can do tours of electric mountain power station which is surprisingly good, you go inside the mountain. Dd loved it.

There's other stuff which is meant to be good but I've not done such as canarveon castle, welsh mountain zoo.

ooo going up snowdon i remember seeing a stupid bear going up there on cbeebies hmmmm will go do aa autoroute it........

LLandudno has the cable car up the Orme and the pier but haven't been for a while.

North Wales;

Canaerfon castle is wonderful.
Conwy is lovely. Smallest house in the Uk or something, city Walls to walk around, another splendid castle.
Llandudno has the Great Orme, lovely tram up and copper mine to visit at the top.
Beaumaris castle on Anglesey is another good one.

We loved North Wales. If we go back this year we plan to get the train up Snowdon and walk down.

Downside of Wales is the weather. It will rain!!