What do people DO on UK holidays?

[JudgeRindersMinder]

We’re sun worshipers, and go abroad for the sun 2-3 times a year. Except this year!
We have a few days off in September, Thurs-Sun, and wouldn’t mind getting away for at least a couple of nights.

I’ve been looking at nice hotels in various UK locations (ie NOT Premier Inn type places) We aren’t super active people who are into bracing walks in the countryside (both have issues with arthritis 🙄), and if we stay in Scotland, any spas, pools etc are no go.

If you were us, where would you go and would you do?
Budget is fairly healthy, and travel by plane or car isn’t an issue

Recommend the Daffodil Hotel & Spa in Grasmere. It's got great views, delicious food and the spa facilities plus it's ideally placed to access the tourist attractions within the Lake District. Plus the afternoon tea was to die for. We stayed for a week after a stressful couple of months and it was absolute bliss-luxurious but not over the top. Would go back in a heartbeat if we had the chance.

The Priory in Bath is gorgeous and has pool and lovely garden and you can walk into town. I would go there tbh.

I would perhaps look at somewhere like Torquay. Lots to do and see and seems to have its own micro climate so decent weather

I think Edinburgh could be quite nice. As a pp said no Fringe this year so it will never be this quiet again in August.

Some great architecture for wondering about and exploring.
The castle
The zoo has pandas and koalas!
You can do day trips to places in the countryside - not sure how far Loch Ness, etc is away. Either drive yourself or they do minibus type tours (if they're still running, maybe not).
Distillery tour?
There is a museum looking at optical illusions which is meant to be good.
There must be art galleries and museums, etc.

Edinburgh is lovely, but op is in Scotland, so that might be less of a novelty.

Might as well close off the whole thread because nothing will explain it better than this.

Thank you Blue.

I should write a brochure

@hedgehogger1

I can't understand why people just want to lay in the sun all day. I'd be bored in 10 mins. We just get on trip advisor for the local area and have a good look round. Nice museum on a rainy day :)

I'm not sure why some people feel the need to keep saying they can't understand wanting to lie in the sun, other than to feel what they do is somehow 'more worthy'. The thing about holidays is that they should be spent doing things that you enjoy, and we don't all enjoy the same things - the idea of a cruise doesn't appeal to me, but some people love them.

I can't understand going to a museum just for the sake of it. Lots of places have museums that I would have no interest in visiting and are dull compared to the ones in the city I live in, or ones I will go to London to visit. I do like to get out and explore the area when on holiday, but would feel I was wasting time visiting museums etc. just because they are there.

I’m not sure why some people feel the need to keep saying they can't understand wanting to lie in the sun, other than to feel what they do is somehow 'more worthy'.

^^ This... not sure why people consider traipsing around Wales in the pissing rain to be superior to say, laying on a beach in the Seychelles.

My DH and I are early 50’s. We just returned from Sidmouth Harbour hotel, we went for 3 long walks, went paddleboard, tour of a quartet, boat trip, mooched around Exmouth, sat on our sea view balcony drinking wine, the pools weren’t open when we went but if they had been (they are now) I would have swam each day. We had pub lunches, breakfasted on Eggs Royale on the veranda and enjoyed cocktails and three course meals. It was a great holiday.

You could try one of the Channel Islands, in September there's a good chance of still having some very warm weather.

Sorry that should say tour of a mine

The weather has changed presently caught out in south Devon
If you are near an airport how about Jersey beautiful island and just that bit different
We go most years and enjoy its laid back atmosphere
A large selection of tip top hotels

Think you currently have to do a covid test or quarantine for Jersey.

Well, we are very much sun seekers and go to a Caribbean island every other year and then somewhere sunny in Europe with mini breaks thrown in around the year.
We’re heading to Norfolk, it is the only place I love for things to do. Every time we’ve been it’s been sunny. I think that’s more like luck. I could quite easily people watch there. We picnic a lot too. Take a boat trip (seal spotting) hire a boat, loads of nice pubs, take a steam train ride with afternoon tea. Take some camping chairs and a picnic to sit on the beach with some wine and watch the world go by.

We’re going to Dorset for 4 nights in September.
Going to...
Ride a steam train
Go fishing
Have afternoon tea
Visit a Castle
Go geocaching
Have lovely pub lunches and dinners.
Maybe try horseriding.

I’d hop on secret escapes for a browse too. Mostly fully refundable hotels, find a hotel that takes your fancy and see what else there is in that area.

I think it’s still worth it to just have a change of scenery and escape the chores.

I would base my choices on food though 😂

Activity 1: If it doesn't rain for a hour declare how lucky you all are to have such fine weather.

1. Go out and when it rains state that you mustn't complain because you had a rain free hour already.

@coffeerice

OP. Have a look at Portmeirion. Stay in the lovely hotel there, wander the village, relax, read, eat, have cocktails. Have a look at this link too.

www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/england/hotels/

I think the best idea is to get a gorgeous hotel, and start from there. Enjoy your surroundings, a good book and go from there. Don't put pressure on yourselves to be tourists, just be visitors and see what new experiences arise.

Portmeirion is amazing, but, as someone who has arthritis, I definitely wouldn't want to stay there and tackle walking up the hill from the hotel to the village every day. We visited for a day and loved it, but I did find it hard going. I hope to go back someday, but that will depend on my arthritis having a good day.

I don't know. I shall be finding out next week. Shall I let you know?

Ideally, stay somewhere really special, either cottage or hotel, so it's a pleasure just being there. Aim to get somewhere with good spa facilities, so on bad weather days you have somewhere to relax. I always book myself in for a massage & facial, too. Have a lie in. Enjoy an extra cup of tea in bed. Sex. Soak in the bath while listening to music. Long lazy lunches. Afternoon naps. Sex. Long romantic dinners. Lots of reading. Rewatch some favourite films. Early nights.

DH and I are off to Cumbria at the weekend for a few days, and that's our entire itinerary. Can't wait.

@acocadochocolate

I don't know. I shall be finding out next week. Shall I let you know?

Yes please 😂 Seriously thank you for all the ideas, I’m going to look at lovely hotels I like the look of, and see what else is in the area.

To all the people who can’t understand why I like to go and lie in the sun, that’s fine, it would be a crowded poolside if you came along too!

Like a lot of people we work our butts off all year so we can have time in the sun, which does both of us a lot of good physically -aches and pains disappear in the heat, and for me mentally.

It’s been a brutal 2020 for a lot of people, I lost my dad to covid, we’ve missed 2 holidays already this year, and it’s likely that one booked for the end of the year won’t happen either. I’d just like a few days somewhere nice to unwind and relax

We lie about in the sun reading all day, so it’s not really an option here!

We go to either Kent or Devon most years, and that is exactly what we do! Sit out on the balcony with a newspaper and coffee in the morning, watching the tides. Spend the morning on the beach with a book. Wander round town at lunchtime/when the tide is out. Maybe go for a run or a bike ride, or maybe swim in the sea. Then a nice dinner somewhere, followed by a glass of wine either on the beach or on our balcony. Bliss. You just need to pick a nice hotel.

Well if you can get to Kent you could read with a tiger outside your window:

www.aspinallfoundation.org/port-lympne/

But I think you can have a lovely break in Scotland too.

Sorry to hear about your dad @JudgeRindersMinder

Go to stobo castle, lie on a sun lounger by the pool in the warm and watch Scottish weather behind the enormous window! www.stobocastle.co.uk/ Really is magic