Undesirable holiday locations, please!

[WouldBeGood]

I’m far too scared to book a wholesome staycation in a beautiful tourist area, lest I be run out of town by angry locals; or refused service in the extortionately priced local farm shop.

So, I’m planning to go to places that are not holiday destinations, where they might be pleased people are visiting. Or, even better, not notice.

My sole requirement is a nice hotel.

Any recommendations?

Wigtown in Scotland if restrictions allow you to visit. Or any of the Dumfries and Galloway Towns (kirkcudbright is beautiful too)

Wigtown is the National book town of Scotland l, they have a festival every year at the end of summer but if you go any other time it is very quiet. Lots of beautiful walks, so many bookshops and a great fish and chip shop. Cheap as chips too, my father lives in Wigtown and I love visiting x

Not undesirable though LOL, just not very popular for some reason !!

I, too, have been to many of these places and had a great time!

There was a mention of the stay play deal for Leicestershire upthread, which looks like it still is going on and has other places included too- Coventry, Yorkshire and Warwickshire. It is quite a good deal, as you get a hotel and entry to 3 attractions. Some of the hotels have pools and are suitable for families of 5.

stay play explore

Paisley is actually not too bad. It's got a bit of a shit reputation but it's a town steeped in history with some lovely buildings - a relic from when there was a lot of wealth in Paisley.

Less than 10 mins to Glasgow Airport. 10 min train journey to Glasgow / 15 min drive.

Loads to do in Glasgow. And because Paisley is on the M8 it's easy to get pretty much anywhere.

Easy access to Loch Lomond.

Trip down to Largs, maybe get a ferry across to Millport.

Ayr / Troon in easy distance.

And only an hour from Edinburgh and 45 mins to Stirling.

@Handsnotwands

North Wiltshire isn’t very touristy. Lots of ancient stuff like white horses, Avebury and the ridgeway. Pretty villages and towns for an ice cream and wander. Near enough for a day trip to bath / cotswolds / Bristol.

Best holiday I have had was to Marlborough. Loved the standing stones, silbury hill and my favourite, west kennet barrow. Hoping to get back this year.

Folkestone is quite nice and fairly unpopular. People go down for the day for the sandy beach but it's never really busy. There's lots to do in the area.

Shropshire and Wiltshire are beautiful

South wales valleys. We rented a cheap house there once. There were lots of great days out around and beautiful scenery. The locals were happy to see us on holiday there. It was quite a drive from where we are though and then required driving whilst there so that was a bit exhausting.

Couldn't complain for 5 of us in the middle of the school summer holidays at just over £300 for the week though.

[quote DanceToTheMusicInMyHead]@Ormally Not heard the phrase but sounds like I need to add Hell to my recommendations to complete the trio (Incidentally Hell for me would be John O Groats. Arse end of nowhere, derelict, windswept, and £10 to have your photo taken next to a sign post)[/quote]
You don't have to pay at John o groat's, or you didn't when I went two years ago.

We had a spare few hours waiting for the ferry to Orkney, so we decided to go as we'd not likely get the opportunity again. We had a wander around, took photos, all the usual stuff and it didn't cost a penny, apart from the people who bought coffees or bits and pieces in the gift shop.

It didn't seem derelict either, there was some lovely brightly coloured huts and an interesting sculpture amongst other things.

We've stayed in lots of these places and they're great. Always in a cottage though so I can't recommend hotels. We like our historic sites.

Northumberland - we stayed on the wall, visited lots of Roman sites, good walking, Hexham was nice too.

Shropshire hills, near Clun. Took ages to drive anywhere, but absolutely beautiful. We stayed on a farm. Lots of castles and national trust places. Good walking, nice towns and breweries. Easy to do the Welsh borders. Powys Castle has an amazing garden - inside was shut due to Covid though. Also drove to a Welsh beache for the day, it wasn't packed and it was beautiful. And we'd rocked up at 11.30.

Wales -the south- we stayed in Pembrokeshire. Not at all touristy, car parking charges are spectacularly low for someone from Suffolk . One seaside car park was 70p for the day, I made DH double check!

There's some narrow roads (we went to Pentre Ifan for a look) but not much traffic. Weatherwise and scenery wise it's like Cornwall - but better 🤫because it's quieter.

Also stayed in Sussex, Kent, Norfolk, Herefordshire, Cornwall, Somerset, Devon, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Rutland, Chester, Newcastle. And have seen the brick train of Darlington as a kid . And we live in Suffolk - the coast tends to be busy, but there's some beautiful towns coastal and in land, Lavenham, Bury St Edmunds.

We're thinking London this year. We've been lots before, but it's been a long time now. We love going to Kew Gardens with the kids.

I doubt you would be run out of town by anyone and if you were well there is this thing called a pandemic and it's understandable if people don't want it brought to their community. Would you like us all to come and holiday on your doorstep? After seeing the mindset people had when we opened up after the first lock down it is no wonder residents in desirable locations get fed up. "Oh I can go on holiday there because it's safe and they haven't had Covid" No thought to will I bring it with me?! Anyway, fingers crossed with the vaccination programme things are looking up and all will be well, we must get back to being allowed the all important holiday

A canal boat holiday.
Most are in industrial areas.
Good pubs at night
Only other tourists are other boaters.

I wouldn’t recommend Pembrokeshire OP. It gets busier every year. Last summer was stupidly busy.

I live on edge of a touristy area; I'd love to see more tourists. We have precious little employment here as things are. It's a shame we do have hostility and terror about visitors from retired settled locals. I despair.

I assume there are 'nice hotels' (OP's key requirement) almost everywhere. Surprised no one has mentioned Forest of Bowland. It's a lovely area. I like just walking around cities like Leeds and Glasgow because great architecture and pubs and lots of history embedded in every bit of the landscape. Somewhere like Lancaster has great features including lovely countryside nearby (but not sure OP only wants city break or what Lancaster hotels are like).

We had a similar idea to avoid the popular areas of the UK this year and have planned our first week off in Lincolnshire. Had a week in Kent last September (mostly campervan with a night at the Pig) but wouldn't consider that particularly unusual; I suppose it's not Cornwall popular but not as niche as Lincolnshire.

I operate on the theory everywhere is good, but you have to draw the line at Stoke, Crewe and Luton.

Agree Pembrokeshire is v touristy. You could do Cardiff / vale of Glamorgan, to get beaches and the city. St David’s hotel / vale of Glamorgan hotel . If you want really undesirable the Celtic Manor is a 5 star hotel in Newport but easy access to lots of nice places

Coventry is City of Culture this year so lots going on, plus loads of really interesting history.

Can anyone say whether Carmarthenshire be quiet? It’s pretty.

Carmarthenshire is quieter than neighbouring Pembrokeshire

I must have a look at Wiltshire for future holidays- never been there but if it's similar to Shropshire then I'm sure I'd enjoy it.

You can walk along the Kennet and Avon canal from there and onto The Thames Path.

OOh I am hoping to go there in June with my Hampshire friends!

I agree Northumberland is lovely but disagree it will be quiet. I don't think it is a 'hidden' gem

Wiltshire is gorgeous so much to do & see.

Come to Kent’s. We have-

Castles - Leeds castle, Dover castle, Hever castle
Coast - Broadstairs, Joss bay, Camber sands etc
Towns - canterbury, Whistable, Tunbridge Wells

Etc

@BarbaraofSeville Ah you have been to John O Groats much more recently than me- my visit was about 12 years ago so looks like they have had a much needed revamp. I stand corrected!