Can you recommend a costal holiday with lots of stuff at hand for kids

[NancyJones]

Hi,
I think we've done Cornwall to death so looking for somewhere else costal where we can rent a cottage very close to beach and town (pref in town or at least village) I'm looking for somewhere that has lots to do within half an hour. I have 3 active boys between 3-11 and a 6mth old girl.
If anyone has specific resort or even accom suggestions that would be super

[usualsuspect333]

Whitby in Yorkshire, loads of stuff to do around there.

Or Norfolk, Well next the sea is nice.

[pieceofpurplesky]

Tenby in Pembrokeshire. Fabulous beaches, great town, lots of places to visit nearby - they would love Folly Farm

[NancyJones]

Are there lots of activities in either? We went to bluestone last feb and I struggled with activities for the older ones.
The like sailing, climbing, rafting, castles, woodlands, crabbing, cool museums stuff like that. Thanks

[NancyJones]

What is Folly Farm? Is is good for active 9&11yr olds? I'll google

[geebie]

Criccieth in North Wales is a lovely little small town with a beautiful beach, perfect for swimming, sandcastles, rock pools etc. There's a fab old castle you can explore, and the famous Cadwalladers for amazing Welsh ice cream. Nearby is Porthmadog which has several lovely steam train lines including one with a lovely miniature train and surprisingly interesting trainshed with loads of old steam trains kids can climb in and out of etc. There's also absolutely amazing countryside with mountains (it's in / near Snowdonia), forests, lakes, streams all within a short drive. Very close to Criccieth is a lovely mini farm / petting zoo place, which would be perfect for kids that age. Within an hour or so's drive is Harlech which also has a fab castle, and also within a short drive there's loads of slate mines you can visit. There's loads more in the area too, and almost certainly outdoorsy things for the kids - that's just off the top of my head.

[geebie]

Oh and Criccieth also has a fab Lifeboat museum (and the actual lifeboat of course), and is a stone's throw from Black Rock Sands, a huge huge beach (which featured on the cover of one of the Manic Street Preachers' albums!)

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Came on to say Cornwall....

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

Northumberland is lovely. Stunning beaches, lots of castles and history to explore. Lindisfarne.....

Our boys loved it. The real bonus is that the beaches are so much quieter than Cornwall. The weather right always great but there is plenty to do.

[NancyJones]

Thanks everyone. We've done Northumberland specifically Lindisfarne. Beautiful place.
I think I'm being picky; kids aren't really into petting farms and stuff like that. They like activity holidays but also beaches with rock pools and woodland walks and castles and stuff. Wondering what Dorset is like? Or Devon?

[OatcakeCravings]

What about Elie in the East Neuk of Fife. Beautiful beach, loads to do within 30 mins, and Edinburgh is an hours drive.

[IAlreadyToldSanta]

I second West Wales. Folly Farm is fab, did you google it? It isn't just a farm - the farm animals are such a small part of it. They have loads and loads of animals including lions and penguins. There's a fab indoor funfair and amusements and a big indoor wooden play area with slides etc and two soft play areas. There's a helter skelter and big wheel outside too. You could spend at least a whole day there. Oakwood theme park is nearby too. And gorgeous, gorgeous beaches.

[gerbo]

Try near Corfe/Purbeck in Dorset. There's a castle there, amazing beaches and plenty to do. Stunning area.

[Islander79]

The Isle of Wight is fab! Everything is within a decent distance from everywhere else and there is loads to do for kids. Have a little google

[juneau]

There's a really good Footprint Guide called 'Britain with Kids' that has chapters for each of the best areas of Britain for family holidays. We had a great week in Dorset following their suggestions, Norfolk I know well and that's good too, and this year we're going to Pembrokeshire (Wales) and N. Yorks - also through recommendations found in there.

[Passamaquoddy]

Woolacombe is our fave destination with a beach to die for. Also lots of interesting beaches nearby.

[CharlesRyder]

Lyme Regis is great. Easy to get all along the Dorset and Devon coast from there.

Do you not need Centre Parcs though? If you go to Longleat you can also do a day at the Safari Park. We just did this with DS (4) and he was in boy heaven.

[BestIsWest]

I second Pembrokeshire. There's Heatherton as well as Oakwood and Folly Farm and the beaches are beautiful.

[Endler32]

We love Cornwall, I'm not sure if it can be done to death. The beaches on the north coast are great for water sports/surf clubs, we are going again this year but to a different part, maybe one day we will get fed up with it, then we might try Wales.

[NoLongerJustAShopGirl]

North devon is fab! We go to Barnstaple area every 2/3 years as it draws us back.. Nearby beaches are fantastic Putsburgh for rockpooling AND sand , Woolacombe big beach ...etc - we stay in a cottage "complex" - 5/6 cottages with a games room and swimming pool, with WIFI, a large outdoor space with trampolines and swings and football net etc..

There is a mini theme park (milky way I think it is called) and something called the big sheep which made us laugh when we passed the signs! We took a day out to visit Tintagel as well - within driving distance.
Also Exmoor zoo - a small zoo which was really good for the kids - all sorts of "meet the animals" sessions where they could handle snakes and spiders and lizards and rabbits and ducks - oh... and,and,and AN ARMADILLO! (my kids have not shut up about that yet - and it is January - we went in July!)

Very near where we stayed was Fremlington Quay where you could walk along the coast and it had a flat cycle trail and the biggest, best cream teas I ever experienced...

[NancyJones]

Thanks everyone, Charlesryder, we spend a half term at CP every year and it's fab for my boys who do all the tree trekking stuff and raft building and the swimming stuff. Not sure it's what we want in summer though. But Lyme Regis is def on my list to investigate, thanks.

Nolongerjustashopgirl, sounds a good complex. Are you willing to share the name?

Thanks everyone else for suggestions. I think the younger ones will be happy anywhere but my two older boys (11&9) need to be active.

[Doyouthinktheysaurus]

North Wales or Anglesey would be lovely. Loads of castles, Anglesey has amazing coastline, train or walk up Snowdon. Lots of mines and museums.

Caenarfon boasts one of the best castles, it really is stunning and there is so much to see there.

[davidjrmum]

Another one voting for Pembrokeshire. We went to Cornwall for years but then discovered Pembrokeshire which has all the advantages of Cornwall re lovely beaches, similar weather etc. but none of the crowds - brilliant.

[MrsStarwars]

Another vote for Dorset, specifically Isle of Purbeck. Wareham, Swanage, Studland, Corfe Castle are all within ten miles. Lovely sandy beaches, forests and national trust places to visit. My boys love the steam railway to Swanage especially. We stay with relatives but there are lots of holiday lets around plus caravan/ campsites.

[JoanGalt]

Another vote here for Lyme Regis.

We went last year and fell I love with the whole area. There is loads to do and the beaches are packed with rock pools and fossils. I became slightly obsessed with fossil hunting so I imagine your boys would enjoy that too.

[MrsRabbitsTwin]

Dumfries and Galloway. There's some great beaches, the Galloway Forest Park for mountain biking, walking and guided activities (some geared towards getting to see particular kinds of wildlife), a fab castle accessed via a rowing boat, an ice cream factory with outdoorsy stuff, a gem rock museum, a red kite feeding station and a book town for rainy days.

Most of the small towns and villages have one thing to go and see rather than everything being in one place, but its a nice bit of the world to explore. There are a few caravan parks that have swimming pools and other facilities in the area.