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

The trick is to choose a place that has a specific attraction. For example go to Glasgow to see the transport museum or Ironbridge to see the living museum. Once you have your main attraction decided, find out what else is in the vicinity, what days and times they open, and make yourself an itinerary for every day.

That's what we do!

What about hiring a narrow boat (or as they are known by DH and me, a Rosie and Jim boat!) and sailing along somewhere like the Norfolk broads? Then you can stop off at various places and have a wander. Also visit lots of pubs 🍺

@Tarquinthecat

The trick is to choose a place that has a specific attraction. For example go to Glasgow to see the transport museum or Ironbridge to see the living museum. Once you have your main attraction decided, find out what else is in the vicinity, what days and times they open, and make yourself an itinerary for every day.

That's what we do!

I think that’s exactly what I need to do too!

Visit local attractions such as castles and museums. Walk along and explore the beach if you are near one. We spend most of our time on the beach on local holidays, even if the weather isn't sunny and hot (as long as it's not a howling gale) as DS likes it, but there are always plenty of interesting places to visit as well. Pick up the brochures for the area. If you pick a touristy destination, the supermarket usually has them (and the holiday cottages).

@CherryValanc

Why are Spas out? (Or is that just in Scotland?)

Why don't you short term let a cottage with a private garden, in a really pretty spot the south coast and then you can sit in the garden, or inside if the weathers bot great, reading all day and go out for meals at night.

You could do similar in a hotel I'm sure - sit in the lobby or in the gardens. (Just chose a hotel with these facilities - obviously!!)

Just in Scotland unfortunately, and I don’t think it’ll change in the next couple of weeks

Mountain biking
Wild swimming
Walking
Pub meals
Museums
Castles
Landmarks

Nether DH or I a great in the heat and DH not great at flying. We haven’t been abroad in the summer for about 15 years, when we drive to the French Alps and did the same type of stuff there. Begire that we grew to Norway and did the same type of stuff there!

We did our first UK holiday this year as Borneo cancelled and had a lovely time.

We stayed at Watermouth Castle in North Devon (currently closed to public but 7 apartments open though 7 day bookings only) which overlooks harbour / coast. It was lovely - has a swimming pool and each apartment gets allocated 2 (or occassionally 1) hour per day for sole use so did that 3 days. Also have crazy snooker and golf and 50 acre beautiful gardens just open to apartments.

We did a boat trip to swim with seals and then go to Lundy Island where there were highland cattle and lots of other wild animals. If you are lucky you can see dolphins on way over. That was quite magical - the walking on Lundy was a challenge for me but you can get trips just swim with seals or even private charter and design own trip. I struggle with walking but Lundy was worth it, beautiful coastal scenery and wildlife and just the one old pub which we went to. You can ask for a car to take you to top if that helps or from October (?) onwards arrive by helicopter.

Then did trip along the Devon coast from Ilfracombe which was lovely 2.5 hours at sunset time with most beautiful skies and scenery, seeing seals, sometimes dolphins as well.

Then went gorging in river but this is not for those with walking or balance issues!! Great if you don't though and kids loved it, I had to stop after an hour but still great to try.

We drove around the coast and onto Dartmoor seeing extra fluffy sheep, wild ponies etc and beautiful scenery and going to a cottage there with alpacas and a hot tub with a cream tea waiting. Then the boys went on a walk across Dartmoor with llamas - I'm not capable but there was an option just to visit the farm and meet aplacas / llamas. Another option is horseriding across Dartmoor.

We had good weather 7/9, not sure what whether will be in September as not been then but its very south. The indoor pool we had was very useful for raining days, there were 2. Lots of lovely meals, Thai, Chinese, pizza, fish and chips by the sea.

If you can't walk round coast there are coastal roads you can drive on or boats, same with Dartmoor you can drive some of it or horseride. I think you can drive to the places seals are at. Steam trains in local area and a cliff railway in Lynton. We would all go back.

I am with you OP.

We was meant to be flying to the USA yesterday. The last two weeks of August has been our first annual leave since Feb. So we have missed the weather. Been checking for somewhere nice to stay in the UK but anywhere decent is fully booked. The prices are absolutely ridiculous.

We are culture buffs so it would be art galleries, museums, stately homes etc. Love a second hand bookshop as well.
Love good restaurants so that too.
We are going to the Peak District so some walking, country pubs and just relaxing really. We have hired a really pretty cottage. I love to travel abroad but you there's lots to see here.

Walk.

Eat scones.

Visit places.

Get wet.

I aslo love Bath and that's easy with limited walking - we go to Longleat safari from there and Cheddar Gorge as well as old town. Lovely restaurants like Sally Lunns and other local ones, lots of museums, Roman Baths, that's good for slightly/very dubious weather, we go at Christmas. Steam train driveable. Bath spa, obviously check what's open, some fancy hotels around there but if booking one with pool / spa check they are operating first.

@SchadenfreudePersonified

Walk.

Eat scones.

Visit places.

Get wet.

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

No kids? Sounds bliss. Find a gorgeous self catering place but eat out every night. Have lots of sex, lazy breakfasts and spend the day being a culture vulture: museums, art galleries, castles, archeological sites, stately homes, gardens etc. If you like the sun get as far south as possible so it feels more like a holiday (a flight to the Scilly Isles or Channel Islands or Isle of Wight sounds fab). I'm quite jealous, we're not going anywhere but I'm getting resistance from the DC about doing anything!

Head to Findhorn on the Moray Firth, look up this accommodation, tipseacottagefindhorn.com/, 100 yards from the sea, 5 to the local pub. You can kayak, sailboard, yachting, boat trips to see the dolphins( if your lucky). You can sit on the beach if it’s warm and lunch or coffee at the Captains Table. Half an hour from Inverness, one hour from Cairngorm. You can walk for miles along the beach to the Findhorn Foundation and to other villages along the coast.You will end up having a really relaxing holiday and will definitely come back.

DH and I are v similar ages.

I am a total sun worshipper and can lay in the sun for hours However we decided it would be easier to do a staycation this year.

We have just come home from a fab holiday in Scotland

We travelled around staying at various different hotels and guest houses and did loads of walking/hiking, so good for fitness! And we had fab weather (and no midges!) so I have a good tan too

@deste we went to the Moray Firth - beautiful!

@SchadenfreudePersonified

Walk.

Eat scones.

Visit places.

Get wet.

Is just eating scone an option? LOVE a good scone

@Pobblebonk

My question is: What do people DO on sun worshipping holidays? I can't think of anything more excruciatingly dull than lying around sunbathing all day. And if that's all you're going to do, why can't you do it in your back garden or a local park?

^ this

Haven’t RTFT but this poster isn’t looking down on you. From your OP it sounds more like you’re looking down on people who stay in Premier Inns. It’s impossible for the likes of me to help you because your idea of a good holiday is my idea of hell! I’m sure it’s not hard to do your own research.

I would book into a lovely spa hotel in a city - Corinthia in London is amazing (expensive but worth every penny!) and book some spa treatments, you can read in the relaxation area, visit the shops, any galleries/museums you’re interested in. If you enjoy reading, I often think there’s nothing nicer than a good coffee/glass of wine somewhere picturesque with a book, and it’s not very different to reading on a sun lounger.

What tedious overseas holidays you seem to enjoy, toasting and reading! Buying a sun bed and staying home may be a good option for you.

We normally holiday in France- thankfully we didn’t this year. I usually laze under a parasol and read or visit markets/ cafes.
This year we visited Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, they are beautiful! Weather was hit and miss. On sunny days we sat under trees and read/ listened to audiobooks/ snoozed- same as on a sunny holiday. On cooler days we ambled around towns, bought local produce (ok, bought cider and gin made locally), visited NT gardens and ate in pub gardens. We booked a few bigger things: red kite feeding, a day in a nature reserve- at least one of those was a wet day, but we had coats and really wanted to go any way.
Frankly, we just wanted to be away from here- different paths to walk, different buildings to see. In reality, we enjoyed it a lot and realised we need to see more of the U.K. so we are planning more UK breaks.

@MadameMeursault no, please don’t think that, Premier Inns are great, but if I got to a hotel for a holiday base, I want it to have something a bit more about it than the (what I see as) functionality of a Premier Inn. I’m not stranger to them!

In your position I would look for the most beautiful boutique hotel I could afford in or near a pretty city. Either that or go totally rural and find a gorgeous cottage or house somewhere totally spectacular like Cornwall/Mull/Skye/Orkney etc. But I'd only go for the rural option if one of you is happy to do at least some of the cooking. Tbh right now I'd go for the option where you can sit back and let someone else bring you cocktails!

I don't understand people who go on holiday and don't 'do' anything

You don't have to, its the OP's preference and her holiday.

If you like sun and can fly then consider flying to Bristol, Exeter (for SW) or the Channel Islands. Then rent a car and cottage/apartment with some extras - a sea view, hot tub etc or whatever helps you relax. SW/Channel Islands can supply restaurants/shops or sightseeing if you want access to those as well.

September is usually pretty good weather, and the sea will be at its warmest. Go just after the kids have gone back to school, it'll be you and all the parents with under 5 year olds!

Most parts of the UK have nice areas to look at. If you are after sitting in the sun to read a book then I'd look for somewhere in the south east (drier than the rest of the country) and sheltered from the wind so you get the best chance of sitting out even if it is a bit breezy.

So you could do a beach (e.g. Camber sands, Lulworth cove), or a pretty area (New Forest, Ashdown forest, on a river in Norfolk, the Cotswolds?). A city break is possible with sitting out in cafes looking and nice architecture - Bath, Oxford, Cambridge?

Personally I'd go to Devon or Cornwall at that time of year with the aim of getting into the sea surfing, kayaking or similar. The Isles of Scilly is a really nice place too. Perhaps the Channel islands?